100
The Yfres Times.
DELVILLE WOOD.Memorial to the men of the South African Divisions who were killed on
this part of the battlefields during the War.
MEMORIAL OAKS BELT.
Acorns from South Africa Reared in France.
Oaks grown from acorns brought from Cape Colony will surround the memorial at Delville Wood
to South Africa's soldiers who fell in France during the War.
The acorns were taken from oaks at French Hook (Cape Colony) and reared in France in the
nurseries of the Imperial War Graves Commission. Now they have become sturdy little saplings.
Some hundreds have been planted in a vista leading from the Longueval-Ginchy road to the ridge
in the wood where South Africa's men fought and died, and where, on October 10th, General Hertzog,
Premier of South Africa, will unveil the memorial.
The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker, A.R.A., is an arc-shaped structure with pavilions
at either end connected by a wall with a central arch. The whole is surmounted by a magnificent
bronze group, the work of Mr. Alfred Turner, A.R.A. On the far side of the arch, bordering on what the
soldiers called Prince's Street," is a cross.
The religious ceremony in connection with the unveiling of the memorial will be conducted by
the Bishop of St. Albans and the Moderator of the Dutch Reform Church of South Africa, Dr. van
der Merwe.
It is expected that among those who will be present at the ceremony will be Mrs. Louis Botha,
widow of General Botha, Lady Lukin, Marshal Foch, and General Sir William Furse, who commanded
the 9th (Scottish) Division, with which the South African Brigade served during the War in addition
to many people who are coming specially from South Africa.
[By kind permission of The Daily Mail.
(a) TOTAL SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES WAR ENLISTMENT 231,591.
(b) CASUALTIES
Killed
Died of
Description.
and Died
Accident
Total
Wounded.
Prisoners
Total
of Wounds.
and Disease.
Deaths.
of War.
Casualties.
Overseas, European and Egyptian Forces
3,884
570
4,454
10,325
U437
14,779
East and Central African Forces
502
1,log
1,611
1,151
181
2,762
South-West African Foices
246
181
427
560
782
987
Union Establishments
114
114
114
Total
4,632
1,974
6,606
12,036
2,400
18,642
