PICS: Fallen soldiers at Delville Wood commemorated
Moths, soldiers and military officers commemorated the soldiers who died in battle at Delville Wood.
THE Memorable Order of Tin Hats (MOTHS) held a Delville Wood commemoration service at the Highway Shellhole in Hillcrest on Saturday, 2 July.
The battle at Delville Wood occured when the South African Brigade was deployed on the Somme (the area along the French/Belgium border) in 1916. They were ultimately commanded to dislodge the German forces from their strategic strong point at Longueval, which borders Delville Wood. More than a million men were killed in action.
The SA Brigade battle at Delville Wood lasted from 14 to 20 July 1916 and is described as the bloodiest battle-hell of the war. In the six-day period, more than 100 000 shells decimated the wood until only one scarred Hornbeam tree was left standing. The SA Brigade entered the wood 3173 strong and there were only 705 survivors, walking and wounded on 22 July.
Lt Col Bryan Dore will be attending the SA Legiom Tour to the centenary of the Battle of Delville Wood, which will also be attended by the presidents of France and South Africa on 12 July 2016.
