Giving the perspective

We were addressed by Lt Col Francois Marais, commanding officer of the Cape Town Rifles (Dukes) leading us through the history and the lessons learnt.

DELVILLE WOOD – 2016

Exec Dep Major of the City of Cape Town, Alderman Ian Nielsen, the Diplomatic Corps, Representatives and members of various Military Veteran Organisations, Snr Officers, Officers, WO’s, NCO’s, other ranks, ladies and gentlemen.

Smuts, Lukin, Pienaar, van Breda Theron, Gysman, Dixon ... all commanders who have lead South African soldiers during military operations or in battle since South Africa becoming a Union in 1910 and later a Republic in 1961. Leaders, soldiers, men of honour.  All in their own right with their own unique and specific style and achievements; their own legacies.  That, and having South African soldiers under their command, are just some qualities that distinguish these men from others.

The last name mentioned refers to Col William Dixon who was in command of the 250-man strong South African force, deployed in the Central African Republic in 2013, and who had to deploy his force consisting of a strengthened company from 1 Parachute Bn, supported by elements from 5 SFR, against an overwhelming advancing rebel force a couple of thousand strong.  Three days of heavy fighting and tactical maneuvering unfortunately saw the loss of 15 South African soldiers, with many more wounded.  Enemy losses counted into the hundreds, and even thousands by some sources.  This was the Battle of Bangui; the largest military battle that SANDF has been engaged in, since the establishment of our young democracy in 1994.  Significantly it proved the fighting spirit of our Soldiers of today, beyond all reasonable doubt.

Of course the name Lukin refers to Brig Gen Tim Lukin, commander of the 1^st SA Brigade; the force that was tasked to defend Delville Wood at all costs during the 1^st WW in France. Gen Lukin’s Bde consisted of soldiers from the Union Defence Force – South Africans who all volunteered their services to halt the advancing German forces in France.  Many of these men were from Cape Town, including from our own Regiment, the Cape Town Rifles (Dukes).

Leading over 3000 men into the Wood on 15 July 1916, little did anyone expect that only 5 officers and 750 other ranks would be able to walk out of there just 6 days later.  For 6 days and 5 nights the South Africans endured repeated bombardments.  The thunderous explosions illuminated the forest in flashes, making sleep virtually impossible. Burning trees came crashing down, adding to the sparks and smoke of the high explosive shells. 

At times the incidence of explosions was seven per second. On 18 July 20 000 shells fell in an area less than one square mile.  Those who did not walk out of the Wood were either seriously injured, or killed.  Most of them who did manage to walk out suffered from severe shell shock, even dementia.  It makes me wonder if those who had died during the battle were not better off than those who had to live with the scars inflicted by this Great War. 

Today we commemorate that day, the Battle of Delville Wood, 100 years ago.

After wars or battles we honour those who has paid the ultimate sacrifice.  That is why it is military custom to have Rolls of Honour, Battle Honours, and memorial or commemorative parades such as what we have here today.  We must however not forget those who have fought but survived.  They, as I noted earlier, maybe have paid an even bigger price – that of having to live with many a bad memory, having seen and heard his comrade die or yell out in anguish.  The survivors of these battles and wars are the ones that ensure history to be accurate and not lost to our future generations.  

Here I would like to make mention of Maj Charles Holloway – a veteran of the 2^nd WW, and an honorary Duke.  We are forever grateful to all those who are willing to fight for what they believe in; be it for justice, peace, stability, or freedom. 

During previous wars fought by South Africans, such as WW1 and WW2, citizens of the country turned up by their thousands to wave the men off to war, or to welcome them back.  The streets of Cape Town was lined up as feet marched in pace under the jovial affair of military bands through Adderley and Strand Streets, and as soldiers formed up on the Grand Parade opposite City Hall.  These wars I refer to were in some cases not even fought on our continent, but elsewhere in the world, yet public support was in abundance.

Today soldiers from the SANDF are deploying continuously into the African continent for Peace Keeping or other missions.  Our borders are safeguarded – to a large extend by Reserve Force soldiers.  Whether deploying thousands of km’s away from home or on our borders, the SANDF is directly and indirectly securing the territorial integrity and sovereignty of our rainbow nation.  Soldiers are exposed daily to harsh conditions; battles and skirmishes are fought on a regular basis; soldiers die during deployments.  All three Infantry Res Force Regiments in Cape Town are currently either deployed or preparing to deploy for border safeguarding operations.  ROR has recently lost a Cpl during such an operation.  9 SAI Bn is on permanent standby as an intervention force into African conflict areas.  Other units from the Army, SAAF and SA Navy are committed to various operations as well. 

So, ladies and gentlemen, despite these sacrifices and continuous efforts of our soldiers of today, the exposure and labelling the SANDF is getting through our media sources, and amongst ourselves, does not portray the good work done by so many soldiers.  Yes there are budget constraints; yes there are incidents of ill-discipline; yes equipment is maybe not ideal.  But is this new?  Has the SA military not seen this before?  Many critics say that the SANDF was unable to reinforce, resupply or even extract our forces from the CAR.  The SANDF was slated as incompetent and incapable.  

But I need to point out to those skeptics that you might have forgotten that during the 6-day battle of Delville Wood, supplies, reinforcements, or even relief also did not reach those on the front line when needed.  So what is the difference?  I was reminded earlier this week by a close colleague and friend of mine that – War is hell.  There are no ideal situations.  There are no real victors.  There are however those committed soldiers who execute their military mission, not questioning the political motives as it is not for them to question but to do.

We live in a world of political turmoil, economic uncertainty and environmental pressure.  Society seeks the negative and negates the positive.  It is time now for all citizens of this nation to rally behind the men and women of its military.  It is time that the streets of Cape Town are filled up again as our troops depart to or return from operations.  It is time to acknowledge the good, and work together to rid the bad.  I am sure that is what those men whom we are honouring here today would expect us all to do.

The men of the 1^st SA Bde laid the foundation of a young nation’s fighting spirit.  They showed that come what may, we will endure and we will prevail.  Failure is not an option.  Brig (later Genl) Dan Pienaar and his men of the 1^st SA Bde carried that fighting spirit forward during the East and North African campaigns of WW2.  So did the airmen and crews of the SAAF during the Berlin Airlift and the Korean War, last of which was where 2 Sqdn was deployed under the command of Lt Col van Breda Theron.  So did Lt Col Altin Gysman and 6 SAI Bn do when fighting rebel forces in the eastern DRC, and so did Col William Dixon and his courageous soldiers do during the Battle of Banqui.

Having said all of this, we need to acknowledge the fact that “history is always written by the victor”.  One tends to forget about the enemy – those who fought on the other side.  In most cases soldiers in their own right.  Husband, sons, fathers and comrades, just as we see our own.  They also deserve acknowledgement and the respect that any true soldier should get; irrespective of whether we agree with their ideals or not.

We are honouring the men who fought in the Battle of Delville Wood today – whether they died or survived.  We are honouring the sacrifices they made, the brutal conditions they had to endure, but most importantly we are honouring the fighting spirit they have left to us.  That is their legacy.  It is up to us, citizens and soldiers alike, to ensure that we will not forget them, but remember them and carry their legacy forward for another hundred years to come.

Ladies and gentlemen I want to make use of this opportunity to thank all of you in attendance here today.  Thank you to the members on parade; serving and veterans.  To the organising committee, and specific Mr Shawn Booth from the DoMV, for a job excellently done.  Last but not least, thank you to Alderman Ian Nielsen and the City of Cape Town for their continuous support and embracing the military community as part of their own.

In closing I want to quote the inscriptions on the Delville Wood Memorial:

“Their ideal is our legacy.  Their sacrifice our inspiration”