Military veterans, serving members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), and diplomatic representatives have honoured the memories of those who fought and died at Delville Wood during World War l.
Speaking at the annual memorial service held at the Commonwealth plot in the Thaba Tshwane New Military Cemetery, Chaplain Colonel Pieter Roos, said this was a fitting opportunity and venue to pay tribute to soldiers who were willing to lay down their lives on the battlefield. These were brave men who were willing to stand their ground; they displayed selfless devotion because of a commitment towards their country and they paid the highest price.
The Commonwealth plot contains 293 war graves from the Second World War 272 South African, 21 from the United Kingdom, one Greek, one Belgian and 1 non-war grave. It is maintained by the South African branch of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
To honour the Delville Wood sacrifices, according to long-standing tradition, a single bugler played the Last Post, which was followed by two minutes of silence, and then the Reveille to signal the end of the silence, was sounded. Wreaths were laid by representatives of Angola and Mozambique, the City of Tshwane as well as the Council for Military Veterans Organisations, the Delville Wood Trust and the South African Legion.
The Battle of Delville Wood in July 1916, was the first major engagement by the South Africans on the Western Front during the First World War. The South African Infantry Brigade had been instructed to take and hold the Wood North-East of the village of Longueval in France as it was a tactically important salient into the German lines.
Holding the wood became the most costly action the South Africans saw on the Western Front. When the Brigade was finally relieved, after six days and five nights of ferocious fighting, only 780 remained of the compliment of 3 152 soldiers around 1 700 had been wounded, 763 had been killed and of these 186 were reported missing in action, presumed dead. 229,000 officers and men served with the South African Forces in the Great War. The South African Native Labour Contingent composed of unarmed Black soldiers and non-military personnel were also involved in providing labour and transport services to the soldiers serving in France and on other fronts of the war.
Around 10 000 South Africans were either killed in action or died later of their wounds. The names of all those who died in the service of the Union of South Africa are listed in a book at the Delville Wood Museum next to the memorial in France.
