the 90th commemoration of the battle of Delville
13 July 2006
The fierce battle of Delville Wood fought 90 years ago will be revisited
when it is commemorated on Sunday, 16 July 2006, at Delville Wood in France.
South African soldiers of all races participated in the now famous of battle of
Delville Wood. The first South African Infantry Brigade was given the
unenviable task of clearing the woods near the village of Longueval of German
forces entrenched there. The order was carried out with great bravery, albeit
with great losses.
The ceremony will not only commemorate the lives of South Africans who
perished on foreign soil during World War I but will also celebrate the lives
of those South Africans who fought and died in other wars including for the
struggle for liberation in various countries in Europe.
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr Mluleki George, will preside over the
commemoration, which will be followed by a wreath laying ceremony at
Arques-la-Bataille cemetery and town memorial on 17 July 2006.
On Sunday, 16 July, the new South African Coat of Arms will be unveiled at
the museum built on the site of the South African memorial in Delville Wood in
1986. Importantly the museum will for the first time open an exhibition on the
liberation struggle. The names of members of the South African Labour Corps who
died in Arques-la-Bataille and those who perished on board the South African
Sailing (SAS) Mendi will also be unveiled at the museum.
Enquiries:
Sam Mkhwanazi
Tel: 083 628 0858
Issued by: Department of Defence
13 July 2006
Source: Department of Defence (http://www.dod.mil.za)
