South Africa : Soldiers march in honour of Remembrance Sunday

Johannesburg - In honour of Remembrance Sunday, soldiers marched through the streets of Soweto on Saturday in the Freedom Regiments Parade.

The parade normally takes place on the day before Remembrance Sunday, the day set aside in Europe and the United Kingdom to commemorate the dead of WW1 and WW2, reports Joburg.org.

In Johannesburg, Remembrance Sunday honours those who died in the world wars, but also those who died in the armed struggle for freedom and democracy in the country.

The parade took place in Soweto for the first time; military units and veterans marched down Mooki Street in Orlando East, to the Orlando Communal Hall. At 11am over 400 soldiers marched behind a massed pipe band.

"The shift of venue underlines the inclusive, democratic ethos of the city, while enabling Soweto residents to view the occasion for the first time," according to a statement from the provincial government.

In previous years, the march started in the city centre and ended at the Cenotaph in Beyers Naude Square.

A number of military veterans' organisations took part in the march including the Umkhonto we Sizwe Military Veterans Association, the Azanian People's Liberation Army Military Veterans' Association, the South African National Military Veterans' Association, the Azanian National Liberation Army Military Veterans' Association and the Council of Military Veterans' Organisations.

Twelve Freedom Regiments also took part in the parade in support of the 21 Battalion, an army unit with a long association with Soweto.

So far, 12 regiments have been given Freedom of Entry status to march in the city with fixed bayonets, colours flying and drums beating, a privilege and "a symbolic token of the trust placed in a specific regiment or unit by the civilian population".

The Orlando Communal Hall is a historic venue - it was used for ANC meetings from the 1930s and was where the Pan Africanist Congress was formed in 1959.

"This area is also associated with leading figures of the anti-apartheid movement, including Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo and Robert Sobukwe."

The Speaker, Nkele Ntingane, was the patron of the Freedom Parade and received a salute. After the march a religious service and a wreath-laying ceremony was held to remember fallen comrades and heroes.

On Sunday, the traditional Remembrance Day ceremony was held in Beyers Naude Square in the CBD, and was broadcasted live on SAfm.

Executive Mayor Amos Masondo opened the ceremony, with the Reverend Dr Mongezi Guma giving the sermon. Prayers were said by Moulana Abbas Hlatswayo, Guru Sarma, chaplain Fredaline Manganye and Rabbi Ron Hendler.

The afternoon will consist of a number of ceremonies including a march past, the posting of sentries, a MOTH salute and prayer, the playing of the Last Post, and the laying of wreaths.

At this year's service, a special tribute would be paid to mark the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Square Hill, when soldiers of the Cape Corps distinguished themselves in battle in Palestine (now the Middle East).

They captured a hill held by German and Turkish forces and defended it against all counter-attacks.

They captured 181 prisoners and eight officers and about 160 other ranks, as well as took possession of an enemy field gun.

In all this, they only lost one man, with one wounded.

They moved forward to another hill alongside Square Hill, without artillery support, and fierce fighting resulted in the loss of 51 soldiers, with 101 wounded. They held their ground despite heavy artillery and machine gun fire.

The Cape Corps returned to Cape Town with 16 Distinguished Conduct medals, eight Military medals, two Order of the Crown of Italy (bronze), two Decoration Militaire (Belgium) and one Medaille Militaire (France).

"The contribution of soldiers of colour was enormous and the price they paid was equally high. Of the 12 452 South African servicemen who died in the First World War, 3 901 were either black, Indian or coloured."

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the end of WW1. - BuaNews