On January 22, 2025, HRH the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, President of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), officially unveiled the CWGC Labour Corps Memorial in Cape Town to commemorate the contribution of more than 1 700 non-combatants who died while participating in the First World War effort in Africa.
Representing the Gunners Association, National President, Gunner Roy Andersen and National Chairman Gunner Kevin Ashton attended the ceremony, paying their respects. Their presence underscored the association’s commitment to honouring all who served, reflecting the shared history and sacrifices of South African servicemen.
Gunner Kevin Ashton, National Chairman of the Gunners’ Association of South Africa, meeting HRH the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, the President of the CWGC.
The CWGC Director General, Claire Horton CBE, said: “We are deeply honoured and grateful to our President for joining us in unveiling this truly remarkable memorial today, in the presence of descendants whose relatives put their lives on the line for the freedoms we all enjoy today. This landmark memorial, designed and built collaboratively in South Africa, testifies to our shared global history and responsibility to honour all those who gave their lives in service. It acts as a poignant tribute to the predominantly black South Africans who fought in Africa during the First World War and who were not commemorated at the time. The careful and deliberate design of this new memorial offers visitors the space to contemplate the scale of loss of military labourers who gave their lives – ensuring their contribution to the war effort is never forgotten.”
The Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, expressed pride in the memorial, stating, “We are proud to honour, through this Cape Town Labour Corps Memorial, more than 1700 servicemen who made the ultimate contribution in the fight against tyranny more than a century ago. This memorial is a wonderful tribute to black South African servicemen who perished in the First World War, and whose stories were often overlooked in the telling of that history. I can think of no better place to remember their contribution than right here in our beautiful and much-loved Company’s Garden in the heart of the Mother City.”
The Cape Town Gunners’ Memorial 6” 26 cwt gun was in good condition for the unveiling of the Native Labour Corps memorial by HRH Princess Anne. The new SAHA roll of honour can be seen in front of the gun.
Zweletu Hlakula, a bank manager in Port St Johns, Eastern Cape, is the great grandson of Job Hlakula who was part of the Labour Corps and who is commemorated on the new memorial. He said: “We are very proud of him. We even rejoice when we talk about Job, it’s a pride that we’ve got in our name, for him to be remembered, for him to be in the history of our South Africa, that makes us very humble.”
Retired teacher Elliot Malunga Delihlazo is the great nephew of Bhesengile Delihlazo, now commemorated on the memorial. He said: “It makes us proud really, that at last, we can be one of the families that people can talk about in the due course of history. That we have made a mark, not just any mark, but an indelible mark.”
The event featured a performance by praise singer Lwanda Sindaphi and Sindiswa Mabadi, who conducted a traditional ritual.
The Gunners Association remains dedicated to preserving the memory of all servicemen and women, ensuring their sacrifices are recognized and remembered for generations to come.
Sources:
https://www.cwgc.org/our-work/news/hrh-the-princess-royal-inaugurates-new-memorial-in-cape-town/
https://www.defenceweb.co.za/military-history/south-african-labour-corps-honoured-with-new-cape-town-memorial/