Michele Aucker (left) and Vanessa Milton from the Memorable Order of Tin Hats at the Maritzburg College's Remembrance Day event on Monday. PHOTO: PRASHALAN GOVENDER

Maritzburg College joined global commemorations of Remembrance Day on Monday by laying wreaths at its World War I Memorial and paying respects at the school’s Wall of Remembrance.

Remembrance Day - Figure 1
Photo Maritzburg Sun

The annual event honours the school’s 262 Old Collegians and three staff members who have died in conflicts since 1873.

Senior deputy headmaster Mathew Marwick said the event’s significance has expanded over the years to honour all those who have died in wars, recognising their “service, duty, and sacrifice”.

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The Wall of Remembrance, established in 2013 for the school’s 150th anniversary, provides a space for families to remember the College Old Boys they have lost.

This year, 14 new plaques were unveiled, adding to the wall’s testament of remembrance. The theme of this year’s commemoration was “Honouring the SS Mendi.”

According to the school, the SS Mendi left Cape Town for France on January 16, 1917, but was tragically struck by the SS Darro, causing a six-metre breach.

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The ship sank within 20 minutes in the English Channel, taking 646 lives, including 607 black South African troops. The tragedy was compounded by the Darro crew’s failure to offer assistance.

“We salute those men for their bravery and sacrifices,” said the school.

Representatives from the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (Moth), Michele Aucker and Vanessa Milton, expressed sorrow that conflict still plagues many parts of the world.

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