Hundreds of South African servicemen, mostly black, who died during World War One have been honoured with a new memorial in Cape Town after going unrecognised for more than a century. The 1,772 men worked in dangerous and gruelling non-combatant roles in East Africa but until now, they had no known grave or commemoration.

The names are carved on poles of African hardwood that are set upright as if reaching for the sun. Black South African servicemen who died in non-combat roles on the Allied side during World War I and have no known grave have been recognized with a memorial featuring 1,

More than 1,700 Black South African servicemen who died in non-combat roles on the Allied side during World War I and have no known grave have been recognized with a memorial more than 100 years later

While South Africa has several memorials dedicated to white soldiers who died in the world wars, Black servicemen’s contributions were ignored for decades.

Cape Town honors 1,772 Black South African servicemen who died in World War I without known graves. A new memorial preserves their legacy.