Lives of the First World War

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.

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