As the centenary of World War 1 draws to a close we will be taking a closer look at the history of the Great War as it impacted on South Africans. Two presenters will make three separate presentations all linked by this theme.

Dr. James Gray will present an illustrated account, with music, of the Battle of Delville Wood in which there were so many South African casualties. He selects poetry that catches the sense of the time.  Dr. Gray is the minister of the Hermanus United Church. He was educated at Rondebosch Boys’ High and went on to read history and theology at Rhodes University. Sometime later he successfully pursued his doctoral studies at the University of St Andrews in Scotland.

Dr. Robin Lee will make two short separate presentations. In the first he will introduce the audience to William Henry Hewitt VC (1884-1966) who is believed to be the only retiree in Hermanus history who had won the decoration during the Great War.. The second presentation will focus on the sinking of the SS Mendi which resulted in the deaths of some 600 members of the South African Native Labour Corp.
Dr. Lee retired to Hermanus in 2001 and serves on the Committee of the University of the Third Age and the Hermanus History Society. He was educated at St. John’s College, the University of Natal and his doctoral qualification was awarded by Wits University.

GUESTS, FRIENDS AND VISITORS VERY WELCOME