GARDEN ROUTE NEWS - A large-scale campaign is being launched this week to gather details of black South Africans who served during World War One.
The campaign hopes to gather public inputs, to help fill in the missing pieces of these men's lives who until now have not received any recognition for their sacrifice.
Over the course of the war, thousands of black South Africans enlisted for non-combatant duties, serving in various labour units including the Cape Coloured Labour Regiment, Cape Auxiliary Horse Transport, the Military Labour Bureau and the Military Labour Corps.
Unlike the South African Native Labour Contingent, which would serve in Europe and is well known for its connection to the SS Mendi, these men were recruited and served on African soil.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), an organisation that honours 1,7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the two world wars, has identified more than 1 600 members of the South African labour units.
According to Liz Woodfield, director of Information and Communications for the CWGC, more than a century after the war ended, not all the names of those lost from the ranks of the labour units have been recorded in remembrance. "We are looking at changing that, so that they can be honoured by name and their stories told," she says.
The Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation supports the CWGC on this remembrance project.
The Foundation’s CEO Piyushi Kotecha says, "We know that collectively, these labour units made an essential contribution to the British war effort – not by carrying arms but by feeding and supplying the front lines and keeping armies in the field.
"The hope is that this project will bring healing and restore the dignity of these fallen and forgotten black South African soldiers."
The CWGC calls on any surviving members of these men's families, as well as friends who can share any information about them, to come forward. You can reach out either by e-mail: info@hwb.co.za or by sending an SMS with your name and contact details to 40720.
Men who enlisted in George (14):
Surname, First Name and Service Number
- BOOISEDAVID17310 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- ESAUDIAL17324 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- FRANSJOHANNES17320 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- JACOBSLINTOOR17340 Enlisted on 18 December 1916
- LARAYKLAAS17314 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- LAWSJOHN17325 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- PRENSHANS17337 Enlisted on 18 December 1916
- SALMONHENDRICK17338 Enlisted on 18 December 1916
- OERSONJACOB17308 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- PARSONSJOHN17313 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- RUITERSSTOFFEL17323 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- TRIMTOM17309 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- WILLIAMSISAAC17321 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
- ZEELIEANDRIES17315 Enlisted on 13 December 1916
Men who enlisted in Mossel Bay (47):
- ABRAHAMJOSEPH17198 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- ALBRECHTHENRY17141 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- ALBRECHTJAN17157 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- ALBRECHTWILLIAM17217 Son of Mrs. M. Albrecht, of Mossel Bay. Enlisted at Mossel Bay on the 14 December 1916
- APRILHENRY16876 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 9 January 1917
- APRILWILLIE17132 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- BROWNJACOBUS17112 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- BRUINTJESDAVID17156 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- CARLSENICHOLAS17205 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- CARLSESOLOMON17149 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- CUPIDOJOHN17133 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- DAVIDSTOM16883 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 7 January 1917
- ERASMUSKOOS17207 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- ERASMUSDANIEL17148 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- FILLIESSALMON18766 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 6 February 1917
- FRANSABRAHAM17109 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- GROENEWALDJOHN17139 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- HARRISWILLIAM16875 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 9 January 1917
- HENDRICKSALFRED JOHN17129 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- ISAACSRICHARD17138 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- JAANTJESWILLIAM16886 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 9 January 1917
- JACOBSLOUIS17209 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- JAFTHAMAART17191 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- JOHNSONJOHANNES17173 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- KIVIETJACK17153 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- KIVIETWILLIAM17125 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- LUMLEYNICHOLAS17177 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- MAARTHENRY17127 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- MAARTJOHANNES17142 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- MEYERJAN16878 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 9 January 1917
- MICHAELSKOOS17175 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- MOOLMANJOHANNES17199 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- MOSESJACOBUS17159 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- PETERSEJACOB17121 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- PETERSENDAVID17126 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- PIENAARJACOBUS17151 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- PRINSMARTHINUS17135 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- PRINSLOOJOHANNES17204 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- SAMPSONLODWYK17193 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- SLOANHARRY17160 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- SMALLBERGERJOHN17163 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- TITUSJOHANNES17176 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- TOBIASJACOBS17190 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- TOBIASWILLIAM17124 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- VAN WILLINGSAMUEL17167 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
- WILLIAMSJOHN17304 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 14 December 1916
- ZINKFONTEINPETER17164 Enlisted at Mossel Bay on 11 December 1916
Men who enlisted in Oudtshoorn (74)
- ADAMSFRANS16787 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 8 January 1917
- ALBERTJOHN17303 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 21 December 1916
- ANTONIEJOSIAH16668 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- ASPELINGSAM16672 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- AUGUSTJIM16643 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- AVONTUURAFRICA16697 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- BAINSPIET16993 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 January 1917
- BISTALLEGAMMA18230 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 19 January 1917
- BOOYSEKLAAS17042 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 December 1916
- BOOYSEKLAAS16688 Husband of Catherine Booyse, of Oudtshoorn. Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- BOOYSENSTEPHEN16656 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- BOTHESWILLEM16695 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- BRITSJOSIAH16711 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- BRITZANDRIES18223 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 19 January 1917
- BRITZHANS17045 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 December 1916
- CAROLUSPETER7603 Enlisted at Port Elizabeth on 18 May 1916
- CELLIERSDANIEL16782 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 8 January 1917
- CLAASENHENDRICK16725 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916.
- DAMONSABRAM15928 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- DAVIDHENRY16669 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- DAVIDJACOB17026 Enlisted at Kimberley on 12 December 1916
- DE BEERDAMON16718 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- DU PLESSUSJOSEPH16739 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916.
- DU PREEZJAN16995 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 January 1917
- EXTRAGERT16749 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916.
- EZAUDIAL16689 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- FANNAJACOB18228 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 19 January 1917
- FILLISPIET17949 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 15 January 1917
- FRANSJAN17049 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 December 1916
- GELANTSEPTEMBER16702 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- HARTZENBURGHENRY16674 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- HASENBERGANDREW16673 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- HENDRIKSWILLEM18220 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 19 January 1917
- HUMANABRAHAM18221 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 19 January 1917
- HUMANMARTINUS16735 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916.
- JACOBSDIAL16693 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- JACOBSISAAC5293 Of Cape Town
- JAFTAHENRY16997 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 January 1917
- JAFTHADICK16717 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- JAGERSJACOB16783 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 8 January 1917
- JANSENKOOS17948 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 15 January 1917
- JULIESANDRIES16746 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916.
- KAMMOSEPETRUS17938 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 15 January 1917
- KOLELADAVID16686 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- LOODSPETRUS16786 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 8 January 1917
- LOUWRENSNOOS15934 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- MARAISGERT18217 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 19 January 1917
- MEYERDAVID16713 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- MEYERWILLIAM18489 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 24 January 1917
- MOGATLEWIS16788 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 8 January 1917
- MOOSWILLEM16691 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- MORRISDAVID16989 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 January 1917
- MOTIESBOOI16677 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- NAMAGINAANGUS16991 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 January 1917
- NOKOKHADISHI18661 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 15 January 1917
- PHILANDERKLAAS16776 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 8 January 1917
- PIETERSEADAM17943 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 15 January 1917
- PIETERSENPIET16658 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- PLAATJESHENDRICK16646 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- ROSSOUWLODEWYK16679 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- SEPTEMBERLENNARD17940 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 15 January 1917
- SEPTEMBERMARTINUS16986 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 January 1917
- SMITHPHILLIP17040 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 December 1916
- STOFFELSMATTHYS16737 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916.
- STUURMANJAN16728 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916.
- VAN BAULINGWILLIAM16990 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 January 1917
- VAN ECKGERT16775 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 8 January 1917
- VAN NEDEABRAM16985 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 January 1917
- VAN ROOYENKOOS16705 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- VILJOENWILLIAM16987 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 January 1917
- WAGENERCORNELIUS17302 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 21 December 1916
- WAGENERWILLEM17048 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 11 December 1916
- WILLIAMSTOM16649 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
- WILLIAMSTOM16744 Enlisted at Oudtshoorn on 29 November 1916
About the Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The CWGC honours the 1.7 million men and women who died in the armed forces of the British Empire during the First and Second World Wars. The Commission ensures that they will never be forgotten.
The CWGC began its work with the building of cemeteries and memorials across the world in the wake of First World War and its devastating loss of life. It now maintains cemeteries and memorials at 23 000 locations in more than 150 countries and territories.
It is responsible for managing the official casualty database archives for the member nations of the Commission, which includes South Africa.
About the First World War
The first World War, also referred to as the Great War, lasted from 28 July 1914 to 11 November 1918 and was waged across the globe. Described by many as "the war to end all wars", it resulted in the deployment of 70 million military personnel making it one of the largest – and deadliest - wars in history with an estimated 21 million civilian and military deaths directly attributed to the conflict.
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