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The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is urging the public to visit war memorials and cemeteries to remember and honour those South Africans who perished in the great World Wars.
The CWGC said it was particularly interested in highlighting the role that black servicemen had played.
“Many thousands of South Africans gave their lives in the First and Second World Wars, but the contributions of many, particularly black Servicemen, have never been fully acknowledged.”
The Commission said some of the lost were not remembered by name in SA’s war cemeteries or on memorials, and their contribution to wars that have shaped the times in which we live today, have been largely forgotten.
“What sets them further apart is that they were not permitted to bear arms. Despite their roles, which were limited to providing mostly labour services to Commonwealth forces, many rose above these humble roles and served the country with great honour”.
“Many South Africans find it difficult to commemorate the two World Wars, but this could be because they do not realise how many South Africans of colour contributed to war efforts. Many of them distinguished themselves through their service and it is time to acknowledge that,” said CWGC official historian Dr George Hay.
“South Africans of all races must be able to come together at the gravesites and memorials in our country to honour the men and women who served our country in conflict, added CWGC SA Managing Director, Juan Maree
The Commission said that efforts are underway to enshrine their memory and ensuring their place in the country’s rich and diverse heritage.
In this regard, it said that the SA major military museum, that has been renamed the Ditsong Museum of Military History (Ditsong means “culture” in Sotho).
The scope of the museum has also been extended to other armed conflicts with the inclusion of an exhibit on Umkhonto We Sizwe, the military arm of the ANC.
A process is also underway to identify other servicemen and women from across the Commonwealth who are not yet commemorated in cemeteries or on memorials by name.
The CWGC, which maintains 23 463 South African grave and or memorial sites in their country said it continues to search for the names of those who are “missing” so that they might be remembered in perpetuity alongside all the other Commonwealth dead of the two world wars.
CWGC War Graves and Memorials serve as a permanent reminder of the sheer human cost of war. A visit to our war graves shows the harsh realities of war. We can all learn a lot from visiting them.”
