Our June speaker was Prof Kathy Munro who told us about the SA Native Labour Corps in WWI and specifically the tragedy of the SS Mendi.
Many of our members are aware of the sinking of this troopship in February 1916 south west of the Isle of Wight when the larger SS Darro collided in heavy fog and cut the smaller vessel so badly that it sank within 20 minutes. Nearly 700 of the 805 souls on board perished; most of these casualties were members of the SA Native Labour Corps en route to Le Havre in France. They were not armed and not intended to be combatants, but would have provided labour to unload ships, move equipment for the armies and generally support the soldiers who were fighting along the Western Front.
These volunteers came from all over South Africa and they are commemorated in at least a dozen cemeteries and memorials, in South Africa and England as well as in various village cemeteries along the coast of France, Belgium and the Netherlands where bodies washed ashore for weeks after the incident.
Kathy spoke about the background of the SS Mendi and its pre-war voyages from Scotland to and from Dar-Es-Salaam before being chartered as a troopship. She detailed the Mendi medal, South Africa's highest award for bravery post 1994.
She mentioned the myths that have grown around the "death dance" and the Reverend Isaac Wauchope Dyoba whose words on board the sinking ship are supposedly quoted but might well have originated from another source.
She explained that the wreck's proximity to the coast and relatively shallow depth led to recreational SCUBA divers removing many items for years before the site was declared a Naval Graveyard and protected. A museum with many of these retrieved items is on the Isle of Wight.
The Captain of the Darro was found to have been responsible for the collision in the official report, which was dated July 1916, but seems not to have been severely punished.
This almost definitive lecture is to be found on the website in the Video Library.
FORTHCOMING ATTRACTIONS - ZOOMINARS
Eastern Cape Branch (SAMHSEC) Zoominars
Monday 8th July 2024 at 19h30 and then at 20h15:
Speaker: Andre Crozier
Subject: The planning of D-Day.
Johannesburg Branch
Thursday 25th July 2024 at 19h30 and then 20h15
Speaker: Prof Ian van der Waag and Tony Garcia
Subject: "New perspectives on South Africa's First World War".
SAMHSEC RPC
The RPC (Request the Pleasure of your Company) Zoominar will be held on
Monday 29 July 2024 at 19h30 and then 20h15.
Speakers and topics to be confirmed by invitations.
Condolences
The Society notes with sadness the passing of former Chairman and life member, Ian Uys, in Knysna on 28 June and extends sincere condolences to Cheryl, Jack, Louise and their families
Members of all Branches are always
Welcome to Attend all ZOOM Meetings
Let scribe@samilitaryhistory.org know in order to be sent an invitation to the next ZOOMinar
Time to join the Zoominars
For those members still anxious about Zoom lectures, please give them a try! Go onto the internet and open your web browser at www.zoom.us . If using a cellphone visit the app store. Once you have it on your device - computer or cellphone - choose to join a meeting. Either use the link which is provided in the invitation or type in the meeting code and then the password, also from the invitation, as requested. There are usually two Zoom sessions per evening.
You do NOT need to have a camera - unless you are the speaker or a host - although it is always interesting to match faces to voices. As in the auditorium, you do not HAVE to ask the speaker any questions, but there are ways in which you can draw the chair's attention so you can do so.
KwaZulu-Natal Branch Meetings
July Meeting - 13th July 2024
DDH short talk: Roy Bowman
"12 Sqn RAF - The Bridges"
Main talk: Donald Davies
"HMS Birmingham"
Lectures are held on a Saturday afternoon, usually the second of each month. The starting time is 1.30 for 2.00pm. The venue is the St Cyprians Church Hall off Umbilo Rd, with secure parking and liquid refreshments available for cash from The Vicar's Alms. All attendees are asked to pay R10 each for the car guard and the raffle - entrance being free.
June 2024 Military History Journal
The June 2024 Journal has been sent to all paid up members in South Africa, either as a pdf or in hard copy form, or both.
If you have not received your copy by the end of August (in South Africa) please contact Joan.
BRANCH CONTACT DETAILS
Eastern Cape details contact Malcolm Kinghorn 041-373-4469 culturev@lantic.net
Gauteng details contact Joan Marsh 010-237-0676 joan@rfidradar.com
KwaZulu-Natal details contact Prof Phil Everitt 084-437-1636 everitt@iafrica.com
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