Many commentators have written about the guns falling silent in Europe on 11 November 1918 and the reasons we should be remembering 100 years on. For South Africa and other African countries though, the war continued until 25 November 1918 when the Germans finally lay down their arms at Abercorn, today’s Mbala.
While many South Africans will recognise the names Delville Wood and SS Mendi and some have awareness of South Africa’s relationship with South West Africa (Namibia), the fact that 51,541 men, excluding carriers, labourers, medical forces and women, served in East Africa in various roles is hardly known. During the four years and three months of campaigning in East Africa (today’s mainland Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi), two South Africans commanded the forces on behalf of the British Empire: Jan Smuts from 19 February 1916 to 6 January 1917 and Jaap van Deventer from 23 May 1917 through to the end of the war.
Jan Smuts (via Wikipedia)
Although not present at the surrender of the Germans on 25 November 1918, van Deventer oversaw the negotiations from his various locations visiting the troops and Dar es Salaam. It was van Deventer who insisted that the German officers be allowed to retain their swords and personal weapons when the British War Office wanted them to be surrendered. He also tried to arrange...
