Annual Delville Wood commemoration honours South African sacrifice in WW1

In a poignant tribute to bravery and sacrifice, the Annual Civic Memorial and Delville Wood Commemoration will take place on Sunday, August 17 at the Durban Cenotaph on Dorothy Nyembe (Gardiner) Street alongside the Durban City Hall.

The ceremony, starting at 10.30am, recognises the sacrifice of South Africans who lost their lives in various conflicts, including their resolute stand during the infamous Battle of Delville Wood in World War I.

Organised by the South African Legion of Military Veterans in collaboration with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and the eThekwini Municipality, the event stands as a solemn reminder of the cost of war and the enduring call for peace in both South Africa and around the globe.

“We are given an opportunity to pay our respects to those brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, medics and policemen who laid down their lives in countless wars and situations of conflict,” said retired Colonel Pat Acutt, one of the event's organisers.

The Battle of Delville Wood is particularly significant in South Africa's military history. Fought in July 1916 as part of the larger Battle of the Somme, the 1st South African Infantry Brigade displayed remarkable courage and tenacity, though at a devastating cost; only a small fraction of the 3 164 men who entered the wood survived, marking it as one of the bloodiest engagements for South Africa on the Western Front.

During the commemoration, wreaths and crosses will be laid by veterans’ associations, current military personnel, and public members, with the latter encouraged to honour their loved ones by laying wreaths or flowers in their memory.

Acutt emphasised that this public participation underscores the community's collective mourning and respect for those who served.

Delville Wood now serves not just as a historical site, but a living memorial. After the war, Sir Percy Fitzpatrick, a prominent politician and author, acquired the site, which he later gifted to South Africa. The prestigious memorial, flanked by oak trees grown from acorns brought by French Huguenots, stands in tribute to the individuals who fought and fell in that fierce conflict.

In recognition of the battle's enduring legacy, in July 2016, the extended Delville Wood Museum and Monument was inaugurated in France by the President of South Africa alongside the French Presidency. This event included the honouring of not just South African soldiers, but also the inclusion of Zulu and Xhosa names in the memorial, acknowledging the diverse contributions of those who served.

After the formal proceedings, the community is invited to gather at the Durban City Hall, where refreshments will be provided by eThekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba, encouraging conviviality and camaraderie among attendees, cementing the spirit of unity that defines the commemoration.

People wishing to honour fallen family members by laying wreaths should notify the organisers via email at admin@salegion.durban.com or by calling 031 205 0578 before Thursday, August 13.