M George: Commemoration of Battle of Delville Wood

17 July 2006

Programme Director
South Africa’s Ambassador to France, Madame Nomasonto Sibanda-Thusi
Excellencies
The Secretary for Defence of the Republic of South Africa, Mr. January
Masilela
The Chiefs of the South African Army, South African Air Force and South African
Navy
Generals & Admirals
The Sous-Prefecture of Dieppe
The Hon Deputy of Arques-La-Bataille
The Mayor and people of Arques-La-Bataille
The French Veterans
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

We have gathered here today to remember our countrymen who volunteered their
services and sacrificed their lives, when Europe needed them in the cause of
freedom. They travelled far from their homes, to a strange and foreign land,
under conditions we cannot imagine, to support a war that they could hardly
call their own. Eventually, unknown to their kith and kin, they were buried on
these slopes of Arques-La-Battallion.

These men were part of the South African Native Labour Corps, 25 000 in
total, who had volunteered to serve in the 1st World War. They were not allowed
to bear arms as they were brought here to provide transport, support supplies
logistics and medical service support. An estimated 1 300 of these brave men
never made it back home.

At Abbreville, not far from here, King George V, during his visit to the
South African Native Labour Corps in 1917, paid tribute to the role they played
as: “part of my great armies which are fighting for the liberty and freedom of
my subjects of all races and creed throughout the Empire”.

To those beneath this French soil, today we say to you, it is only right
that the place where you rest will be made known to your descendants, the names
of these grave stones should be presented to your kith and kin, and we will
remember you in the country of your birth. It is most fitting that your names
are now on the walls of the Delville Wood Commemorative Museum.

The huge contribution made by all South Africans during the Great Wars is
slowly but surely emerging in the rewriting of our history. South African souls
are to be found in the watery graves off Plymouth in the English Channel where
600 heroes of the sinking of the SAS Mendi lie, in the final resting place of
the South African Native Labour Corps, here on the slopes of
Arques-La-Bataille, the Sommes, Belgium, Holland, Italy and various countries
across Africa.

So little is known of their deeds, suffering and sacrifice. Therein lies an
important challenge for us: to determine the truth of their sacrifice, how it
came about that they breathed their last on this distant continent.

Programme Director,

At this juncture I wish to quote from the citation of a South African 2nd
World War hero, Job Mashego, of whom General Theron said the following whilst
awarding him a medal:

“..for meritorious and courageous action in that on or about the 21st July
1942, whilst a prisoner of war, he, Job Mashego, sank a fully laden enemy
steamer – probably an F-Boat – while moored in Tobruk Harbour.

This he did by placing a small tin filled with gunpowder with a fuse in
among the drums of petrol in the hold, leading a fuse there from to the hatch,
and lighting the fuse upon closing the hatch.

In carrying out this deliberate, planned action, Job Mashego displayed
ingenuity, determination and complete disregard of personal safety from
punishment by the enemy or from the ensuing explosion which set the boat
alight.”

Job Mashego was recommended for a Victoria Cross for his actions but due to
his status as an African he was only awarded a Military Medal instead. This is
the history we need to rewrite and put recognition in its proper context.

In conclusion, I thank the Sous-Prefecture; the Honourable Deputy, the Mayor
and people of Arques-La-Battaille, for providing us with this beautiful setting
for our fallen heroes. My compliments go to the Commonwealth War Graves
Commission, for the immaculate condition in which you have maintained this
cemetery.

I thank you.

Issued by: Ministry of Defence
17 July 2006