Die tragedie van die SS Mendi

Op 21 Februarie 1917 het 649 manne op die SS Mendi in ysige water van die Engelse kanaal gesterf. Hulle was lede van die “South African Native Labour Contingent” of SANLC en oppad na Frankryk om hul ondersteuning te bied in die Eerste Wêreldoorlog.
Die SA Vloot se fregat, die SAS AMATOLA is oppad is na Engeland, om deel te wees van die herdenkking.

Die SS Mendi

SAS Mendi Fregat 2008

SS Mendi

Skildery van die SS Mendi deur Ron Belling

THE BRITISH EMPIRE TROOPS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 (Q 4886) A group of non-commissioned officers of the South African Native Labour Corps at a camp, Dannes, March 1917. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205237098

THE BRITISH EMPIRE TROOPS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 (Q 10219) Directorate of Forestry. Men of the Native Labour Corps sawing pickets to the standard length at Lyons-la-Forêt, 23 January 1918. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205245932

THE BRITISH EMPIRE TROOPS ON THE WESTERN FRONT, 1914-1918 (Q 5104) General Jan Christiaan Smuts inspecting a unit of the South African Native Labour Corps. Dannes, April 1917. Copyright: © IWM. Original Source: http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205217238