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Welcome to the January edition of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s newsletter. Welcome to this New Year edition, in which to give you a flavour of the activities carried out by one of our Agencies, we focus on the Commission's commitment and the work of our staff in South Africa . As we start this new year, we would like to thank everyone for supporting the Commission and the excellent feedback we continue to receive. Thank you all, and best wishes for 2011. Do let us know your thoughts on this newsletter. PDF of this newsletter is available here. 
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for commemorating members of the Armed Forces of the Commonwealth who died during the two world wars and for the care of their graves throughout the world. South Africa is one of six Commonwealth countries which participate in the work of the Commission, the others being the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and India. The number of South African war dead commemorated by the Commission is 9,477 for the 1914-1918 war and 11,903 for 1939-1945 war, a total of 21,308 Photo: Castiglione South African Cemetery, Italy Outside South Africa, the countries in which the largest number of South African war dead are commemorated are France, Egypt, Italy, the United Kingdom, Tanzania and Belgium. Further information about the involvement of the South African forces during the First and Second World War can be found in the Commission's leaflet South Africa and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission About our work in South Africa 
Introduction This newsletter is aimed at highlighting the work of the South African Agency. The Commission's South African Agency was established in 1921 with responsibility for the Commonwealth War Graves in South Africa and Namibia. In South Africa the Agency cares for 8,440 casualties in 602 burial sites, while 427 casualties in 32 burials sites are cared for in Namibia. Since 2005 the Agency has also been responsible for the renovation and maintenance of the British casualties of the South African War (Anglo Boer War) who are commemorated in South Africa. This project is due for completion in the second half of 2011 and 223 burial sites where more than 24,000 casualties are commemorated, have been identified for renovation. The South African Agency comprises six members of staff and makes extensive use of contractors to achieve its objectives. The graves for which the South African Agency is responsible for ranges from isolated graves on farms or high up in mountains, scattered graves in unmaintained municipal cemeteries, to graves in military plots in municipal cemeteries and military cemeteries. Improving horticulture Currently there are 10 military cemeteries and 13 military plots in municipal cemeteries in South Africa. To protect the isolated graves the Agency devised a solid concrete slab that is caste over the grave and a one metre high palisade fence is then erected around the grave. As most of the municipal cemeteries receive minimum maintenance the Agency has launched a programme to protect the isolated graves in some of the unmaintained cemeteries with the same concept, as well as looking at alternative solutions for other isolated graves. The Dido Valley Military Cemetery was recently completed and new signs erected making it the model cemetery in South Africa. Work in the other identified cemeteries continues. Extensive re-levelling of the banks in the main military plot of the Stellawood Cemetery has just been completed. This required moving large amount of soil and planting ground covers to limit erosion. At the same time the horticulture in the West African plot was upgraded and the graves of 18 Dutch sailors renovated and are now maintained. In cooperation with the South African Department of Public Works the Potchefstroom Military Cemetery will be upgraded early in 2011. The South African War (Anglo Boer War) project has provided the Agency with additional exposure and media coverage while there has been an increase in the number of enquiries in respect of the South African War casualties. At the same time the Agency is providing assistance in the form of technical advice to the Heritage Foundation and the Anglo Boer War Museum on how to renovate the Burgher graves. Photo shows the Commonwealth Military Plot in the Grassy Park Cemetery, Cape Town, Western Cape Province. 
The South African Agency is responsible for the Commonwealth War Graves in Namibia. In most of the cemeteries in Namibia Commonwealth (South African) and German casualties from the First World War are commemorated in the same cemetery, the Agency works closely with the Volksbund Deutsche Kriegsgräberfürsorge (the German War Graves Commission) to maintain the cemeteries. Further information about the Commission's commitment in Namibia can be found here. Photograph of Trekopje Cemetery, Namibia The South African War (Anglo Boer War) 
On behalf of the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom, our Agency in South Africa also maintains the cemeteries and graves of those who died in the South African War (Anglo Boer War.) The largest of these cemeteries is President Brand Cemetery (see photo). As part of this work, the grave of Captain Joseph Malone VC, a hero of the Charge of the Light Brigade was restored to its original condition at St Andrew’s Cemetery in Pinetown. It was recently the featured in this South African newspaper article. The VC citation for Captain Malone reads as follows: “For having stopped under a very heavy fire to take charge of Captain Webb, 17th Lancers, until others arrived to assist him in moving that officer who was (as it afterwards proved) mortally wounded. Sergeant Malone performed this act of bravery whilst returning on foot from the Charge at the Battle of Balaclava in which his horse had been shot." 
As mentioned above, the Commission now maintains the graves of the British and Imperial soldiers who died during the South African War (Anglo Boer War) and are commemorated in South Africa. In the run up to Heritage Day in South Africa on 24 September 2010, the Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein, and the Heritage Foundation, Pretoria, held a conference to discuss the preservation of the South African War Concentration Camp Cemeteries which are not maintained to the same level as those of the British Graves read rest of article here>>>. There are a number of Concentration Camp Cemeteries across South Africa. Details can be found at the Anglo-Boer War Museum 
As in the United Kingdom, and many other countries around the world, a number of small ceremonies take place on 11 November. Remembrance Day ceremonies are usually held on the Sunday closest to 11 November, in all the major cities. In many cities the South African Legion (local BESL) place Poppies on the graves of casualties in the cemeteries in the week prior to Remembrance Sunday. This photograph shows Captain (Navy) Charles Ross, Secretary of the South African Agency laying a wreath at the SS MENDI memorial in Soweto, Johannesburg. If you are visiting South Africa...... 
Why not take the opportunity to visit a cemetery or two during your visit to South Africa. The Secretary of our South African Agency, Captain Charles Ross, recommends a few cemeteries on the attached information sheet, which you may find of interest if you are out and about in South Africa. Do report back on any visits you make, we are always interested. South African Educational Resource 
Let Us Die Like Brothers In 2007, in collaboration with the History Channel and the South African High Commission in London, the Commission produced an award winning CD-Rom for schools entitled Let Us Die Like Brothers. It tells the story of black South African troops in the First World War, who sailed to France on the SS Mendi. 607 drowned in the English Channel in 1917 when the ship was struck by another allied vessel. The CD Rom was well received both in the UK and South Africa and is used
We are delighted to hear that the South African Naval Museum in Simon's Town frequently shows the DVD to sailors from the local Naval Base and ships. Feedback from the sailors is extremely positive and the museum intends showing the DVD to the broader public from Simon’s Town and surrounding towns by way of evening events at the museum. Further information about the resource is available:
We were delighted to hear from two of our readers who had been researching their local casualties, both of whom have a link to South Africa. Commemorated in South Africa Helen Stuart has had an interest in war graves since a teenager. With no relatives of her own commemorated by the Commission from the two World Wars, she decided to research the names on her local cenotaph at St Thomas' Church, Ashton in Makerfield, near Wigan in the UK. Her story features Thomas Lowe, a Gunner in the Royal Artillery who died on 27 April 1942. Thomas lived at Stubshaw Cross with his wife Florence and four children and worked at the Bryn Hall Colliery - joining up the day after war was declared. Last year, Helen visited Thomas Lowe's grave at Cape Town (Maitland) Cemetery, South Africa. The inscription on his headstone reads Three little words, Forget me Not. They don't seem much, but they mean a lot. Helen found it very moving and poignant to place a poppy at the base of his headstone, 6,000 miles from home. ____________________________________ Born in South Africa: Anthony Whitaker contacted us from Nether Wallop, Hampshire, UK. During the annual Remembrance service in St Andrew‘s Church, Neither Wallop, in 2006, he was saddened by the thought that the stories of those men from Nether Wallop and those buried in its cemetery would never be known and decided to investigate the lives. This led him to research the death of Captain Oswald Morgan , born in South Africa in 1888, and buried in St Andrew's Church, Nether Wallop in 1918 following a flying accident. An information sheet prepared by Mr Whitaker on his background and the story of the accident in which he died is attached. Information on other casualties from The Wallops can be found on the village website. 
If you would like to contact the South African Agency directly about their work in South Africa or Namibia, their details are below: Secretary, South African Agency Commonwealth War Graves Commission PO Box 9849 Centurion 0046, South Africa Other ways of keeping in touch.... If you would like to receive more regular updates, why not join our Facebook and Twitter pages? The links to these can be found on the right hand side of this newsletter. Our Facebook page has an ever increasing number of fans and we are always interested in seeing your photographs and receiving your comments. Feedback email address: Don't forget you can let us have your comments and feedback about any aspect of the Commission's work through this address. Please remember this is not a general enquiry address. |
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January 2011 newsletterIn this Issue CWGC social network sites 
South African Agency contact details If your query relates to South Africa or Namibia, you can contact the South African Agency office directly. Their details are below: Secretary, South African Agency Commonwealth War Graves Commission PO Box 9849 Centurion 0046 South Africa
Isolated grave in a unmaintained cemetery near Koffiefontein 
Stellawood Cemetery, Durban, Kwazulu – Natal. *TWGPP (War Graves Photographic Project) *South African Military History Society *War Museum of the Boer Republics *the Commission is not responsible for the content of these external sites 
Maitland Cemetery, Cape Town Pass it on Do you know anyone who would like to receive this newsletter? |
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