A French forest holds a stone monument to South Africa's World War I dead

Countries & Cities · Published 29 September 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Located in the Somme department of France, the Delville Wood South African National Memorial honors the 10,000 South African soldiers who perished during the First World War. This striking architectural tribute, unveiled in 1926, serves as a permanent testament to the nation's participation in global conflicts across multiple continents.

The memorial stands in Delville Wood, near the commune of Longueval, directly opposite a Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery. Following the war, the site was purchased by politician Sir Percy Fitzpatrick and gifted to South Africa. The French government subsequently granted the land in perpetuity for memorial purposes, allowing for the construction of a monument funded by public subscription. Designed by Sir Herbert Baker, the structure features a flint and stone screen flanking an archway, topped by a bronze sculpture by Alfred Turner depicting two men and a war horse, symbolizing the British and Afrikaans populations of South Africa.

Unveiled on October 10, 1926, the ceremony was attended by prominent figures including Prime Minister J. B. M. Hertzog and the widow of General Louis Botha. The site commemorates the roughly 229,000 South African officers and men who served during the war, including those who fought in the East African Campaign and the Western Front. While the memorial marks the site of the Battle of Delville Wood, it also honors participation in engagements such as the Battle of Arras and the Battle of Passchendaele. Unlike other Dominion memorials, it did not originally feature inscribed names, as the missing were instead recorded on battlefield memorials alongside United Kingdom forces.

The site evolved over the 20th century. In 1952, an altar stone was added to honor South Africans who died during the Second World War, unveiled by the mother of Victoria Cross recipient Major Edwin Swales. Later, in 1986, a five-pointed star-shaped museum was opened behind the main monument. Today, the memorial remains a significant site of remembrance, with replicas located in Pretoria and Cape Town, ensuring that the legacy of the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force is preserved both in France and at home.

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