leon21 Posted June 5, 2015 Share Posted June 5, 2015 The Battle of Delville Wood/Longueval 15th July - 19th July 1916 The sacrifice made by the S.A.Brigade. The task of capturing the wood was handed to the South African Brigade of some 3,153 men attached to the 9th Scottish Division part of XIII Corps. The Brigade Battle Order. General Officer Commanding Brigade. Brigadier Henry Timson Lukin. 1st S.A. Regiment ( Cape of Good Hope ) Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel F.S.Dawson. 2nd S.A. Regiment ( Natal and Orange Free State ) Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel W.E.C.Tanner. 3rd S.A. Regiment ( Transvaal and Rhodesia ) Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel E.F.Thackeray. 4th S.A. Regiment ( South African Scottish ) Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel F.A.Jones. 28th Brigade MG company composed of men of the H.L.I. reinforced by South Africans. S.A. Trench Mortar Battery. 64th Field Coy Royal Engineers ( attached ). 1st S.A. Field Ambulance S.A. Medical Corps. At dawn on the 15th July they went in following a heavy Artilliery battle, they managed to clear the southern edge of the wood the remainder of the wood remained in German hands. Hand to Hand fighting ensued, throughout bad weather ( it rained often ) and enemy artilliery fire which reached a crescendo of 400 shells a minute. the surrounding landscape was transformed into a mess of broken trees and massive shell holes. Mud and rainwater covered bodies of both South African and German Forces. The remnants of the Brigade were relieved on the night of the 19th July, out of 121 Officers and 3,032 other ranks who formed the Brigade on the 14 July only 29 Officers and 750 other ranks were present at roll call when the unit gathered some days later. and out of these only 147 men were fit to bear arms, the dead outnumbered the wounded by four to one. Many bodies remain in the woods today ( which is now in private hands ), the Germans lost 9,500 men, Delville Wood remained the most costly action the S.A. Brigade fought on the Western Front. Today the wood and near by Memorial are looked after by the South African Government, the Cemetery contains 5,493 burials almost two thirds of these are unknown. Over 146.000 White Africans volunteered for service in WW1, there were also 83,000 Black and 2,000 Coloured Africans who served in a non-combatant capacity. Below are a few photo's. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted May 4, 2017 Author Share Posted May 4, 2017 Here is a medal group I recently added to my collection of one of the soldiers of this brigade Private John Bell Galloway of the 1st South African Infantry Regiment. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted May 4, 2017 Share Posted May 4, 2017 very nice Colin 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 Thanks Kenny, yes I was very pleased to find this one they don't come up very often, the odd thing is the soldiers regimental roll number is not on the medals just his name and regiment. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenny Andrew Posted May 5, 2017 Share Posted May 5, 2017 Yes that's fine for South African medals, I take it the victory is the South African version with Afrikaans on the back? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted May 5, 2017 Author Share Posted May 5, 2017 The inscription on the back of medal is in English and Dutch text. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted June 4, 2017 Author Share Posted June 4, 2017 Here's another recent find I've added to this group a 1st Infantry Brigade shoulder title. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted November 1, 2017 Author Share Posted November 1, 2017 Here are images of the 4 regiments collar badges of the brigade. ( 1 ) 1st regiment. ( 2 ) 2nd regiment. ( 3 ) 3rd regiment. ( 4 ) 4th Scottish regiment. ( 5 ) 4th Scottish regiment button. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted December 10, 2017 Author Share Posted December 10, 2017 Jackie the mascot of 3rd SAI and his keeper Pte Albert Marr were both injured by the explosion of the same shell in April 1918. Jackie was badly wounded his left leg hanging by shreds of muscle and another jagged wound to his right arm. He was given chloroform and had the lower part of his leg removed and dressed and his arm was also dressed, he was taken by a passing ambulance to the Casualty Clearing Station and after a couple of was sent to the base hospital on the French coast. It was the end of active service for both Jackie and Pte Albert Marr with the end of the war drawing to a close. From early September to 14th February they were both lent to the Red Cross for the purpose of collecting money for sick and wounded soldiers between them they raised over £1000. Jackie was officially discharged on the 26th April on his arm Jackie wore one gold wound stripe and the three blue service chevrons, indicating three years frontline service. At Maitland Dispersal Camp Cape Town he received the usual discharge papers, a military pension, plus a Civil Employment Form for Discharged soldiers which had been filled in, signed and witnessed like any other such document. At a parade to welcome back officially the 1st SAI Brigade and a Peace Parade on Church Square Pretoria on 31 July 1920 he received the Pretoria Citizens Service Medal. Jackie was able to live out his days in peaceful retirement until his death on 22 May 1921, he was buried in a unmarked grave on Cheshire Fann, Villieria Albert Marr died in Pretoria, aged 84, in August 1973. Story and photo from the book Pyramids and Poppies ( The 1st SA Infantry Brigade in Libya, France and Flanders ) 1915 - 1919 by Peter K. A. Digby an excellent book, 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted September 11, 2018 Author Share Posted September 11, 2018 Update for John Bell Galloway service number 1688 Private A Coy 1st Regiment South African Brigade. Son of James and Ann Galloway of 17 St Clair St Glasgow, a Native of Leslie Fifeshire, Died in Sollum West of Sidie Barrarni Egypt on 4th April 1916, buried at Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery, Plot F, Row E, grave 259, inscription on grave "To Memory Dear". here are a few documents map and photo. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted September 11, 2018 Share Posted September 11, 2018 Interesting, how did you find all this information? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted September 12, 2018 Author Share Posted September 12, 2018 Hi Paul, I got lucky using Ancestry then looking through the Brigade history for battles places and dates and then looking for his grave on Commonwealth War Graves Commission site. The place were he died was misspelt as Sotlum but looking up the Brigade History gave me the correct name, it was the last battle in Egypt they fought before going to France. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fritz Posted September 12, 2018 Share Posted September 12, 2018 I know Ancestry can be a good source, but I think you have to pay a certain fee or at least register? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted September 13, 2018 Author Share Posted September 13, 2018 Yes correct I joined on a 14 day free trail then stayed for an extra month for just over £13. Here are two more documents. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John G Posted October 21, 2018 Share Posted October 21, 2018 Re John Bell Galloway, His age on enlistment was 32 He was posted to “A” company 1st Regiment He was a seaman at the time . He died of disease “fatty degeneration of the heart” He was unmarried. John 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted October 21, 2018 Author Share Posted October 21, 2018 Thanks John, that's very interesting. Here's a map of the Union of South Africa from that time showing the 4 Regions. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leon21 Posted January 8, 2019 Author Share Posted January 8, 2019 Here's a couple of post card images ( from other sources ). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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