Delville Wood, Longueval, The Somme WW1. France.
IMG_1010 f x 2
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Looking Back 100 Years.
The Somme, WW1.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Delville Wood Cemetery is the third largest British & Commonwealth cemetery on the Somme battlefield.
There are 5,523 First World War British and Commonwealth casualties buried here. Of these 3,593 are unidentified. Most of the burials in the cemetery were casualties who died in the months of July, August and September during the heavy fighting of the 1916 Battle of the Somme.
WW1. The Somme, South African soldiers a long way from Home.
From 14th July to 20th July 1916 the 1st South African Infantry Brigade, Comprising 121 officers and 3,032 other ranks, was engaged in one of the bloodiest battles ever fought by South Africans. Under command of the 9th Scottish Division, the Brigade was ordered to attack Delville Wood and to hold it ‘at all costs’. For five nights and six days the Brigade fought against units of the German Fourth Army Corps. Outnumbered and attacked from three sides, the South Africans held the wood until they were overrun and virtually destroyed.
On the 20th of July, six days after entering the wood, Coronal Thackeray, himself wounded, walked out of Delville Wood with 2 wounded officers and 140 other ranks, the only survivors.
Delville Wood, Longueval, The Somme WW1. France.
IMG_1010 f x 2
IMG_079
Looking Back 100 Years.
The Somme, WW1.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
Delville Wood Cemetery is the third largest British & Commonwealth cemetery on the Somme battlefield.
There are 5,523 First World War British and Commonwealth casualties buried here. Of these 3,593 are unidentified. Most of the burials in the cemetery were casualties who died in the months of July, August and September during the heavy fighting of the 1916 Battle of the Somme.
WW1. The Somme, South African soldiers a long way from Home.
From 14th July to 20th July 1916 the 1st South African Infantry Brigade, Comprising 121 officers and 3,032 other ranks, was engaged in one of the bloodiest battles ever fought by South Africans. Under command of the 9th Scottish Division, the Brigade was ordered to attack Delville Wood and to hold it ‘at all costs’. For five nights and six days the Brigade fought against units of the German Fourth Army Corps. Outnumbered and attacked from three sides, the South Africans held the wood until they were overrun and virtually destroyed.
On the 20th of July, six days after entering the wood, Coronal Thackeray, himself wounded, walked out of Delville Wood with 2 wounded officers and 140 other ranks, the only survivors.