No medals after war for black survivors

THE Mendi sinking was one of the biggest disasters to befall South Africa during World War 1 and the bravery of those who died in icy waters off the coast of England became part of South African military tradition – so much so that one of the South African Navy’s four frigates is named after her.

Black South Africans were recruited because there was a need for labourers in Europe.

Many joined up believing they would be able to improve the situation of blacks in South Africa.

But if they thought they might be employed as soldiers, they were mistaken.

Prime Minister Jan Smuts declined their offer to fight in a “white man’s war” – there was absolutely no way that, in the prevailing political climate, blacks would be armed, or trained to use guns, although the coloured Cape Corps did see action.

Instead, they served in the South African Native Labour Corps (SANLC).

In Europe they were kept in segregated camps, akin to prisoner of war camps.

They dug quarries, unloaded ships, built roads, cut down forests, and generally provided support services for those who fought.

Despite not being fighting soldiers, 333 members of the SANLC died in Europe. King George V called them part of his great armies fighting for liberty.

The Mendi sailed from Cape Town on January 16 1917 with the labourer-soldiers tightly packed for the journey.

The Mendi arrived in Plymouth 34 days later and on the afternoon of February 20 set off from Plymouth to Le Havre, with the destroyer HMS Brisk as an escort.

On the same afternoon the Darro, nearly three times as big as the Mendi, left Le Havre heading for Falmouth at full speed, despite the fact that it had become a foggy night.

In contrast the fog had slowed the Mendi to a crawl.

Just before 5am, the Darro hit the Mendi at speed on the side, probably killing several Mendi passengers instantly.

The Darro then reversed out of the hole she had created and disappeared into the fog, checking her own damage.

The Mendi sank in 20 minutes. Because of her rapid sinking many of her boats could not be launched.

The 646 people who died included 607 black troops and nine white NCOs and officers, for a total of 616 South Africans. Some survivors were rescued by the HMS Brisk.

Beyond taking aboard those who had rowed to her, the Darro made no attempt at rescue.

In the opinion of the subsequent court of inquiry, the inaction of the Darro captain was inexcusable, and he lost his licence for a year.

The bravery of those men who died in the Mendi, and the way they faced death, is still remembered.

After the sinking those who died were thanked in parliament – “what they have done will redound to their everlasting credit” – but the survivors were to end the war unrewarded. They did not even get medals.