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 1916
South African Services 2387 Private 3rd South African Infantry Wounded and taken prisoner at Delville Wood
More about Robert Alexander Sayle -
Born 1883
Died 1916
South African Services 437 Private 3rd South African Infantry
More about Johannes Jacobus Maherry -
Born 1875
Died 1916
South African Services 3103 Private 2nd South African Infantry Fought at Delville Wood
More about Thomas Richmond Scruby -
Born 1881
Died 1916
South African Services 6430 Private 3rd South African Infantry
More about Charles Harold Frere Wentworth -
Born 1893
Died 1916
South African Services 2017 Private 4th South African Infantry
More about Thomas James Mackie -
South African Services 128 Serjeant 3rd South African Infantry At Delville Wood as a Private
More about Sydney John Hinwood -
Died 1916
South African Services 3695 or 5695 Sergeant 3rd South African Infantry
More about Frank Victor Wallace Reid -
Died 1917
South African Services 2037 Sergeant 3rd South African Infantry Wounded at Delville Wood as a Private, M.M.
More about Walter Arthur Stewart -
Born 1877
Died 1916
South African Services 5886 Lance Sergeant 3rd South African Infantry
More about Charles Roberts Simmonds -
South African Services 7944 Private 2nd South African Infantry Fought at Delville Wood
More about W F Willard -
Born 1879
Died 1916
South African Services 830 Private 1st South African Infantry
More about Edward George Kensit -
Born 1880
Died 1916
South African Services 5235 Company Quartermaster Sergeant 4th South African Infantry
More about Archibald Gray Short -
Died 1916
South African Services 2188 Private 3rd South African Infantry
More about Norman Percival Clifton -
Born 1890
Died 1916
South African Services 3912 Private 1st South African Infantry
More about Stephen Andrew Bothma -
Died 1918
South African Services 1534 or 1334 Lance Sergeant 1st South African Infantry Wounded as a Private at Delville Wood
More about Frederick Walton Ross -
Died 1916
South African Services 4983 Private 3rd South African Infantry
More about John Hubert Whatmore -
Born 1877
Died 1916
South African Services Major 1st South African Infantry Formerly South African Mounted Rifles.
More about Edward Travers Burges -
Born 1899
Died 1916
South African Services 7272 Private 1st South African Infantry
More about Douglas Dennis Doyle -
Born 1885
Died 1916
South African Services 5098 Private 4th South African Infantry
More about Frederick William Herbert -
Born 1887
Died 1916
South African Services 5144 Lance Corporal 4th South African Infantry
More about Ronald Macdonald