A large-scale campaign has been launched to gather details of black South Africans – including more than 338 from the Northern Cape – who served in World War I.
The aim of the campaign is to gather public input to help fill in the missing pieces of the lives of these men who, until now, have not received any recognition for their sacrifice.
Over the course of the war, thousands of black South Africans enlisted for non-combatant duties, serving in labour units such as the Cape Coloured Labour Regiment, Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport Corps, Military Labour Bureau and the Military Labour Corps.
Unlike the South African Native Labour Contingent, which went on to serve in Europe and is well-known for its connection to the SS Mendi, these men were recruited and served on African soil.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), an organisation that honours 1,7 million men and women of the Commonwealth who died in the First and Second World War, has identified more than 1 600 members of the South African labour units.
Liz Woodfield, director of information and communications for the CWGC, says even though more than a century has passed since the end of the war, names of those lost from the ranks of the labour units are yet to be recorded in remembrance.
“We are looking to change that.
“We want them to be honoured; to have their stories told so that they can be honoured by name and their stories told.”
The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation has supported the CWGC in this remembrance project.
The foundation’s CEO, Piyushi Kotecha, hopes this project will bring healing and restore the dignity of the fallen and forgotten black South African soldiers.
- To contribute to this project, send an email to info@hwb.co.za or an SMS with your name and contact details to 40720.
