by Ian Uys
Each year on the anniversary of the battle the children of Longueval lay flowers on the graves of the South Africans buried there. The children’s beautiful rendition of Sarie Marais has brought tears to the eyes of many pilgrims to the wood.
Ex-servicemen of the MOTHS (Memorable Order of Tin Hats) regularly repeat the famous words of Laurence Binyon:
“They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.”
Most of the men who fell at Delville Wood were Christians and it is fitting that a number of crosses have commemorated their memory. Wayside crosses can still be seen in the countryside near the wood.
In October 1926 Chaplain Eustace Hill MC, wrote an article entitled “Why Delville Wood had to have a Cross”.
“These are some of the many reasons for this cross: The men of each of the four regiments set up a cross for their regiment. These crosses have been removed and now are held in high honour at the Castle, Cape Town; Natal; St John’s College; and St George’s Presbyterian Church, Johannesburg.
“The first memorial service was held by Dutch Reformed and Anglican Chaplains in 1917 beside one of these crosses, and the brigade formed up on three sides in the snow.
“On the way to the wood, past Montauban, the ruined church in 1916 still upheld a crucifix, which looked down on men going up to the wood, and as they entered the ruins of Longueval a wayside crucifix rose from a most welcome hollow, and so provided useful cover at its foot. These were left in dust after the final attack and so to replace them is a debt we owe.
“Again, if one penetrated below the talk of our men, and sought out the spirit which remained constant in the hearts of the fellows, one found the crusaders’ spirit.
“This is illustrated by some words of the colonel of the South African Scottish who, the day he was killed, said to me: ‘These other campaigns’ (pointing to rows of ribbons) ‘are nothing. This is a crusade.’ The shell that killed him cut those ribbons to bits, and sealed him as a crusader.
“The road up to the wood was in fact the Way of the Cross, trodden by men whose own difference had been adjusted at the cost of a little blood, but who had joined together to march to that front where they knew ninety per cent became casualties every push.
“Any doubts as to the reality of the odds against them were dispersed after entering the battle area. Limping past them was a long line of walking wounded and then the sorrowful parties of German prisoners and the unending succession of ambulances.
“On the horizon hung a cloud of smoke, reddened continually with flashes. Above the fog swung our ‘gas bags’ at regular intervals until they disappeared into the dim distance. Few and far were the enemy balloons, but not seen for long, as our men held the air and soon sent them into flames.
“This was the vision our men contemplated on Sunday, July 2nd, and the pause was a time of putting a severe test to the spirit. Religion is such a natural thing that it seems out of place only in an artificial Vanity-Fair-like atmosphere, as unnatural as a naked babe in a ballroom, but when nature stands with her inevitable bill in hand, humbug flees and nature regains her sway.
“Men wanted something fairer than this vision of very ugly death and bigger than their rapidly diminishing selves. The Great Christ, who faced the most awful torture who saw the certainty of agonising death, was also the Christ who steadfastly set his face towards the cross and moved forward. Here was someone who felt all they felt about the horror of a violent death and yet did his duty.
“Martyrs got into close union with Him, but was He not the Friend of the ordinary man who, despite his sins, now and then really did try to do his duty and wanted to help sorely?
“All men had some religion, and I am sure were getting from it what helped them most. Clearly, still closer touch with the Great Christ was needed, and so at Dawn the chaplains all did their best to supply this need.
“What happened in one regiment is typical. At dawn an altar, made of two bales of forage, screened by three stretchers up-ended, stood in the middle of one regiment, and the strength of the Great Crusader passed into many and left them determined to do their best and bear the worst with minds peacefully active.
“Later on in the day a service of Penitence and Assurance of Forgiveness was held beside a gun, and for once it seemed as though Christianity had mastered the deadly spirit of worldliness, and was free to show its real fighting powers and ability to uplift weak flesh and overcome the devil himself.
“Life was intensely worth living and worth giving in return for such intensity. It was the joyous life given by the accepted cross to crusaders in their weak efforts to follow the Way of the Cross. Padre Cook had it as he said: ‘I’ve overcome all fear’, and fell carrying a stretcher from Bernafay Wood.
“Wounded, left exposed to shell fire because there was no cover for them, knew its powers, and young B---, after saying he felt no hatred against Germans but his wife and some of theirs would be widows next day, had this power, for, though shot through the chest, he sprang up and killed two Germans before he fell dead.
“Such acts of bravery, animated by the crusaders’ spirit of duty, whether active or passive, could be multiplied, but there is no need to further illustrate what is certain, namely, that the Cross of Christ has given Christians of all sorts, in all campaigns, and on both sides, an inspiration to do their duty, even unto death.
“It is thoughts of death for self that force themselves into the mind, and, despite all propaganda of the offensive, killing spirit, leave the soldier facing the call to die, rather than to kill, for his country.
“Victory no doubt throws the emphasis on the conquering spirit, and the Delville Wood Memorial expresses this.
“There is the arch surmounted by Castor and Pollux, Dutch and English leading the Horse of War.
“This artistic group must stir the martial pride of patriots; but, look through the arch into the heart of the wood and see the cross. Pass under the arch — move over the ground they trod, when shells were falling seven a second, and get to the cross. Leave the world and its poor values behind and as you think yourself back into the spirit of the best of those men, you will feel the cross had to be there, in the midst.
“The crusaders’ spirit is the bond of union, uniting all South African patriots all over the Empire, and the cross in the wood symbolises the best spirit, and the truest union of all South Africans. This high sense of sacrifice in a greater and greater comradeship we pray will grow and grow until it passes from Dominion to Empire and from Empire to the whole World.”
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One of the strangest occurrences, bordering on the supernatural, concerns the “miracle” cross of Pietermaritzburg. For 60 years the cross wept annually during July by exuding resin from the knots.
In 1918 the SA Pioneer Corps made three crosses from timber salvaged from the splintered trees of Delville Wood. One was placed at the Cenotaph in Durban, the second at the Castle in Cape Town and the third in the Carbineers garden alongside the Pietermaritzburg City Hall. This cross bears the date “July 1916” on the upright and the words “2nd SAI” on the crossbar.
In 1958 the Pietermaritzburg cross was moved to its present niche in the MOTHS circular Garden of Remembrance in Leinster Road. The annual weeping then became particularly noticeable. The oozing takes place at knots at both ends of the crossbar. The upright bar, although it has many knots, does not “weep”.
Mr Jac Uys, an inspector of the Department of Forestry, made an investigation into this phenomenon. In the Carbineer Gardens the cross had faced west. Mr E Milford, national vice-chairman of the MOTHS told him that the cross wept profusely at the time.
Mr Uys took a sample of the resin and sent it to the Wattle Research Institute for analysis. He also sent shavings of wood to Pretoria for analysis. The cross is made from the Pinus Sylvester, a European pine tree pr
evalent in that part of France at the time. He ascertained that Mr William Olive, a local building contractor, had made the cross and used liberal applications of linseed oil.
Some of the theories advanced to explain this phenomena are:
a. The cylindrical hut acts as a heat trap. In fact the shelter is open. In any event the cross stood in the midday sun at the City Hall.
b. It may contain pieces of shrapnel which expands during July and heats the resin — in this case the weeping should take place in December, summer time!
c. The cross exudes the linseed oil used. The “resin” sample does contain small traces of linseed oil.
Mr Uys resumed his researches as follows:
“Every year for the past 60 years resin has dripped off the crossbar on July 14 and continued for a week or two.
“This year I have kept an eye on the cross every morning since May, noting the length of time the sun shines on it. I began my investigation with an open mind, but the more I look into it the more baffled I am. It looks supernatural.
“In France resin oozes from the trees in mid-summer, when the weather is very humid. No resin drips from the Maritzburg cross in summer. It seems more than mere coincidence that it begins to weep every year on the same date.”
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A few years after the war Col Donald MacLeod asked W A Beattie to write a poem about Delville Wood. Beattie had served in the wood with the 4th SAI and was wounded. His poem concluded with these verses:
“By ruined homes in Montauban, by trench and sunken road,
All resolute and strong the living stream of khaki flowed.
Through land laid waste and seared and torn by ruthless giant guns
And to that stream South Africa had lent her sturdy sons.
“Of Boer and British stock were they, and lean and lithe and tanned,
Yet mingling there as brothers fighting for one Motherland;
For kith and kindred o’er the sea, for King and Country now
Their hands they join in fellowship, and took the filial vow.
“And thus they entered Bernafay through fire and fited fume.
While every tree atrembling stood, as if it sensed its doom,
And in that avenue of woe they paused to count their dead,
Then grimly on to Delville, where their path of glory led.
“Within that wood of epic fame for days and nights they fought,
And backward thrust the stubborn foe, though every step was bought
With tragic toll of vivid youth, that had but life to give,
And gladly gave that precious gift, that you and I might live.
“From hour to hour the battle raged and fearful tumult reigned,
And still they fought as men inspired and still their ground maintained
And as their stricken comrades fell, the shattered boughs dropped down
In pity on their mangled forms — and made their laurel crown.
“So year by year we think of them and humble homage pay
To those who trod with courage high that Gethsemane.
Now Delville is South Africa blooddrenched with manhood’s bloom
Our heritage from heroes brave, our temple and our tomb.”
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Many other poems have been written, eulogising the bravery of our men at Delville Wood. The lyrics of A Soldier’s Song by Lieut Fred C Cornell make stirring reading.
“In Delville Wood — in Delville Wood,
The German foe in thousands lay,
And no-man’s-land, with British blood,
Ran red as wine that summer’s day —
We’d sworn to take it — and we would!
God help the Bosche in Delville Wood!
“In Delville Wood — in Delville Wood,
As inch by inch the ground we gained,
With bullet, steel, and smashing butt,
We fought and fell, till few remained;
But Boer and Briton steadfast stood,
For Freedom’s sake — in Delville Wood!
“To Delville Wood — To Delville Wood,
We faced his fire, and forced our way,
To where his grim machine-guns stood,
And where he fiercely turned at bay —
We’d sworn to beat him — and we would!
We’d turn him out of Delville Wood!
“In Delville Wood — in Delville Wood,
’Midst splintered trees and shattered wrack,
From morn till night we still made good
’Gainst shot and shell and massed attack,
We’d sworn to win, so firm we stood —
Or died like men — in Delville Wood!
“In Delville Wood — in Delville Wood,
The shattered trees are green with leaves,
And flowers bloom where cannons stood,
And rich the fields with golden sheaves —
Sleep soft ye dead, for God is good —
And Peace has come to Delville Wood!”
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The Germiston town council named one of its suburbs “Delville” in memory of the battle. The streets are named after other First World War battles and places.
Many children have been named “Delville” in honour of the battle. Perhaps the most significant memorial is the annual “Delville Wood” parades, in which South Africa pays homage to the dead, not only of Delville Wood, but in its name to all those who died for their country.
An interesting memento kept at the Transvaal Scottish Regimental Museum is a silver communion cup. This was made from a shooting trophy won by Col Dalrymple and used by many men of the 4th SAI who fought at Delville Wood.
Biographies
As far as possible I have attempted to trace what happened to the men mentioned in this book. Should a reader have particulars of such men not mentioned in the following pages I would be grateful to receive the information.
The names are listed alphabetically for ease of reference. The rank, unit and decorations listed below the name are those applying at the time of the Battle of Delville Wood. Where no biography is given, the individual may have been killed, in which case consult the “Roll of Honour”.
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After his foot healed, John Adams returned to the front. In March 1917 he was made a lance-corporal. Shortly afterwards he was wounded in his left arm at Arras. In November 1917 Adams was promoted to corporal. He was killed in action on 12 January 1918.
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Sergeant James Ainslie was wounded on the 17th by shrapnel in both hands — the left hand being rendered useless. On the 22nd he was posted to the reserve battalion and evacuated to England. He received a mention for Delville Wood. In November 1917 he was discharged as permanently unfit for service.
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Andrew Aitken was recommended for the DCM but received no award. Again at Warlencourt his courage was marked. As a second-lieutenant at Arras in April 1917 he was one of the officers in charge of “mappers”. He cleared enemy trenches and dug-outs and with a small party captured 60 to 70 Germans.
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Victor Allen was recommended for the DCM however was awarded the MM. He continued serving until 9 June 1918, when he was posted as missing, assumed dead.
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Jack Atterbury was to serve for the duration of the war. In 1926 he, Boet Lucas, Henry Sherman and Bob Healey represented Port Elizabeth at the unveiling of the Delville Wood Memorial in France. He worked for the City Treasurer’s department then became beach manager for seven years. While visiting Salisbury he was offered a position in the City Treasurer’s office. Atterbury and his wife lived there for the next 42 years and produced a son and a daughter. His wife died in 1971. Atterbury retired to East London where he lives at present.
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George Baker was recommended for the DCM for assisting Faulds in saving Lieut Craig, but was awarded the MM. He was killed in action on 12 April 1917.
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Major Baker remained as brigade-major until March 1917. He then became GSO
2 (General Staff Officer) of the 36th Division. For his services in France he was appointed brevet lieutenant-colonel in June 1919 and awarded the CBE.
After the armistice Baker was in charge of demobilisation of the SA contingent in the UK. In 1920 he was district staff officer in East London, then returned to Defence HQ as a general staff officer. In 1922 he was appointed ADC to King George V (later to King George VI) and the following year acting chief of the general staff.
In 1929 Baker was promoted to colonel and retired three years later. On the outbreak of the Second World War Baker was recalled for duty as quartermaster general. By 1944 he was a major-general and was awarded the CB for his services. He was promoted to lieutenant-general in 1947 and retired the following year. General Baker died at George, Cape, on 14 December 1956, aged 78.
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Domingo Balini was also wounded at Arras. After the war he returned to Cape Town and in 1966 made an SABC recording about his experiences in Delville Wood.
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Capt Harry Bamford was wounded through his cheeks in the wood. He was recommended for the DSO but awarded the MC. In April 1918 he commanded the SA Composite Contingent. In September Lieut-Col Bamford commanded the 2nd SAI Regiment in the reconstituted brigade, and was wounded in the advance of 8 October, 1918.
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“Billy” Barlow was severely wounded at Delville Wood. He returned to his regiment after the Somme and commanded one of the companies of the SA Brigade which resisted the advance of the Germans near Ypres. He was subsequently given his majority and served right through to the armistice, participating in the capture of Le Cateau and the victorious advance of the Allied forces. Late in the war he served as a brigade-major with the 9th Division.
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Ernest Barlow returned to South Africa in 1920, with his health undermined and impaired by shell-shock. He died tragically on 4 February 1921, at the age of 43 years.
Barlow’s legacy to his widow and five minor children (two sons and three daughters) was the small firm of Thomas Barlow & Sons. The firm had been incorporated in 1918. Both his sons, Charles Sydney (Punch) and Peter entered the business in due course. Punch was to become one of South Africa’s greatest industrialists.
