South African History - Chapter 21

World War 1

General Botha inspecting troops in Lüderitz, German South-West Africa (now Namibia)

The newly-formed Union of South Africa had very few good reasons to fight for the British during World War I. Many of its citizens were still bitter about the recent Anglo-Boer War and the subsequent discovery of the concentration camps in which thousands of women and children had died. Great Britain continued to be viewed as an enemy. 

But when the war started on 28 July 1914, the Afrikaner-led government unhesitatingly joined the side of the Allies against the German Empire. Prime Minister Louis Botha and Defence Minister Jan Smuts, both former Anglo-Boer War generals that had fought against the British, became active and respected members of the Imperial War Cabinet. 

The South African Defence Force saw action in a number of different areas. It dispatched part of its army to German South-West Africa (now Namibia), expelling German forces and gaining control of the colony. A military expedition under the command of Jan Smuts was sent to German East Africa (now Tanzania) to fight the Germans in that country, primarily with an intent to capture the elusive General von Lettow-Vorbeck and his troops. 

South African soldiers were also shipped to France to fight in Europe. The most significant battle in which the South African forces on the Western Front took part was the Battle of Delville Wood, in 1916. They also saw action with the Cape Corps as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Palestine. 

More than 146,000 whites, 83,000 blacks and 2,500 people of mixed race served in South African military units during the war, including 43,000 in German South-West Africa, 30,000 on the Western Front, and an estimated 3,000 South Africans joined the Royal Flying Corps. In total, about 12,500 of them were killed and about 6,000 of them were wounded during the course of the war. 

South Africa played a significant role in the Allied victory through its contributions in Africa, western Europe and the Middle East. Its ports were important rest stops, refuelling stations and strategic strongholds of the British Royal Navy, helping to maintain control of the vital sea routes around the Cape of Good Hope.

[Researched and written by Mike Leicester]

PASS OF THE WEEK

As we are away driving the Ben 10 Eco Challenge this week, we thought it would be fitting to feature one of the challenge passes. This one is white-knuckle steep. Check it out.

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Trygve Roberts
Editor

Words of Wisdom: "Because in the end, you won't remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that bloody mountain!" - Jack Kerouac