The cenotaph at the St Peter’s Anglican Church was showered with flowers and wreaths on Sunday. It was the annual Remembrance Day parade (also known as Poppy Day) hosted by the Freedom Shellhole Moths. The day is commemorated worldwide and seen as an occasion to remember and honour armed forces members who died in the line of duty during the First World War. November 11 represents the end of the war, when hostilities ended ‘at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month’ of 1918.
This year, historian André van Ellinckhuyzen once again delivered a heartfelt speech, referring back to the history of December 16. Not only did the Battle of Blood River take place on this day in 1838, but on the same day in 1940, the Battle of El Wak – a town in the far north-east region of Kenya – started. This was South Africa’s first battle on land since it entered the war. The first South African Brigade and the 24th Gold Coast Brigade formed the division – the division being divided into two raiding forces; Dickforce under Brigadier Richards and Pinforce under Brigadier Pienaar. The battle lasted one hour, with 102 deaths reported on the Italian side and only two deaths and four injured in the South African division. The forces retreated from El Wak at 13:00. On December 18, the division reported back to Fort Wajir. For his leadership in carrying out the successful attack, Brigadier Dan Pienaar was honoured by being awarded with the Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. A number of senior UDF officers were also singled out for their contribution in the victory.
Back to present day, after the speeches and wreath-laying on Sunday, the Vryheid Vintage Car Club formed a convoy to the Freedom Shellhole quarters, where guests had the opportunity to socialise and reminisce about the lives lost in the war.

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The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.