SS Mendi tragedy remembered

By Emily Setona

CLARENS – More than a century after the sinking of the SS Mendi, the bravery of the Black South African soldiers who perished in the icy waters of the English Channel remains a powerful yet often overlooked chapter of history.

Author and researcher, Brenda Shepherd, has dedicated years to uncovering the true story of the tragedy, which she is now adapting into a film script.

The SS Mendi was carrying 823 members of the South African Native Labour Contingent when it was struck by the SS Darro off the Isle of Wight on February 21, 1917. The collision tore into the Mendi’s hull, causing it to sink within 25 minutes. In the freezing winter waters, 607 Black soldiers, nine officers, and 30 crew members perished.

Speaking about the incident, Shepherd said, “The story of the Mendi is not just about loss. It is about the extraordinary courage of men who stood together in the face of death.”

One of the most enduring legends of the disaster is that of Reverend Isaac Wauchope Dyobha, who, as the ship went down, is said to have called out to the men: “Be quiet and calm, my countrymen. What is happening now is what you came to do. You are going to die, but that is what you came to do. Brothers, we are drilling the death drill. I, a Xhosa, say you are my brothers, Swazis, Pondos, Basotho, so let us die like brothers.”

Instead of panicking, the men are said to have performed a solemn death dance on the deck of the sinking ship, a moment of immense bravery now etched in history.

Despite their sacrifice, the Black South African soldiers aboard the SS Mendi were denied the military honours given to their white counterparts.

“After the end of World War I, the non-award of medals to Black soldiers from South Africa, while those from British protectorates like Lesotho, Botswana, and Swaziland received recognition, remained a contentious issue,” Shepherd noted.

Even a century later, recognition was delayed. In 2017, then-President Jacob Zuma called for these long-overdue honours to be awarded, but the demand was met with silence.

Shepherd explains that much of the story of the SS Mendi remained hidden for decades. The official transcripts from the inquiry into the disaster were classified as secret for 50 years. When they were finally released, they revealed that the captain of the Darro, Henry Stump, had been found guilty of negligence. However, his only punishment was a 12-month suspension of his license.

The Clarens Heritage Association (CHA) recently hosted a talk by Shepherd as part of its CHA tea talks series, an initiative aimed at promoting heritage awareness and tourism in the Eastern Free State. Debra Stuart, a representative of the association, explained the motivation behind the event.

“We want to build on Brenda’s incredible work and encourage young people in our community to take an interest in their heritage. We are also working on long-term projects such as heritage tourism, archiving historical documents, and establishing a Clarens Museum,” Debra said.

Stuart emphasized that Shepherd’s presentation was an eye-opener for the local audience. People were absolutely enthralled by what Shepherd presented. The details she uncovered went beyond what is usually shared on platforms commemorating the SS Mendi. It gave the Clarens community a deeper and more positive connection to this story.

The event concluded with a toast to the fallen men of the SS Mendi. “It was a moment of reflection and unity. In a time when social media is flooded with negativity about our society, this was a rare opportunity to celebrate courage, sacrifice, and our shared history,” Stuart added.

Today, the men of the SS Mendi are honoured through the Order of Mendi for Bravery, South Africa’s highest civilian award for courage. The ship’s legacy also lives on through various memorials, including the Hollybrook Memorial in Plymouth, where the names of the lost soldiers are engraved.

For Shepherd, writing about the SS Mendi is more than just preserving history, it is about restoring dignity. She went on further to say that It might be too late to right a wrong that happened so long ago, but by remembering the names of the men who perished, brings honour to their lost souls.

As her research continues, Shepherd remains committed to ensuring that the story of the SS Mendi is never forgotten. “Brave men never die,” she says, echoing the enduring spirit of those who perished on that fateful night.

The SS Mendi was a British troopship used to transport members of the South African Native Labour Contingent to France during World War I. On the night of February 20–21, 1917, the ship was sailing under escort when it was struck by the SS Darro, a much larger cargo ship. The Darro failed to stop and assist the sinking Mendi, leaving hundreds of men to die in the frigid waters.

Despite initial efforts to obscure the details of the tragedy, the SS Mendi has since become a symbol of Black South African heroism and sacrifice.