SA Legion marks 80 years of VE Day

THE South African Legion paid tribute to the brave men and women who served during World War II, with a special three-day commemoration marking the 80th anniversary of Victory in Europe (VE) Day.

- TRACY-LYNN RUITERS

Hosted at the Castle of Good Hope from 8-10 May, the exhibition and memorial service aimed to honour those whose contributions have long gone unrecognised.

VE Day, which marked the formal end of WWII in Europe on 8 May 1945, may feel like a distant memory to many, but for thousands of South African families, its significance remains deeply personal.

Over 334000 South Africans volunteered for service during the war — many of them young, idealistic, and eager to serve, despite the odds stacked against them.

Among these were more than 123000 men of colour who served in non-combat and support roles, often under challenging and discriminatory conditions.

"This soldier did the most magnificent and brave things. With a number of bullets in his body he returned time after time into a veritable hell of machine-gun fire to pull out wounded men. He is a credit to his country," said Major-General Dan Pienaar, speaking of Lance-Corporal Lucas Majozi, a Black stretcher-bearer who was later awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his heroism at El Alamein.

The event at the Castle was more than just a history lesson. It was a space to reflect, remember, and reconnect with stories of resilience and sacrifice - stories often left out of mainstream narratives.