Delville Wood Battlefield

A walk across the battlefield of Delville Wood in France - scene of one of the bloodiest battles of WW1, in which about 80% of the South African forces were wiped out. This is one of the world's particularly unforgettable battlefields.

[@osks]

As a South African, Delville Wood was a truly extraordinary place to experience - what struck me most was the eerie and almost reverent silence that seemed to be held tightly in the grip of the forest - not even the sound of a single bird could be heard…
The many undulations formed by the bomb craters spoke of the immense battering it endured… it must have been utter Hell for the soldiers trapped inside the Wood
May the Lord keep all those who perished so far from home, in eternal peace…

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Thank you for sharing your moving impression.

[@balaclava8237]

One of mine from UK did too in November 1916

[@AneesMohamed]

This story deserves to be told as a movie.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Thank you. I also believe it would make a tremendous movie.

[@3vimages471]

What so Tom Cruise can win the say and win the war? I don`t think so.

[@angiemasters6200]

My grandfather fought there, was wounded and thankfully survived. He was one of nine brothers, all went to war and miraculously all came home.
I visited Delville Wood some years back and was struck by the quiet birdsong and tranquil atmosphere, so very different to my grandfather’s experience. It was very emotional on seeing the one surviving tree which had poppy crosses and folded letters tucked into it.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

We are grateful for his service, and I am grateful that you value his memory and keep it alive.

[@AssBeater-ov2ze]

Sussy balls

[@joshmarks3954]

Powerful. Thought provoking. Thank you

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Thank you for sharing the memory.

[@h1017412]

Thank you.
Not many people left that chronicle, as well as share South African military exploits.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

I collect Delville Wood medals. From the research I've done into the lives of the people who survived it, I think it is fair to say that their lives were never normal again after that. War is dreadful.

[@johanjohnleach8504]

Thank you. A decent movie needs to be made of this battle, lest we forget.

[@tonyvanderhelm2934]

Dankie Herman.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

My plesier Tony.

[@fraseredk7433]

Good job Herman.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Thank you very much

[@derekevans8266]

My granddad was badly wounded at Devile wood he was with the football battalion the 17th Middlesex regiment he played for Clapton Orient ( Leyton Orient now ) he never played or worked again, He died the year I was born his name was Nolan ( peggy ) Evans

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Thank you for sharing that. We value his service. He made a difference to the future of us all.

[@cayminlast]

My Oupa was wounded there and he survived, lived to a ripe old age. Never talked much about his service.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

My respects to his memory and gratitude for his service Cayminlast.

[@shaunspies1108]

It is a pity that the story of the Transvaal Scottish is not told, and their role and losses at Delville wood not told. Nor of the Boertjies, that had served at Delville Wood, and their respective regiments.
Also, it is unfair to refer to us as British forces, tho a colony, by force, we were still South Africans, our own identity. Ausies, and New Zealanders get mentioned as such, why not us?

[@JeremyMalies]

Great work - thank you for creating this.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Thank you for honouring the memory of those who served with me.

[@fraseredk7433]

My Great Uncle Vernon died there.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Thank you for his sacrifice for the freedom of the world.

[@fraseredk7433]

@@HermanLabuschagne cheers Herman. Hope we don't have to do it again

[@HermanLabuschagne]

@@fraseredk7433 I also really, really hope we won't. In a week I'll be saying goodbye to one of my young friends, who is heading to join the British Navy. I said to him several occasions over the past three years to consider carefully. We are heading for WW3 and when it happens, Britain will be in it from the very start. Then soldier games will become real war. The last time we spoke, he looked very sober. Suddenly, and for the first time, he sees how close we are to that happening. I don't want to see another beautiful generation destroyed in the trenches, as is happening in Ukraine now. Civilization needs to make better choices fast. The urgency is extreme.

[@SnipingMachines]

Good stuff 👍 Keep grinding

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Thanks indeed.

[@derekevans8266]

There is a video on youtube showing the Clapton team running out on to the pitch before they all siged up to go to war. My granddad is the last player to run out onto the pitch.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Wow!

[@Rossi46Moore]

I was todays years old when i discovered I had a relative that was killed here or nearby. Im still piecing things together. Apparently he was killed on the 2nd of Feb 1917

[@chrisattwood1351]

My great uncle was killed here and is buried in deville wood war cemetery ( I was named after him and named my first son after him ). He was just 25 yrs old

[@juliahodgskin-rossouw6089]

Same! Is he buried in France?

[@sugarkane4830]

@@juliahodgskin-rossouw6089Well yes that’s where Delville wood is.

[@Bruce-1956]

I just cannot imagine how terrifying it must have been. #wewillrememberthem

[@HermanLabuschagne]

As far as I could tell, none of the survivors were ever the same after that. They remained scarred for the rest of their lives.

[@stuartmcpherson1921]

Read the book about this battle. Gives a very detailed account from soldiers plus overall view. Worth reading.

[@juliahodgskin-rossouw6089]

What's the name of the book please?

[@madehugo6607]

Uitstekend.

[@HermanLabuschagne]

Baie dankie Madé