DEATH IN ICY WATERS: The late Madi Phala’s memorial, conjuring the prow of a sinking ship and the floating hats and helmets of drowned soldiers, honours the troops of the SA Native Labour Corps who died when the SS Mendi sank during in World War I PICTURE: GARTH STEAD © SUNDAY TIMES

Reverend Isaac Wauchope

1852 — 1917

Early on the morning of February 21, 1917, a month after leaving Cape Town harbour, the troopship SS Mendi was rammed in thick fog in the English Channel. She sank in 20 minutes. On board, the Reverend Isaac Wauchope rallied the servicemen, the last contingent of the South African Native Labour Corps, to support the war effort in Europe: "You are going to die, but that is what you came here to do... Let us die like warriors, the sons of Africa." Wauchope was among the dead that morning. Of the 895 on board, 647 lost their lives, among them 607 black troops.

» ARTIST: Madi Phala

» ADDRESS: World War I training ground, University of Cape Town

Black valour

GOING DOWN WITH THE SHIP

Sift through the treasure trove of the Wauchope archives

Read the only Xhosa-language prison poetry yet published — that of Reverend Isaac Wauchope, one of the heroes of the SS Mendi disaster. See the newspaper adverts that convinced black troops to join the war cause. Travel back in time with first-hand accounts of the sinking of the SS Mendi

» View the archive

» Key moments in Isaac Wauchope's life

MADI PHALA

IN A BRUSHSTROKE

» Who was Madi Phala?
"I have this belief that I have put my signature on the Mother City’s belly and we’ve made a baby now," said the late artist, Madi Phala

» The light bulb moment: The artist’s concept
Madi Phala’s memorial conjures the prow of a sinking ship and the floating hats and helmets of the drowned soldiers of the SA Native Labour Corps

» Madi Phala: The "herd boy" artist in his prime
Madi Phala, who was fatally stabbed outside his home in Langa, Cape Town, in May 2007, was established as one of South Africa’s most talented artists. But he felt he had just reached his prime and was looking forward to big things

King George V inspects the SA Native Labour Corps, France, 1917 PICTURE: © SA NATIONAL MUSEUM OF MILITARY HISTORY

» Hero of the high seas
At the time of his death, Reverend Isaac Williams Wauchope had published historical, educational and political articles, as well as travelogues, poems and letters

» Drilling the death drill on a sinking ship
To those who question the black South African contribution to World War I, Mbulelo Vizikhungo Mzamane tells the story of the sinking of the SS Mendi

» A watery grave is recalled on solid ground
There is a nondescript grassy embankment on the Mowbray campus of the University of Cape Town and just beneath it a bronze sculpture that recalls a tragedy and an act of heroism

» Heritage artwork is doubly poignant
A memorial dedicated to 647 South African men who died at sea on their way to fight in World War I now doubles as a tribute to its creator, the slain artist, Madi Phala

» LESSON PLANS FOR EDUCATORS

» ARCHIVE PHOTO GALLERY

A small collection of images of Reverend Wauchope and the men who died with him in the SS Mendi disaster

» Map

Get directions to the memorial to Reverend Wauchope and the sinking of the SS Mendi

» Video Archive

Rare footage, filmed in France in 1917, of King George V inspecting members of the South African Native Labour Corps

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