Lives of the First World War
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SS Mendi
SS Mendi
On 21 February 1917, the 4,000-ton SS Mendi, carrying the last contingent of the South African Native Labour Corps bound for the Western Front, was struck by the much larger SS Darro, in thick fog off the Isle of Wight. On board Mendi were 802 black soldiers, 5 white officers, and 17 NCO's, as well as 89 crew and 56 military passengers. Mendi sank within 25 minutes and most of those on board drowned. The disaster claimed 646 lives in total. Most have no grave but the sea and are remembered at the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton. Nine men whose bodies were washed ashore are buried in Milton Cemetery, Portsmouth. There are also a few graves in other cemeteries in the UK, France, Denmark and the Netherlands. Memorials to the tragedy have also been built in South Africa – notably at Avalon Cemetery in Soweto and the University of Cape Town – and at the South African National Memorial at Delville Wood in France, where bronze reliefs depict the tragedy. For detailed information about the tragedy, see http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-39027882 , http://blog.cwgc.org/ss-mendi , http://allatsea.co.za/blog/the-loss-of-hmt-mendi/ , https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/first-world-war-home-front/what-we-already-know/sea/ssmendi/ and https://content.historicengland.org.uk/content/docs/education/explorer/ssmendi-we-die-like-brothers-education-resource-pack.pdf . There is also a book called "Troopship Mendi - The Black Titanic" by Nick Ward, based on six years of his research, published by the South African Naval Heritage Trust in Simons Town, and also held by Delville Wood museum on the Somme. This community remembers all those who were on board the Mendi when she sank. Currently all the SANLC men who died have been added, but there are still crew and survivors to add, and further details about the men. Please note that the spelling of names varies between the various sources used, so if you can't find a specific person please email me.
Created by: , Yvonne27542
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Died 1917
British Army 11152 Private South African Native Labour Corps Medical Sect.
More about Michael Montso -
Died 1917
British Army 10962 Private South African Native Labour Corps Medical Section.
More about Eliah Motebeng Or Motebang -
Died 1917
South African Services 9366 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Bn.
More about Edmund Mpafalane -
Born 1895
Died 1917
Other Empire Force 3rd Officer Merchant Navy HMT Mendi
More about William Windsor Swall -
Born 1891
Died 1917
South African Services 11056 Private South African Native Labour Corps
South African Services 11056 Private South African Native Labour Corps
More about Abram Leboche -
Died 1917
South African Services 9709 South African Native Labour Corps
South African Services 9709 Corporal South African Native Labour Corps 5th Battalion
More about William Munye Or Mange -
Died 1917
South African Services 9761 Private South African Native Labour Corps
South African Services 9761 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Battalion
More about Mitchell Or Michele Lithaba Or Lethaba -
Died 1917
British Army 5743 South African Native Labour Corps
South African Services 5743 Corporal South African Native Labour Corps 4th Battalion
More about Lukase Nkhereanye -
Died 1917
South African Services 10958 Private South African Native Labour Corps
South African Services 10956 Private South African Native Labour Corps Medical Section
More about Simon Mokhali -
Died 1917
South African Services 9373 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Battalion
More about Jim Mbombiya -
Died 1917
South African Services 9188 Private South African Native Labour Corps 4th Battalion
More about Alfred Lekau -
Died 1917
South African Services 8997 Private South African Native Labour Corps 4th Bn.
More about Jacob Mangolwane -
Died 1917
South African Services 10912 Private South African Native Labour Corps "C" Coy. 5th Bn.
More about Charlie Sitole -
Died 1917
South African Services 11163 Private South African Native Labour Corps Medical Section
More about Fred Abrahams -
Died 1917
South African Services 9377 Lance Corporal South African Native Labour Corps 5th Battalion
More about Dokoda Bokleni Or Bikleni -
Died 1917
South African Services 10363 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Bn.
More about Jan Malesela -
Died 1917
South African Services 9660 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Bn.
More about Vellum Mohase -
Died 1917
South African Services 9299 Private South African Native Labour Corps 4th Battalion
More about Soloman Vili Zondi -
Died 1917
South African Services 9724 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Bn.
More about John Mpoa -
Died 1917
South African Services 9695 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Battalion
More about Isaac Jacobo