CWGC South African War Graves to Visit

There are now more than 23,000 South African war graves and names on our war memorials around the world. Discover where and why South African servicemen and women are commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission around the world. 

During the world wars, South Africans served all over the world and in many roles. They served in the infantry and artillery, in the air and at sea, in nursing and medical services, as engineers, in railway and signal companies and in service and labour corps. Many died far from their home country and their contribution to the Allied war effort was significant.

Why are there Commonwealth war graves in South Africa? 

While you can find South Africans commemorated in CWGC sites across the globe, there are more than 10,000 Commonwealth burials in South Africa including men and women from forces of the Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. 

On the ground, South Africa was not a fighting front in either world war. Men and women served in South Africa to defend her from sea and air attack, to train for service overseas, and to care for those sick and wounded in fighting elsewhere.

The nearest land campaign to South Africa took place in German South West Africa (now Namibia) in the early months of the war. British and South African troops fought there from September 1914 until early July 1915 when the German force and colonial authorities surrendered. Some of the Commonwealth dead of this campaign are buried or commemorated in South Africa and some in Namibia.

Given South Africa’s position, almost halfway between Europe and the Pacific, it was an important logistical centre with shipping between Britain and the Empire often stopping in South African ports. Hospitals were set up to receive casualties from campaigns elsewhere in Africa, and to deal with military personnel who had become ill while at sea, leading to many Commonwealth war dead being buried in port cities like Cape Town and Durban. During the Second World War, in addition to hospitals in port cities, a huge military hospital with over 1,500 beds was built at Baragwanath near Johannesburg to care for casualties from the fighting in the Middle East and North Africa.

Commonwealth joint Air Training Plan, No. 23 air school at Waterkloof, Pretoria, South Africa, January 1943 © IWM (tr 1255)

Flight as a military tool was still in its infancy during World War One, however the South African Union Defence Force had set up a flight school in 1912, training pilots who flew over South Africa during the war. 

This was further expanded in World War Two, as part of the Empire Air Training scheme (EATS), with air training centres created across South Africa. Thousands of aircrew from across the Empire were trained in South Africa -- unfortunately, training accidents occur, and some servicemen were killed. Many were buried near to where they crashed, leading to Commonwealth burials across the country and at larger sites like Johannesburg (West Park) Cemetery close to a large EATS centre. 

Where are the war graves in South Africa?

Commonwealth dead of both world wars can be found across South Africa. War dead from many nations are commemorated there, many in the more remote areas of the country. 

Some of our largest sites in South Africa are: 

How many war graves are in South Africa?

The CWGC commemorates more than 10,000 Commonwealth servicemen and women of the two world wars in South Africa. The majority – over 8,300 – have known graves, while over 2,000 are listed on CWGC war memorials. More than 8,000 of those we commemorate in South Africa were serving in South African units when they died. There are just over 1,500 members of British military units commemorated in South Africa, as well as some 120   Australians, Canadians, Indians, and New Zealanders. We also care for small numbers of war graves of other national forces, including Dutch, French, and German soldiers and sailors. 

South African war graves from WW1

When war was declared in August 1914, the government of South Africa, then a dominion of the British Empire, rallied immediately to the Allied cause. Prime Minister Louis Botha offered help by releasing the British garrison in South Africa so that those troops could be used elsewhere.

South African troops fought in German South West Africa (Namibia) and in the campaign in East Africa (including modern Tanzania). Here the Germans did not surrender until 23 November 1918, 12 days after the European Armistice had been signed.

A South African enlistment ad from 1917, which reads: What will you answer when your son asks, 'Father, what did you do to help when our empire fought for freedom?' Enlist now! © IWM (Art.IWM PST 12322)

South African soldiers served on the Western Front in France and Belgium. Initially part of the 9th (Scottish) Division, the South African Brigade fought at Delville Wood in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme, suffering heavy casualties in fierce hand-to-hand fighting and under relentless German bombardment. South Africans also fought in many other significant battles including Arras, Passchendaele, and Mont Kemmel.

Delville Wood Cemetery, France, is the final resting place of more than 5,520 servicemen of the British Empire, including more than 150 South Africa servicemen. Across the road from this cemetery, in the wood itself, is the South Africa (Delville Wood) National Memorial. In its grounds is  the South African Delville Wood Commemorative Museum where one South African burial of the First World War was reburied in a stone sarcophagus in July 2014.

Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania, is the final resting place of more than 1,910 servicemen of the British Empire, including more than 630 South African servicemen. Within the cemetery stands the Dar Es Salaam British and Indian Memorial which commemorates more than 1,520 servicemen of the British Empire, including more than 70 of South Africa, who have no known grave.

Hollybrook Memorial, in Southampton, UK, commemorates close to 600 South African servicemen who died in the loss of the troop transport SS Mendi, and who have no grave but the sea.

How many South African war casualties - WW1?

We commemorate more than 11,500 South African war dead who died during World War One. More than 6000 of these are buried in cemeteries around the world, and close to 5000 commemorated on our iconic memorials. 

South African war graves from WW2

At the outbreak of the Second World War, South Africa once more pledged its support to Britain, entering the war on 6 September 1939. The nation did not mobilise its forces outside South Africa until Italy's entry into the war in June 1940, when South African soldiers joined other Commonwealth forces in operations against Italian-held Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) and Somaliland.

During the campaign, which involved more than 30,000 South Africans, experience was gained in desert warfare that would prove invaluable. South African forces fought major battles in North Africa, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Italy. They played an important role in the decisive Battle of El Alamein in Egypt in October 1942.

South Africans also fought in the air, including in the South African Air Force which played a major role in North Africa, and at sea. As well as helping to patrol the vital African coasts, many served in the Royal Navy.

Douglas Boston aircraft of No 24 Squadron, South African Air Force lined up at Zuara, Tripolitania. © IWM TR 838

El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt, is the final resting place of some 7,240 Second World War Commonwealth servicemen including more than 490 South African servicemen. At one end of the cemetery stands the Alamein Memorial which commemorates some 11,860 Second World War Commonwealth servicemen, including some 1,230 of South Africa, who died in the North African campaign and have no known grave.

Castiglione South African Cemetery, Italy, is the final resting place of some 500 Second World War Commonwealth servicemen including more than 400 South African servicemen, making it a largely ‘South African’ cemetery.

Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Libya, is the final resting place of some 3,650 Second World War Commonwealth servicemen, including some 420 South African servicemen.

How many South African casualties - WW2?

We commemorate close to 12,000 South African war dead of World War Two. Just under 10,000 South African servicemen and women are buried in cemeteries around the world, many of them CWGC cemeteries, and just under 2,000 have no known grave and are named on one of our memorials. 

South African war graves around the world

Across both wars, South Africans took part in many key conflicts across all theatres of war. From Scotland to Singapore, the South African sacrifice is remembered in our cemeteries and war memorials around the world. 

South African war graves Italy

After the Allies had recaptured Rome in 1944, Commonwealth forces in Italy faced a slow advance against German troops who had prepared positions and the natural defences of the Apennines in their favour. 

Castiglione South African Cemetery contains some 500 Commonwealth burials of World War Two, more than 400 of whom are South African casualties. The cemetery was started by the 6th South African Armoured Division who were based in the town from September 1944 to April 1945. Many of the burials here are soldiers that died in the fighting in the Italian mountains.

South African war graves in France

The Battle of Delville Wood in 1916 was the first major engagement for the 1st South African Infantry Brigade. This battle was part of a larger offensive across the Somme. The South African force captured Delville Wood on 15 July, forming a salient that meant they were surrounded on three sides by German forces. The three South African battalions that made up the brigade held the position for six days, suffering a huge number of casualties. On 20 July 1916, the few survivors were relieved.

Delville Wood Cemetery, France, is the final resting place of more than 5,520 servicemen of the British Empire, including more than 150 South African servicemen. The South Africa (Delville Wood) National Memorial stands across the road from the cemetery, within the wood itself, and is dedicated to the memory of all those lost by South Africa throughout the war. 

South African war graves in the UK 

Of the close to 1400 South Africans commemorated in the UK, more than 700 are commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial in Southampton, including more than 600 men of the South African Native Labour Corps who lost their lives in the sinking of SS Mendi in 1917 and who have no known grave. 

Over 220 men of the South African Naval Forces of World War Two with no grave but the sea are named on the Plymouth Naval Memorial. Twenty-six of them were lost in a single ship, HMSAS Treern, a minesweeper serving in the Mediterranean. The last South African warship to be sunk in the war, she struck a mine off Volo, Greece, in January 1945.

There some 150 South African burials at Brookwood Military Cemetery, three of whom died during World War Two, the rest during World War One. Many of the other South African burials in the UK are small numbers of graves in towns and villages across the country. 

South African war graves in North Africa

South African forces played an important role throughout the North African campaign in World War Two, most notably at the first battle of El Alamein. On 12 July 1942, part-way through the almost month-long battle, the Germans launched a strong attack against the South African-held part of the line. The South African force, assisted by the British Army and Australian troops, held firm, resisting the German assault and preventing a potentially disastrous breakthrough. 

There are close to 500 South African war dead buried at El Alamein War Cemetery with a further 1,200 commemorated on Alamein Memorial, a small but important section of the Commonwealth men and women who fought and died in North Africa in the world wars. 

How to find and visit South African war graves

You can discover South African war graves by using our website. Our Find War Dead page will let you search for South African dead. You can search by ‘Served with (country)’ and select South Africa, and then add in other details. You can also search for casualties commemorated in South Africa. For example, you may wish to find all South African casualties of World War One, British Army war dead in South Africa, or all South African casualties commemorated in France. 

You can then find out more information about your chosen person, or group, and the cemetery or memorial where they’re commemorated. 

You can also search for all of our sites across South Africa using our cemetery and memorial search tool; this will help you plan a visit to one of our sites, giving you historical and visitor information.