Epic battle of Delville Wood remembered
Special commemoration to be held at Farewell Square, Dorothy Nyembe Street
By Johann Kruger
SA Legion: Durban branch
ALMOST 99 years ago to the day, 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 South Africans 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. 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.
But it cost the South Africans dearly. When the Brigade was finally relieved, 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 what was termed ‘Devil’s Wood’ that had been virtually destroyed after six days of constant artillery bombardment. One member, Private WF 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.
A special commemoration service will take place at the cenotaph, Farewell Square, in Dorothy Nyembe (previously Gardiner) Street, Durban at 10.30am on Sunday, 12 July.
It is a colourful and moving short service with the laying of wreaths in memory of the fallen, followed by tea in the Mayor’s Parlour at the City Hall. Members of the public will find it hugely satisfying and are welcome and encouraged to attend and, should they wish, may also lay a wreath, a bunch of flowers or even a single flower in memory of a family member lost or maimed in armed conflict.
We recall with tremendous gratitude the supreme sacrifice of countless numbers of ordinary men and women of every racial group in our land who, especially in the great conflicts of war and more recently various armed conflicts on the borders of South Africa as well as within the country, laid down their lives that we might have our liberty to enjoy ours. Many of them were still teenagers or scarcely 20 years old. Like men, they answered the call of duty and paid a heavy price, doing so with dignity and we honour every one of them, for their heroic sacrifice. Their courage, bravery and fortitude deserves to be recalled with pride and with great indebtedness to their noble gallantry. Our peace indeed has been bought with a price. Those whom we honour, died for an ideal and their ideal is our legacy. What was that ideal? Simply this – a world in which justice, tolerance, freedom, mutual respect and equal opportunities for all would flourish.
