Inside the museum at Delville Wood
The story of Delville Wood as summerised in the museum.
"THE SIXTH DAY
From the 14th July to 20th July 1916, the 1st South African Brigade comprising 121 officers and 3032 other ranks, was engaged in one of the bloodiest battles ever fought by South Africans. Under the command of the 9th Scottish Division, the 1st South African Brigade was ordered to attack Delville Wood and to hold it 'at all costs'. For five nights and six days the brigade fought against units of the German Fourth Army Corps. Outnumbered and attacked from three sides, the South Africans held the wood until they were overrun and virtually destroyed.
On the 20 July, six days after entering the wood, Col. Thackeray, himself wounded, walked out of Delville Wood with 2 officers and 140 other ranks."
The South African Cemetry at Delville Wood
'Entire and whole and perfect the service of their love.'
We will remember them
2 comments:
What a remarkable sacrifice on the part of the South Africans. Their gallantry has indeed gone down in the annals of military history.
My one criticism of the South African war memorial in Delville Wood was the design, which is as you already mentioned like the castle at Cape Town.
The choice seemed an obvious one, as the five pointed star has been the emblem of the defence force for some time.
Herein lies the rub. The castle only became the emblem to represent the South African Defence forces at a much later stage, and would not have been a symbol which the soldiers who perished there would have related to in the same way as we do today.
While the sombre white graves had been there for some time it was only under Prime Minister P.W. Botha (die krokodil) that the main monument was established.
I thought you might enjoy this website B. Its landscapes in particular are so surreal.
http://www.artesheila.com/foto.html
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