WW1 Pair And Plaque To The SAI, KIA Delville Wood

WW1 pair PTE R ANDERSON 3RD SAI Memorial Plaque ROBERT ANDERSON

Robert Anderson 3rd South African Infantry, the 40 year old Son of the late John and Margaret Lamb, of Newcastle-on-Tyne. was killed in action on the 18th of July 1916 at the Battle of Delville Wood . he has no known grave and is commemorated on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL



Delville Wood is where the battalions of the South African Brigade came under withering German artillery fire in their attempt to capture and then defend the wood in mid July 1916. This attack was against the German Second Position and the South African Brigade was serving with the British 9th Division in this action. Both the wood and the South African battalions were almost completely destroyed. The South African Brigade had gone into battle here on 15th July 1915 with a strength of 121 officers and 3,032 other ranks. At roll call on 21st July they numbered only 29 officers and 751 other ranks.

The Official History of the Great War 1914-1918 records the courage of the South Africans holding the wood:

“The South Africans had covered themselves with glory at Delville Wood, which is now laid out as a memorial to their dead. In spite of terrible losses, they had steadfastly endured the ordeal of the German bombardment, which seldom slackened and never ceased, and had faced with great courage and resolution repeated counter-attacks delivered by fresh German troops. Since their first advance into the wood on the morning of 15th July they had defied all attempts to drive them completely from it

Medals with original ribbons and in NEF condition

Code: 50984