SS Mendi Memories

Wauchope in International Order of True Templars regalia. (Image Source-Africa Media Online)

Photo taken of the Mendi men before they left Cape Town early January 1917. Standing and addressing the troops is believed to be the Rev. Isaac W. Wauchope.

The Mendi was built in Glasgow and in 1905 registered to the British & African Steam Navigation Co Ltd. She is shown here in pre-war days in use as a mail ship. (Image courtesy of the John Gribble Collection)

An information panel at the Delville Wood, France exhibition about the SS Mendi Historic England (Source: Steve Trow archive Historic England.

(From L-R) Mr Siboniso Makhaye, the grandson of Makaye Ndabana, Mrs Natalia Sifuba, descendant of Rev Isaac Dyobha Wauchope and Mr Tennyson Nyovani, grandson of Ebenezer Nyovani, looking at the graves of the nine members of the SA Native Labour Corps buried at Milton Cemetery in Portsmouth, 16 February 2017 (Source SA Navy Archives).

Mayor of Portsmouth, Mr David Fuller with descendants – Nosiza Dhlamini, Katie Sekile, Nat Sifuba and Tennyson Nyovani at the Chapel of the Milton cemetery prior to the proceedings of the wreath laying ceremony on the 17 February 2017.

(Front row l-r) The family descendants – Nobathembu Jamangile, Paulina Buyeye-Mohale, Nosiza Dhlamini, Katie Sekile, Tennyson Nyovani, Jacques de Vries and Nat Sifuba. (Back row) Siboniso Makhaye, Mike Veysie (descendant of one of the Mendi survivors) and Mark Lancaster a UK official at the Chapel of the Milton cemetery prior to the proceedings of the wreath laying ceremony on the 17 February 2017.

Nat Sifuba preparing to lay a wreath at the Milton Cemetery in Plymouth, UK.

The Hollybrook Memorial at the cemetery commemorates almost 1, 900 servicemen and women of the Commonwealth land and air whose graves are not know, including those who died when Mendi sank. (Source: CWGC)

Descendants and the South African Military Veterans arrive at the Hollybrook War Memorial Site on the 20 February 2017.

The ceremony was held at Hollybrook Cemetery in Southampton

LEFT: Minister in the Presidency, Mr Jeff Radebe, and the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, laying a wreath at the Hollybrook War Memorial in Commemoration of the Centenary of the sinking of the SS Mendi. (Source Centenary News).

Natalia Sifuba laying a wreath at the Cross of Sacrifice in the Hollybrook War Memorial on the 20 February 2017 in Commemoration of the Centenary of the sinking of the SS Mendi (Source Centenary News).

Nat Sifuba and Nick Ward, (War British historian & author of the “Black Titanic”) at the Milton Cemetery in Plymouth, UK.

The SA High Commissioner in the United Kingdom, Mr Obed Mlaba, and the Mayor of Portsmouth, Mr David Fuller, unveiling the memorial plaque in commemoration of the centenary of the sinking of the SS Mendi.

Nat Sifuba with Dr Andrew Murrison, British MP (South West Wiltshire) (Cons) as the Special representative of the Great War Centenary during the Portsmouth SS Mendi service.

(From L-R) Family descendants-Nat Sifuba, Siboniso Makhaye, Jacques de Vries, Sgt Elias Kholane, the piper from the South African Military Health Service, Pauline Buyeye-Mohale, Katie Sekile and Nobathembu Jamangile at the Milton cemetery. (Source SA Navy Archives).

Nat Sifuba with Vice Admiral M Hlongwane (Source SA Navy Archives).

Martin Woodward (founder of the SS Mendi wreckage in 1974) and Nat Sifuba at the Milton Cemetery in Plymouth, UK.

Nat Sifuba with one of the Wellow Primary School in Hampshire pupil who was one of the children that made and gave the medals to the descendants of the Mendi men.

Claudia Cavanagh (South African expatriate & journalist), Nat Sifuba & Nick Ward at the Littlehampton cemetery at the grave of Privates Linganiso Simon, Mbombiya Jim and Segule Smith (All buried in one grave).

Nick Ward and Nat Sifuba at the grave of Private Willie Elijah Tshabana who is buried at Hastings on a Church yard – his body washed ashore in the Birling Gap Eastbourne-East Dean beach months after the SS Mendi troopship sinking.

Programme of the day (front page)

Back page of program

(Standing) Portsmouth Chaplain and descendant Siboniso Makhaye (Seated) Family descendants; Pauline Buyeye-Mohale, Nat Sifuba, Nosiza Dhlamini and Katie Sekile aboard the SAS Amatola, waiting for the ship to sail to the wreckage site. Members of the South African Navy looking on in the background.

The Chief of the South African Navy Vice Admiral MS Hlongwane delivering a speech before the sailing to the wreckage site, 21 February 2017. (Source SA Navy Archives).

Descendants Paulina Buyeye-Mohale and Nat Sifuba with Minister Jeff Radebe

Her Excellency Dame Judith McGregor DCMG, LVO- British High Commissioner to South Africa, descendants-Siboniso Makhaye (center) and Nat Sifuba at the Hollybrook War Memorial site (Source DMV Archives).

“Medals” made by children from Wellow Primary School after a history lesson and projects. The children decided to give the descendants these medals on behalf of their government as they felt that the Mendi men were not honoured like their counterparts.

Nat Sifuba stands on the bridge of the SAS Amatola as the ship proceeds to the Mendi wreckage site on the 21st February 2017. (Source Kevin Ritchie).

Nat Sifuba, great-great granddaughter of Rev I. W. Dyobha Wauchope preparing to lay a wreath at the Mendi wreckage site. (Source SA Navy Archives).

Natalia Sifuba, a descendant of Rev Isaac Wauchope Dyoba, laid a wreath at sea to honour the fallen heroes who perished with the sinking of the SS Mendi (Source SA Navy Archives).

The SS Mendi descendants paused and reflected for the last time on the deck of the SAS Amatola at the wreckage site at the end of the wreath laying ceremony. (Source DMV Archives).

A wreath floats in the English Channel to commemorate the Centenary of the sinking of the SS Mendi troopship

Minister Jeff Radebe and Nat Sifuba aboard the SAS Amatola, as the ship sailed to the wreckage site on the 21st February 2017.

The Chief of the SA Navy, V Adm Mosiwa Hlongwane, on board the SAS AMATOLA, laid a wreath at the exact site where the SS Mendi went down in the English Channel a century ago. (Photo by S Sgt Lebogang Tlhaole)

Minister Jeff Radebe laying a wreath at the Mendi wreckage site. (Source SA Navy Archives).

SS MENDI CENTENARY 2017 | UNITED KINGDOM