Delville Wood is the location of the South African National War Memorial which is dedicated to all South Africans who fell in the various conflicts of the 20th Century.
DELVILLE WOOD SOUTH AFRICAN MEMORIAL
Delville Wood was the scene of one of South Africa's highest feat of arms where the 1st South African Infantry Brigade fought courageously for six days in July 1916.
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| Delville Wood IJ |
On the 14th July 1916, the 26th and 27th Brigades of the 9th Scottish Division captured the village of Longueval sustaining heavy casualties. The 1st South African Brigade in reserve was ordered to secure Delville Wood launching their assault at 06:00 the following day. By 09:00 the South African's had secured the perimeter.
Over the next four days the South Africans attempted to gain control of the wood, the Germans launching counter attacks to keep prevent them doing so.
German artillery bombardments were so intense that they reached a crescendo of 400 rounds a minute falling on the South Africans, reducing the surrounding area to a mass of broken trees and shell holes.
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| Delville Wood July 1916 |
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| Delville Village Princess Street |
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| Delville Wood Regent Street |
The South Africans were eventually relieved on the 20th July by the 3rd Division. Delville Wood was finally cleared by the 14th (Light) Division on 25th August.
On the 21st July at a roll call of the South African Brigade, 29 officers and 751 other ranks mustered. Their strength on the 15th July was of 121 officers and 3,032 other ranks.
A single hornbeam tree is the only tree that survived the shelling more or less intact and continued to grow since the war. It's trunk is embedded with fragments of artillery shells.
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| Delville Wood 'Last Tree' |
The South African National Monument in Delville Wood was unveiled on the 10th October 1926 by General JMB Hertzog , Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, instigator of the two minutes silence, Field-Marshall Sir Douglas Haig and the widows of generals Botha and Lukin.
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South African Memorial Delville Wood
Inauguration 10th October 1926 |
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| South African Memorial Delville Wood |
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| South African Memorial Delville Wood |
The arch bears an inscription in English and Afrikaans
To the Immortal Dead from South Africa, who at the call of Duty made the Great Sacrifice on the battlefields of Africa, Asia and Europe and on the Sea, this memorial is dedicated in proud and graceful recognition by their countrymen
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South African Memorial Arch Delville Wood
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| South African Memorial Arch Delville Wood |
The arch is surmounted by a horse with two bronze figures representing the two white races of the South African Union, British and Afrikaans.
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South African Memorial Arch Delville Wood
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The memorial original memorial included the Cross of of Consecration when it was inaugurated in 1926.
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South African Memorial Cross of Consecration 1926
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A museum dedicated to the 25,000 South Africans who served during the First and Second World Wars and in Korea was built around the centrepiece of the Cross of Consecration.
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| South African Museum Cross of Consecration |
The museum is built in the shape of a star, a replica of a stone fort with five bastions in Cape Town built by the Dutch East India Company between 1666 to 1679.
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| South African Museum |
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South African Museum
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| South African Museum Cross of Consecration |
During World War One, more than 20,000 South African Black and Cape Coloured men of the South African Native Labour Corps (SANLC) served alongside their white compatriots in non-combat support roles on the Western Front.
These who served were not recognised by the South African Government and no war medals were issued.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records 1,304 deaths for the South African Native Labour Corps whose graves and memorials are found mostly in the United Kingdom, France and South Africa.
The first black South African soldier to fall, Private Beleza Myengwa, died on 27 November 1916 within days of his battalion arriving to France. He was laid to rest at a civilian cemetery in Le Havre.
In July 2014, Private Beleza Myengwa was re-interred at the South African National Memorial in Delville Wood. The first South African 'of colour' to be buried there, recognising the injustice of the non recognition of the service and sacrifices of the non white soldiers.
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South African Museum
Private Beleza Myengwa Tomb |
The inscription on Private Beleza's tomb records;
‘Here lie the remains of the first South African Native Labour Corps member to die in France. His presence represents all the members of the SANLC whose deeds were not acknowledged in the past. He is buried here amongst his comrades as a symbol or reconciliation and nation building. Their contribution was not in vain and their heroism will forever be cherished by their nation.’
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South African Museum
Private Beleza Myengwa Tomb |
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South African Museum
Private Beleza Myengwa Headstone |
