War and society

The centenary of the First World War presents historians with an opportunity to reflect anew upon South African participation in that war and particularly the role played by South African black and coloured participants in the conflict. Drawing upon a wide range of sources, the author analyses the interplay between war and society: the expectations of different groupings at the outbreak of war; the concerns and constraints which circumscribed the role of black and coloured troops; the nature of the recruiting process and the reasons why men enlisted; the realities of service in what was South-West Africa and East Africa, as well as in France and Palestine; and the socio-political ramifications of war service. In addition, the remembrance of the SS Mendi disaster in 1917 and its subsequent mythological dimensions are assessed, as are the notions of a presumed Cape Corps military tradition. The book concludes with a reflective chapter, suggesting that the impact of the First World War on South African society has been underestimated.