Dundee’s Talana Live puts re-enactment in the trench

Talana Live is back in action this month and this year, for the first time, will feature a re-enactment of First World War battle.
The battle of Delville Wood (July 15 – September 3 1916) was the iconic battle of World War One which saw the South African armed forces gain world recognition for their fighting skills.
Pam McFadden, Talana Live co-ordinator, said it had been decided to break away from the traditional battle of Talana re-enactment, featuring the Boers and the British, to mark the centenary of the centenary of the Treaty of Versailles which ended the First World War.
“Since 1999 we have organised a heritage function on the weekend closest to the anniversary of the Battle of Talana October 20, 1899 and performed a re-enactment of a segment of that battle. However, been there done that and it was time for a new idea and to refresh this heritage weekend programme,” said Pam.
There is another reason too why Delville Wood was chosen. Nine Dundee lost their lives in the ferocious fighting with many more being involved and luckily surviving.
“The last South African to walk out of Delville Wood was a Dundee man.
Before the end of the “Great War” of 1914-1918, Dundee High School had lost 20 of its old scholars and three of its staff members in battle.
“Capt Garnet George Green, who had been educated at Dundee, was awarded the Military Cross for having, “held the whole wood [Delville Wood] with 118 men (of his B Company of the Second Regiment), the whole day against three German Divisions. In the Battle), with the South African Infantry, he was wounded and on July 20 he was “the last [man] to leave the trench when relief arrived.”
This brave man has no known grave but his name is recorded on the wall of the Pozières Memorial and, of course, on the Cenotaph in his hometown, Dundee.
The re-enactment will feature the local Dundee Diehards taking the role of the South African forces and a small re-enactment group from Pretoria and local men being the German forces.
“Authentic uniforms have been ordered and sewn and we have lined up enough big bangs to ensure the battle is as realistic as possible.”
Besides the battle, Talana Live will include the popular Wheels Thru’ Time Motor Show and a parade of the vintage cars though town, led by the Caledonian Pipe Band from Pietermaritzburg.
At Talana, wreaths will be laid and the MOTH’s will parade in memory of the battle of El Alamein.
A gun run using an original First World War field gun captured in German South West Africa in 1915. This gun will be used in the re-enactment on the day.
The Boy Scouts of northern KZN and other area of KZN will be holding a jamboree at the museum over the weekend and will be showcasing their scouting talents. Radio hams will be connecting the other scouting groups around the world.
Tug of war, wagon pulling, and tossing the boot will all be part of the day’s entertainment.
A tea garden and delicious food stalls will provide the inner man with the strength to continue.
The annual Creations Arts, Crafts and Plant market as well as stalls in the museum grounds will provide the opportunity for some retail therapy.