The SA Legion once again Marches in the Cenotaph Parade

Not for Ourselves, but for Others

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LONDON, November 2019

The  South  African  Legion  of Military  Veterans  we  know today was  born of the

British  Empire  Service  League  (BESL),  which  was  founded  in  1921  by Field

Marshall Earl Haig, General J C Smuts and General Sir H T Lukin in Cape Town.

The Commonwealth-wide organisation that went on to encompass branches in South Africa,

Australia, New Zealand and Canada, has since morphed into the Royal Commonwealth Ex-

Services  League (RCEL),  of  which  the  South  African  Legion  is  still  an  active  affiliate – as

reflected at the base of our badge.

The  aim  was  and  still  is  primarily  to  provide  care  for  ex-service  men  and  women  who

experience hardship once they return to civilian life. The Legion, and the ranks of veterans,

grew even more following WWII, and over the years, thousands of men and women have

been assisted in all manner of means and this work carries on today.

Natural attrition has now called all ex-service personnel from WWI to Higher Service, and

the lines of WWII veterans are becoming ever thinner, however the South African Border

War and the Armed Struggle produced a new generation of veterans.

The Legion is also a respected body in South Africa in terms of achieving recognition, and

where appropriate, proper benefits and pensions for former military personnel. The Legion

has also mediated with the South African armed forces and guided many veterans through the

application process to receive medals and decorations that they were entitled to.

Today, with a membership in excess of 1,500, the South African Legion reflects the diversity

of the South African population. In addition to the welfare of veterans, a major activity of the

Legion is to promote awareness and honour especially the South African Fallen, in all conflicts.

                                                                                
The SA Legion organises several annual remembrance parades and services throughout  South

Africa.  The  UK  &  Europe  branches  hold  or  attend  annual  events  across  the  UK  and  the

Continent.  We  attended  many  of  the  WWI  Centenary  events  from  2014-2018  WWI

Centenary, and now pause to mark 75 years since the start of WWII.

Most  of  the  members  who  will  march  with  the  SA  Legion  contingent  in  London  on

Remembrance  Sunday  are  veterans  of  the  Border  War  of  the  1970s  and  1980s,  however

many, on their right breast, also proudly display the medals of their fathers or grandfathers

who served in the Two World Wars or Korea. A few of our members have also served in

UN/NATO operations in subsequent conflicts.

It is a supreme honour for the South African Legion to participate in this year’s Remembrance

Sunday march-past at the Cenotaph in Whitehall.

When  the  Two  Minutes  Silence  is  observed,  we  will  have  an  extra  moment  of  pride  to

remember that the practice originated in Cape Town, where from May 1918 to May 1919, a

two minute ‘silent pause of remembrance’ was observed after the daily firing of the noon day

gun on Signal Hill.

We wear our badge which is symbolic of the proud South African contribution to conflicts

around the world throughout modern history, on land, at sea, and in the air.

And we have the privilege to carry with us the honour of remembering not only our own

fallen comrades, but also those of our forebears who made the ultimate sacrifice – many of

whom lie buried ‘in foreign fields’ alongside their Commonwealth comrades.

                At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,

                              We will remember them.

For further information:

Lgr. Andrew Bergman

Public Relations Officer

South African Legion of Military Veterans (United Kingdom & Europe)

andrewmb@salegion.org.uk