Yasmin Bilal
The sacrifices of South Africans who served in the First World War were honoured in France. President Cyril Ramaphosa said it was time to recognise those whose contributions had long been overlooked.
Addressing the 110th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of Delville Wood today, Ramaphosa said South Africa must recognise the contribution of everyone who served, including those whose sacrifices were overlooked for generations because of racial discrimination.
He said the men who fought and died should be remembered as more than names in history books.
“We remember them not merely as names inscribed upon stone, nor as figures recorded in military archives, but as human beings whose lives were interrupted by war,” said Ramaphosa.
The President paid tribute to those who fought at Delville Wood, members of the South African Native Labour Contingent, the Cape Corps and the men who died when the SS Mendi sank in 1917.
He said South Africa’s democratic era demanded a fuller understanding of the country’s military history.
“Sacrifice has no colour and courage belongs to no single community,” said Ramaphosa.
Reflecting on the Battle of Delville Wood, he said more than 3,000 members of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade entered the forest in July 1916 under orders to hold their position during the Battle of the Somme.
For six days and five nights, they endured relentless shelling, repeated attacks and close-quarter fighting. When the battle ended, only a small number were able to leave the battlefield in organised formation.
Ramaphosa said Delville Wood had become a lasting symbol of bravery, but also a reminder of the devastating human cost of war.
“War is not glorious to those who lie wounded in the mud,” he said.
“The true honour lies not in war itself, but in the courage, loyalty and humanity shown by those who endure it,” he added.
The President also highlighted the role of more than 20,000 Black South Africans who served in the South African Native Labour Contingent.
Although they were denied the opportunity to serve as armed combat soldiers because of the racial policies of the time, they carried out vital work that supported Allied forces throughout the war.
He also remembered the more than 600 members of the contingent who died when the SS Mendi sank in the English Channel.
“Their deaths were deaths in service. Their sacrifice was a national sacrifice,” said Ramaphosa.
Calling for a more inclusive approach to remembrance, the President said future generations should learn the full history of South Africans who served during the war.
“True remembrance does not divide the dead. It gathers them together,” he said.
Ramaphosa also reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to diplomacy and the peaceful resolution of conflict, saying the lessons of the First World War should continue to guide leaders in preventing future wars.