What role did black South africans play at Delville Wood?

Question:

What role did black South africans play at Delville Wood?

there is mention of the role white south africans played, but not of the black south africans. Also, why is delville wood such a prominent event, whereas the sinking of the ss mendi is not?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I feel confident saying that it was an all white rbrigade and any blacks would have been batmenservants - - - these were Colonial Troops and in South Africa that meant an all whiite boys club. In fact in that time the racial tension was between English Whites and Whites of Affricaner/Dutch Heritage and the Scotts - - - all lily white with more than a slight deviation of accent.

http://rapidttp.com/milhist/vol072iu.htm...
"""The 1st South African Infantry Brigade was recruited at Potchefstroom in August and September 1915 for service overseas. It comprised four battalions (or regiments) of infantry. In order to render these battalions as representative as possible, they were designated as follows:

1st South African Infantry Regiment (Cape of Good Hope Regiment)
2nd South African Infantry Regiment (Natal and Orange Free State Regiment)
3rd South African Infantry Regiment (Transvaal and Rhodesia Regiment)
4th South African Regiment (South African Scottish Regiment)
It is apparent, therefore, that the first three battalions were representative of all four provinces of South Africa, whilst the fourth was strongly representative of the Scottish military tradition in the country. In overall command of the brigade was Brig Gen H.T. Lukin, a seasoned campaigner who had seen service in the majority of South African campaigns during the preceding 35 years. Lt Col F.S. Dawson commanded 1st South African Infantry Regiment; 2nd South African Infantry Regiment was commanded by Lt Col W.E.C. Tanner; 3rd South African Infantry Regiment was commanded by Lt Col E.F. Thackeray;

Colonel Edward Francis Thackery CMG, DSO

and 4th South African Infantry Regiment by Lt Col F.A. Jones, DSO. Each battalion had its Honorary Colonel; Sir Charles Crewe was Honorary Colonel of the 1st, Gen Louis Botha of the 2nd, Gen Jan Smuts of the 3rd, and Col W. Dalrymple of the 4th. All the members of the brigade were strictly volunteers. There were proportionately fewer Afrikaans speaking personnel in the Brigade. This may well have been due to the fact that the Afrikaner military tradition was predominantly orientated towards cavalry and not infantry. Further, the recent Rebellion of 1914 may possibly have cast a shadow over recruiting. However, it should be noted that before the end of the War their representation in the 1st South African Infantry Brigade had increased from 15% to 30%. It should be noted, within this context, that after the publication of his work The South African Forces in France, John Buchan wrote in the flyleaf of one of the copies:

'It is invidious to compare the worth of gallant men, but I think all soldiers would agree that at any vote the South African Infantry Brigade had no superior. The large Boer contingent, many of whom had fought against us in the South African War, gave it a special romance.'

The Brigade, numbering 160 officers and 5 648 other ranks, embarked for England from Cape Town. The spirit of these young South African 'colonials' exuded the highest degree of enthusiasm and patriotism. One of these young volunteers, Arthur Betteridge, later recalled the esprit de corps then prevailing within the brigade, and stated that 'Everyone of the five thousand men who left these shores in 1915 was proud to call himself a South African.'"""

Peace,,,,,