Lives of the First World War
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South Africans at Delville Wood, Somme, July 1916
South Africans at Delville Wood, Somme, July 1916
The South African National Memorial is at Delville Wood because it was the site of the gallant action of the 1st South African Infantry Brigade from 15th-21st July 1916, where despite losses of two-thirds, it captured and then held the wood against determined German artillery and counter-attacks. "The six days and five nights on which the South Africans held the most difficult post on the British front, a corner of death on which the enemy fire was concentrated at all hours from all sides... constitute an epoch of terror and glory scarcely equaled in the campaign." John Buchan - The South African forces in France. The South African Brigade in France had other hard battles - at the Butte de Warlencourt on 12th October 1916, Arras and the Fampoux debacle in April 1917, and the last stand against the German Spring Offensive at Marrieres Wood on 23rd March 1918 - but for sheer doggedness, Delville Wood is the battle that is revered. (The CWGC remembers 11,352 South African First World War casualties.) There is an excellent website at delvillewood.com which lists all the men present at the rollcall on 14th July, and the equally impressive southafricawargraves.org gives much more information, usually including an image of each soldiers record card. (I've also included British soldiers from 64th Field Company R.E. and 28th Brigade Machine Gun Company, who fought alongside the South African Brigade.)
Created by: , Guy74824
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Born 1880
Died 1918
British Army Captain London Regiment
South African Services 216 Staff Sergeant South African Field Ambulance D.C.M. for Bernafay Wood, also at Delville Wood
More about Lionel Henry Walsh -
Died 1916
South African Services 4992 Private 1st South African Infantry
More about Charles Henry Stuart -
Born 1881
Died 1916
South African Services 3004 Private 2nd South African Infantry
More about Thomas Arthur Chichester -
Born 1879
Died 1918
South African Services Private 4th South African Infantry Wounded at Delville Wood
Air Force (RAF/RFC) Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps and 11th Squadron, Royal Air Force
More about Paul Victor Dornonville De La Cour -
Born 1893
Died 1916
South African Services 3059 Private 2nd South African Infantry
More about John Buckley Wood -
Born 1892
Died 1916
South African Services 5352 Private 4th South African Infantry
More about George Hosking Leddra -
Born 1896
Died 1983
British Army Second Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force
British Army Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps and Royal Air Force
South African Services 779 Private 4th South African Infantry Wounded at Delville Wood
More about Arthur Henry Betteridge -
Born 1897
Died 1916
South African Services 6435 Private 3rd South African Infantry
More about Alexander Wheatley -
Born 1873
Died 1916
South African Services 4897 Second Lieutenant 3rd South African Infantry
More about Hugh Wilfred Gove -
Born 1896
South African Services 4733 or 4738 Private 2nd South African Infantry Wounded and captured at Delville Wood
Air Force (RAF/RFC) 4738 Second Lieutenant Royal Air Force
More about Richard Charles William Greener -
Born 1894
Died 1918
South African Services 1512 Lance Corporal 3rd South African Infantry Wounded at Delville Wood as a Private
More about Joseph Goldie Parkinson -
Born 1888
Died 1916
South African Services 4501 Private 2nd South African Infantry Fought at Delville Wood
More about James Mclachlan -
Born 1895
Died 1916
South African Services 389 Private 1st South African Infantry
More about Michael John Dunneen -
Died 1916
South African Services 797 Corporal 3rd South African Infantry
More about Robert James Black -
Born 1891
Died 1916
South African Services 246 Private 2nd South African Infantry
More about Alfred John Kirkman -
Born 1891
Died 1916
South African Services 1364 Private 2nd South African Infantry
More about Arnold Alexander Nelson -
Born 1894
Died 1917
South African Services 6421 Private 2nd South African Infantry, attached Trench Mortar Battery Fought at Delville Wood
Air Force (RAF/RFC) Second Lieutenant 24th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps
More about Gordon William Forbes -
Died 1916
South African Services 95 Private 3rd South African Infantry
More about Francis Kane -
Born 1892
Died 1916
South African Services 434 Private 4th South African Infantry
More about John Charles Grant Mackintosh -
Born 1879
Died 1916
South African Services 5186 Driver 3rd South African Infantry
More about Abe Lewis