New location of plinth at Ilanga newspaper
GPS 29 deg 52 min17.99 sec S, 31 deg 2 min 55.87 sec E
Significance
Perla Gibson sang to troops on board ships departing or arriving Durban Harbour during the Second World War. Known as "The Lady in White", she would wear a white dress and a large hat and stand at the harbour entrance singing.
She is commemorated with a statue of her holding a megaphone and singing. The statue was created by her niece, local artist Barbara Siedle and unveiled by Queen Elizabeth in 1995. It was moved from its original position at the Emtateni Centre (former Ocean Terminal) in Durban to the Maritime Museum in 2016.
DURBAN'S LADY IN WHITE THE STORY BEHIND THE LEGEND. BETWEEN 1940 AND 1945 THREE MILLION WW2 PERSONNEL SAILED THROUGH PERILOUS WATERS TO DURBAN EN ROUTE TO BURMA AND MEDITERRANEAN BATTLEFIELDS, WITH MORALE AT LOW EBB. THEY WERE GREETED BY PERLA SIEDLE GIBSON, INTERNATIONAL CONCERT SOPRANO, SINGING A WELCOME TO THE CROWDED DECKS SLIDING BY. SHE NEVER MISSED A CONVOY, NOT EVEN THE ONE THAT SAILED THE DAY SHE LEARNED HER ELDEST SON HAD BEEN KILLED WHILE SERVING WITH THE BLACK WATCH IN ITALY
PRIOR TO ITS UNVEILING ON AUGUST 15TH 1995, THIS MONUMENT WAS PLACED ALONGSIDE H.M.S. BRITANNIA IN DURBAN HARBOUR TO BE VIEWED BY HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II AND H.R.H. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH DURING THEIR STATE VISIT TO DURBAN ON 24TH MARCH 1995
To the Memory of Perla Gibson "The Lady in White" Who sang to countless thousands of British Commonwealth and Allied Servicemen As they passed through Durban over the years 1940 to 1971 This tablet was presented by The Officers and Men of the Royal Navy
