Wednesday 22 January 25: Wynberg Boys’ High was honoured to be among a handful of schools invited to the official inauguration of the South African Labour Corps Memorial in Cape Town’s Company Gardens.
Representing WBHS at this historic occasion were prefects Bruce Igilige and Hilton Botha, accompanied by Head of History, Mr Simon Sonderup, who were introduced to Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, who opened the Memorial on behalf of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Mr Sonderup writes:
In the Company’s Gardens, alongside the Delville Wood Memorial, the newest Commonwealth Graves Commission Memorial was unveiled today.
The ceremony was opened by Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, and Claire Horton, Director General of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Poet Koleka Putuma dedicated a poem to those honoured in the memorial before Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne, inaugurated the memorial.
The Last Post was played and a two-minute silence was observed before the wreath-laying ceremony and a cultural tribute by praise poet, Lwanda Sindaphi and impepho and calabash holder, Sindiswa Yamkela Mabadi.
The closing remarks were made by Vice Admiral Peter Hudson CBE, and the national anthem was sung by the South African Youth Choir.
Bruce and Hilton gave numerous interviews to the Press and were exemplary ambassadors of Wynberg Boys’ High School. In all, they met Princess Anne, members of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Premier Alan Winde, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis, and most importantly, witnessed the historic opening of this memorial in recognition of the 1700 non-white non-combatants who perished during World War I.
We thank Chand Consultants for the invitation and for looking after the students at the event.
Report and photos courtesy Simon Sonderup
The Flickr album of photographs includes:
The Wynberg representatives
Ella Binos from Cedar House
Vice-Admiral Peter Hudson
Mayor of Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis
Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde
Mr Kevin Ashton
Sadia Chand
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal
