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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  • Profile picture for Anderson Soka

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9892 Private South African Native Labour Corps "C" Coy. 5th Bn.

  • Profile picture for Timothy Mangqe

    Died 1917

    South African Services 8876 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Bn.

  • Profile picture for Isaac Kgosi

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9211 Private South African Native Labour Corps 4th Battalion

  • Profile picture for Dovey Kholopane

    Died 1917

    South African Services 10960 Private South African Native Labour Corps Medical Section

  • Profile picture for Meji Solani

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9655 Private South African Native Labour Corps "C" Coy. 5th Bn.

  • Profile picture for Nicodimus Ramoshiela

    Died 1917

    South African Services 8994 Private South African Native Labour Corps

  • Profile picture for Jan Tokhae

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9134 Lance Corporal South African Native Labour Corps 4th Battalion

  • Profile picture for James Bay

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9294 Private South African Native Labour Corps 4th Battalion

  • Profile picture for Jacobus Sibisi

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9817 Private South African Native Labour Corps

  • Profile picture for Ephraim Perike

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9597 Private South African Native Labour Corps

  • Profile picture for Jerry Rwairwai

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9694 Private South African Native Labour Corps

  • Profile picture for Frans Matsubane

    Died 1917

    South African Services 10370 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Bn

  • Profile picture for Willie Kazamula

    Died 1917

    South African Services 10931 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Battalion

  • Profile picture for Hlongwana Magwegwana

    Died 1917

    South African Services 11105 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Bn.

  • Profile picture for Sam Manjezi

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9248 Private South African Native Labour Corps 4th Bn.

  • Profile picture for Simon Mpatu

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9437 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Bn.

  • Profile picture for Manie Geina Or Gcina

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9689 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Battalion

  • Profile picture for Aaron Mathlana

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9287 Private South African Native Labour Corps 4th Bn.

  • Profile picture for Abel Ramosole

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9000 Private South African Native Labour Corps

  • Profile picture for Jack Madume

    Died 1917

    South African Services 9408 Private South African Native Labour Corps 5th Bn.