Three hundred and fifteen men from the Dundee area went off to war at the outbreak of war in 1914. This does not include the men from the specific coal mines as they were recorded separately.
Eighty-nine of the 315 perished of which nine died at Delville Wood. The nine killed at this brutal battle of the Great War in July 1916 were: J Campbell, A R Harris, C Jenkinson, J B McKinnon, C Pollock, J Ryder, J M Slattery, R P Tatham, R Williams.
To mark the centenary of the greatest battle South Africans have ever fought, a combined Moth, Tourism Dundee and Talana Museum initiative will see a grand wreath laying parade at the Dundee Cenotaph on the morning of July 17. The parade will be in remembrance of all the people from the district who have died in all theatres of war and particularly the Great War 1914-1918.
There is a combined MOTH, Tourism Dundee and Talana Museum initiative to remember the men of our town and district who have died in all theatres of war and particularly the Great War 1914-1918.
Descendants of men listed on the memorial, who still live in the area, are all invited to lay wreaths. Pam McFadden, Talana Museum curator, said ‘we also have representation from the local and district municipalities, armed forces, SA Police, MOTH’s, Masons, local communities, local schools who lost ex-pupils and members of staff to lay wreaths.New memorials will also be unveiled in memory of the Anglo-Zulu War, Anglo-Boer War, Second World War, SA Border Wars and corrections will be done on the missing names on the original First World War memorial.’
A special memorial will also be unveiled in memory of Bro. Robinson who drowned at sea when the SS Mendi went down off the French coast in 1914.
“We also have representation from the local and district municipalities, armed forces, SA Police, MOTH’s, Masons, local communities, local schools who lost ex pupils and members of staff to lay wreaths. For the first time this year, we will have a dog and a horse in the parade for the wreath laying to remember the animals who also suffered and died in warfare.” Any person wishing to lay a wreath on this occasion should please contact Pam McFadden at Talana Museum.