The South African High Commission in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland will be marking the 100th anniversary of the sinking of SS Mendi which left 640 South African soldiers dead on 21 February 1917 during the First World War.
The SS Mendi was a British 4,222 GRT passenger steamship that was built in 1905 in Glasgow, Scotland.
In 1916 during the First World War the UK Admiralty chartered her as a troopship.
The SS Mendi sunk while on her way to France with 823 soldiers of the 5th Battalion of the South African Native Labour Corps (SANLC). The soldiers aboard Mendi came from a range of social backgrounds spread over the South African provinces and neighbouring countries.
The SS Mendi was rammed by a cargo frigate “The Daros” between the Port of Plymouth and the Isle of Wight on the English Channel.
In honour of the fallen soldiers of the South African Native Labour Corps (SANLC), the SA High Commission will be hosting the following events:
- Wreath laying ceremony led by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at the Milton Cemetery in Portsmouth, 17 February, 2017 at 10.00hrs. Nine soldiers the SANLC were buried at the Milton cemetery.
- Launch of SS Mendi commemorations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland by the South African High Commissioner at Pyramids Centre in Portsmouth, 17 February, 2017 at 14.00hrs
- Wreath laying ceremony led by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) at the Hollybrook Cemetery in Southampton, 20 February,2017 at 13.30hrs
- Wreath laying ceremony led by the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), on board SAS AMATOLA (South African naval frigate), at the SS Mendi wreck site, 21 February, 2017 at 06.45hrs
Anyone interested in attending these events should contact Mr Golden Neswiswi at neswiswig@dirco.gov.za to arrange an invitation.
-ENDS-
Notes to Editors:
Enquiries about the above events to Mr Golden Neswiswi – neswiswig@dirco.gov.za
Contact details: +44 7736 630292