In the Battle of Dellvile Wood during the First World War, out of some 4 000 South African troops who defended Delville Wood, only 750 survived.
The names of the almost 1100 black and coloured SA troops from the SA Native Labour Corps, used as stretcher bearers and trench diggers, were erased from subsequent memorial of this chapter in history, but with the intervention of the government of South Africa and the Ministry of Arts and Culture, these names were finally unveiled in 2016 after being added to a Remembrance Wall at the SA Memorial near Delville Wood. Many of them died while rushing to the rescue of their white compatriots in this brutal battle, which lasted from 15 July – 3 September 1916.
It is against this historical backdrop that Minister Mthethwa invites members of the press to attend the ceremony where he will be hosting a French delegation from Longueval, Delville Wood, which includes 40 Delville Wood Veterans.
The ceremony will take place as follows:
Date: 15 February 2019
Time: 17H00 – 18H30
Venue: Freedom Park, Pretoria
The ceremony will be followed by a Gala Dinner at 18H30, where you are also invited.
Enquiries:
Asanda Magaqa
Cell: 072 372 6807
E-mail: asandam@dac.gov.za
Petunia Lessing
Cell: 066 301 4645
E-mail: petunial@dac.gov.za
