Somme - Delville Wood

Delville Wood, Longueval, is the site of the magnificent South African war memorial, which commemorates the fallen in both World Wars. The location is significant as it eas the first major engagement of the 1st South African Brigade on the Western Front.

Delville Wood was vital ground to the Germans. The South Africans had originaly taken the wood on 14th July 1916. They with stood repeated German attemps to dislodge them, and at one stage the Germans completely surrounded the South Africans, but they held the position. When relieved on 29th July 1916, initialy only 120 men out of 3,153 emerged from the carnage. Another 500 men would eventulay be accounted for.

South Africa World War One
Battle of Delville Wood

Delville Wood 1916

Delville Wood 2011

South African Memorial Delville Wood