Let Us Die Like Brothers : Remembering Black War Dead

Let Us Die Like Brothers : Remembering Black War Dead

MAIDENHEAD, England, October 2/PRNewswire/ -- A new educational resource aimed at promoting awareness of the role
played by black troops in the First World War, 'Let us die like brothers' is
launched today (2 October) at South Africa House, London.

Produced for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, 'Let us die like
Brothers' tells the story of the SS Mendi which sank in the English Channel
on 21 February 1917 while carrying 800 members of the South African Native
Labour Corps to France. 600 of the men on board perished. Aimed at upper
primary and secondary schools, the resource investigates the aspirations and
treatment of black troops and the legacy of their sacrifice.

'Let us die like brothers' has been released to coincide with Black
History Month and the Remembrance period. It will be released in South Africa
in February 2007 to mark the 90th anniversary of the Mendi tragedy. The
resource is a joint venture between the Commission and the History Channel.

Her Excellency Lindiwe Mabuza, South African High Commissioner to the UK,
said,

"There is a significant lack of information available to young people,
both in the United Kingdom and South Africa, which deals with the involvement
and sacrifices made by black people during the two world wars. 'Let us die
like brothers' aims to redress some of this imbalance."

Vice-Chairman of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Sir Peter Squire
said,

'Let us die like brothers' is an exceptionally moving and resonant
presentation and I hope that it will engage young people in the importance of
remembrance as well as raising awareness of the huge sacrifices made by black
service personnel."

Notes for Editors

1. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for marking and
maintaining the graves of those members of the Commonwealth forces who died
during the two world wars, for building and maintaining memorials to the dead
whose graves are unknown and for providing records and registers of these 1.7
million burials and commemorations found in most countries throughout the
world.

2. The History Channel

The History Channel offers high quality historical documentaries on a
wide range of topics. For further information visit
www.thehistorychannel.co.uk.

3. SS Mendi

On 21 February 1917, during World War I, the SS Mendi was transporting
823 members of the South African Native Labour Corps to France. She had
sailed from Cape Town to Plymouth, before proceeding towards Le Havre. At
5am, she was struck and cut almost in half by the liner, SS Darro. 616 South
Africans and 30 British crew members died in the disaster.

Most of the dead of the SS Mendi are commemorated on the Hollybrook
Memorial in Southampton which commemorates Commonwealth land and air forces
lost in vessels sunk in British home waters and who have no known grave. The
men lost on the Mendi make up almost a third of the 1,900 names on the
memorial.

4. South Africa and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

South Africa is one of six Commonwealth countries which participate in
the work of the Commission. The cost of the Commission's work is met by the
member governments in proportion to the number of their war dead commemorated
by the Commission. The South African contribution is 2.11%.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission commemorates 10,463 South African
casualties of the First World War and 11,902 of the Second World War.

Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

For further information please contact Emily Bird on +44(0)1628-507171 (mobile +44(0)7723-010425) or by email at emily.bird@cwgc.org

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