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Thiepval and South African Memorial and Cemetries, and The Battle for Longueval and Deville Wood.
Thiepval and South African Memorial and Cemetries, and The Battle for Longueval and Deville Wood.
The memorial originally consisted of the screen, the two shelters on either side and an arch in the middle surmounted by a horse and two figures, representing the two races of the Union. After the Second World War the stone of sacrifice was added as a memorial to those who fell in that conflict, whilst the impressive museum was added recently. Unlike all other national memorials erected by members of nations of the Empire, this one does not have names inscribed on the walls. Instead the names of those killed in action and died of wounds are written in a book kept in the museum. 229.000 men saw service from the Union of South Africa, 10,000 of these died. Service took the shape of members of the South African Brigade here on the Western Front; of various members of the Labour Corps and those who served in the various campaigns in Africa, many in what was German South West Africa now Namibia. The museum was constructed in time for the seventieth anniversary of the battle of the Somme. The shape of the castle is a replica of the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town. I have recently visited the South African Memorial and Delville Wood. Information and photographs courtesy of Nigel Cave from the book Delville Wood.
Created by: , Desmond1478
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Born 1886
Died 1921
South African Services 8169 Private 2nd Regt. South African Infantry D Coy.
More about William Henry Hollis -
Born 1880
Died 1916
South African Services 5600 Lance Corporal 2nd South African Infantry "C" Company.
More about Clavell Monkhouse Blount -
Born 1881
Died 1916
South African Services 551 Private South African Infantry 2nd Regiment.
More about Augustus Cowie -
Born 1873
Died 1920
South African Services Lieutenant Colonel 1st South African Infantry Warlencourt October 1916
South African Services Lieutenant Colonel/temporary Brigadier General Commanding the South African Infantry Brigade Captured at Marrieres Wood 24th March 1918
More about Frederick Stuart Dawson -
Born 1893
Died 1916
South African Services 3475 Private 2nd South African Infantry
More about George John Bentley -
Born 1881
Died 1916
South African Services Sergeant Enslin's Horse
South African Services 6124 Second Lieutenant 2nd South African Infantry
More about Thorkell Waltham Bru-De-Wold -
Born 1892
Died 1916
South African Services 1902 Private 1st South African Infantry 1st Regiment
More about William Eric Carlsson -
Born 1895
Died 1916
South African Services 1916 Lance Sergeant 1st South African Infantry "D" Company.
More about Claude Fitzgerald S Burton -
Born 1895
Died 1950
South African Services Second Lieutenant 1st Infantry South African Force
South African Services 4073 Private 1st South African Infantry
More about William Frederick Faulds -
Born 1871
Died 1956
South African Services Lieutenant Colonel South African Infantry 3rd Regiment.
More about Edward Frank Thackeray -
Born 1879
Died 1916
South African Services 2nd Kimberley Regiment German South West Africa
South African Services 4051 Private 1st South African Infantry France
More about George Swanepoel -
Born 1877
Died 1916
South African Services Major 1st South African Infantry Formerly South African Mounted Rifles.
More about Edward Travers Burges -
Born 1887
Died 1916
South African Services 3975 Second Lieutenant 1st South African Infantry.
More about Allan Christie Haarhoff -
Born 1860
Died 1925
South African Services Brigadier General Commanding the South African Infantry Brigade at Delville Wood, later in 1916 commanded the 9th (Scottish) Division
More about Henry Timson Lukin -
Born 1896
Died 1916
South African Services 7307 Lance Corporal 1st South African Infantry "C" Company.
More about David Botha -
Born 1862
Died 1927
British Army Brigadier General 18th Infantry Brigade 6th Division XIII Army Corps
British Army General GOC VII Corps
More about Walter Norris Congreve -
South African Services Lieutenant Colonel 2nd South African Infantry Commanded 2 S.A.I. at Delville Wood, later commanded the South African Brigade
More about William Ernest Collins Tanner -
Born 1878
Died 1916
British Army Grenadier Guards
South African Services 4924 Sergeant 3rd South African Infantry 3rd Regt
More about Curwen Margam Lewis -
Born 1884
Died 1966
South African Services 8162 Lance Corporal 2nd South African Light Infantry
More about William Henry Hewitt -
Born 1875
Died 1916
South African Services Captain and Chaplain 3rd South African Infantry
More about George Thornhill Cook