Talana Live is back in action this month and for the first time, will feature a re-enactment of a World War I battle.
The Battle of Delville Wood (July 15 to September 3, 1916) was one of the most iconic battles of the global conflict, which saw South African armed forces gain world recognition for their fighting skills.
Pam McFadden, Talana Live coordinator, said a decision was made to break away from the traditional re-enactment of the Battle of Talana, featuring the Boers and the British, to instead mark the centenary of the Treaty of Versailles, which brought WWI to an end.
“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. Having ‘been there, done that’ however, it was time for a new idea and to refresh this heritage weekend programme,” said Pam.
Another reason why Delville Wood was chosen, was due to the nine Dundonians who lost their lives and many others who were involved.
“The last South African to walk out of Delville Wood was a Dundee man. Before the end of the Great War of 1914 to 1918, Dundee High School had lost 20 of its old scholars and three of its staff members in battle.
“Captain Garnet George Green, who was educated in 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. He was wounded and on July 20, 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 on the Cenotaph in his hometown.
The re-enactment will feature the local Dundee Diehards taking on the role of the South African forces, while a small re-enactment group from Pretoria will portray 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 members of the MOTH will parade in memory of the battle of El Alamein.
A ‘gun run’ – using an original WWI field gun captured in German South West Africa in 1915 will also take place.
Scouts from NKZN and elsewhere in the province are also expected to hold a Jamboree at the museum over the weekend and will showcase their scouting talents, while also connecting with Scouts worldwide via ham radio.
Tugs 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 all the strength to continue, and the annual Creations arts, crafts and plant market and market stalls will provide for some ‘retail therapy’.
The Talana Live weekend ended with the annual Ghost Walk over the battlefield on the evening of October 20, where the unsettled spirits of soldiers are said to walk the battlefields once more…
ALSO READ: Not just ghost stories at Talana Museum
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