Street parade to commemorate battle of Delville Wood centenary
A military street parade will be held at the Cenotaph in Durban's CBD on Sunday morning to commemorate the centenary of the Battle of Delville Wood.
THE SA Legions will commemorate the Battle of Delville Wood centenary with a military parade in Durban on Sunday, 10 July at 10.30am at the Cenotaph, on Dorothy Nyembe (Gardiner) Street.
The Battle of the Somme, which commenced 100 years ago on 1 July 1916, marked a turning point in terrestrial warfare. Beforehand cavalry was the supreme weapon, afterwards the tank and aircraft reigned. Cavalry was used at the beginning of the Battle of Deville Wood and tanks at the conclusion. But for a brief period it was the war of infantrymen alone. At Delville Wood the 1st South African Infantry Brigade was to show what that meant. Their feat can never be surpassed.
Shortly after midnight on 15 July 1916, the 1st South African Infantry Brigade, consisting of 121 officers and 3 153 men under the command of General Tim Lukin, was ordered to capture and to hold “at all costs” an area of the Somme known as Delville Wood. What followed is a story of extraordinary heroism and endurance, a story of which South Africans may forever be proud. The Springboks, as they were known, attacked only to be met by a murderous artillery barrage and machine-gun and rifle fire from three sides. At one time, 400 shells landed in the wood every minute, reducing it to a wasteland. They dug in and withstood countless counter-attacks by vastly superior forces. They bravely held the line for a vital five nights and six days.
It cost the South Africans dearly, for when the Brigade was finally relieved and their ammunition completely spent, only five officers and 750 men, mostly walking wounded, were able to parade in front of their commander – a total of 2 373 casualties, made up of 1 709 severely wounded and 664 dead. Only about 200 terribly mutilated bodies were recovered from the wood.
One member, Private W.F. Faulds was awarded the Victoria Cross and various other decorations were awarded to the gallant Springboks. This is truly the greatest example of martyrdom in South African military history that will forever be remembered by ex-servicemen/women and serving soldiers alike.
Although it is generally known as the bloodiest battle ever fought by South Africans, no South African military unit carries Delville Wood as a battle honour on a regimental colour.
The public is invited to attended the ceremony and can lay a wreath in memory of lost loved ones. They are welcome to arrive early at around 10am. Contact Johan Kruger at the SA Legions offices on 031 205 0578 for more information.
