Latest news with #firstWorldWar
IOL News
18-07-2025
- General
- IOL News
The impact of World War I on South Africa: A forgotten home front
A church service was held on the beachfront for Imperial troops shortly before they sailed to the front, April 1917. Many would never see their homes again. Image: Supplied The first World War wrought significant destruction to towns and infrastructure in many European countries. South Africa was spared such damage, where it was not spared was the loss of life, injuries and illness unleashed on its soldiers, the overwhelming majority of whom were volunteers. The Union Defence Force's first campaign was in German South West Africa (Namibia) in 1914-15. Despite the hardship, only 266 men died by the time the Germans surrendered their colony on July 8, 1915. Enthusiastic crowds greeted the returning troops as they disembarked from troop ships at Durban's docks. What followed in the next three years of the war darkened the mood as the death toll rose. The number of soldiers who were wounded or suffering from disease and shell shock overwhelmed the health facilities in Durban. The carnage in France, particularly the nightmare of Delville Wood in July 1916, and the horrors of the East African campaigns were among the most arduous ever undertaken by South African soldiers. In Natal, citizens had from the earliest days of the war began fundraising for their troops on active service, but from 1916 this was considerably stepped up. The most important was the Governor-General's War Fund, which had been established by the new Governor-General, Viscount Buxton, in 1914. It was a national fund to which any soldier or his dependents could apply for assistance while on active service. The Durban Turf Club gifted a fully equipped Sunbeam ambulance for the SA Brigade in France, July 1917. Image: Supplied As the war progressed, it incorporated some of the local relief funds, including the Mayoral funds in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The aim was to raise £1 million. The rationalisation of fundraising reduced inefficiency, but not the increasing workload. All sorts of local groups devised ways to garner support and donations, from businesses and sporting bodies to churches, boy scouts and schools. Other national bodies which contributed to the war effort were the Red Cross and the Gifts and Comforts Organisation which collected monthly supplies of cigarettes, socks, woollen clothes, matches, dried fruit, sweets and books for servicemen. The Red Cross supported the medical profession, the sick and wounded as well as the provision of stores and equipment for military hospitals. The lack of hospitals and convalescent homes worsened as the war dragged on. In Durban, No.3 General Hospital had two bases, one in Addington and the other at the Drill Hall of Durban Light Infantry. Convalescent hospitals were created at Ocean Beach for whites and at Jacobs for black Africans, especially those returning from East Africa. Boy Scouts rally at Ocean Beach. They were presented with a flag in appreciation for services given to the war effort, June 1917. Image: Supplied Nurses and patients at Caister House, the Greenacre home in Musgrave Road, February 1918. Image: Supplied Private homes were also turned over to the military for the duration of the war. These included Caister House which belonged to the Greenacre family and Grasmere, the Musgrave home of the Smith family. The shortage of nurses enabled the Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) to come into their own. These were untrained civilian nurses, often from middle or upper class families, who provided continuity of care for recovering soldiers. Some also did cooking in a convalescent home, others drove ambulances. They increased their skills during the war, winning the respect and gratitude of trained nurses and patients alike. Voluntary Aid Detachment ladies at the Durban docks with wounded soldiers being loaded into an awaiting ambulance, April 1917. Image: Supplied Being a major port, troop ships docked in Durban. Many wounded were treated in the town before going home or returning to the front. This included thousands of soldiers from Australia and New Zealand. Their long voyage to or from Europe was broken by a stopover in Durban. A columnist wrote in September 1917 that 'Durban has been a panorama of Khaki during the week… giving townspeople an idea of the magnitude of the war. Soldiers come and go; some on their way to battle fronts, others bearing on their scarred and mutilated bodies grim evidence of the fiery furnace through which they have passed in the service of king and empire. Outings and entertainment were arranged for the 'khaki visitors', who were 'enthusiastically appreciative of the people of Durban and the kindness of the women workers of the huts.' The huts were established by the YMCA at Congella, in West Street and at Ocean Beach. The Army and Navy Institute as well as other institutions provided reading and writing rooms and facilities for sports like billiards. Other activities were at Albert Park or in the grounds of homes belonging to prominent citizens. Outings were arranged to Mitchell Park and as far as Mount Edgecombe. Many photos survive of soldiers on crutches or in wheelchairs enjoying the efforts made for them. The war finally ended on 11 November 1918, but troops continued to return home in 1919. Many faced hardship and struggled to adapt to their old lives. There was also the Spanish flu which started spreading during the last months of the war and into 1919, despite attempts to contain it by quarantining returning soldiers on Salisbury Island. It was to little avail. As early as 8 November 1918, a columnist wrote of the dreadful progress of the epidemic, noting that South Africa had already lost more lives through this scourge than during the whole period of the war. And so the hospitals and convalescent homes faced an increased workload. The home front in World War 1 has received little attention, but the contribution made at home - whether in the large towns or small villages - was significant. Those civilians at home certainly did their bit. In July 1917, the first anniversary of the slaughter at Delville Wood was commemorated with a solemn service in Durban. This commemoration endures to this day with the SA Legion organising a service and wreath-laying ceremony at the Cenotaph. It will take place on Sunday, July 20, at 10.15am. Sadly, the Defence Force and even the regiments which sacrificed so many men, have become increasingly indifferent to this long-ago battle. One school, Glenwood High, continues to honour its World War 1 dead, with a service set to take place in its school hall on July 24. We should honour those who gave their lives in war and be grateful it was not us. SUNDAY TRIBUNE
NDTV
15-07-2025
- Sport
- NDTV
Who Was Fauja Singh? 114-Year-Old Marathoner Who Defied Age And Became An Inspiration
The entire sports fraternity of India mourned the loss of the world's oldest marathoner, Fauja Singh. The 114-year-old passed away on Monday after he was involved in a road accident. According to a report in BBC Punjabi, a car hit him on the Jalandhar-Pathankot highway on Monday afternoon. He suffered a serious head injury and was immediately rushed to a hospital. However, he succumbed to the injuries. Condolences from all over the country started to pour in as India lost an icon, who was considered an inspiration for the masses. Who was Fauja Singh? Popularly known as the "Turbaned Tornado", Fauja was born on April 1, 1911 in Beyas village, Jalandhar, Punjab. Being born even before the first World War, Fauja saw a lot of historic moments getting unfold during his lifetime. The biggest and the darkest moment came in 1947 during India's partition, which completely turned his life upside down. In the 90s, he shifted to England to live with one of his sons. In 2000, at the age of 89, Fauja made his debut at the London Marathon. He then grabbed everyone's attention as he went on to join international marathons in Toronto, New York, and others within his age group. He was a torchbearer for the 2004 Athens Games and 2012 London Olympics, and appeared in an advertisement for a major sports brand several years ago alongside the likes of David Beckham and Muhammad Ali. In 2012, Malaysia organised the 2nd Annual Chardikala Run with the theme of "101 and running". The event was a tribute to Fauja's marvelous achievements and was honoured on stage with the BrandLaureate Award during the closing ceremony. In 2013, Fauja participated in the Hong Kong marathon, where he completed the race in 1 hour, 32 minutes, and 28 seconds. Following this, he announced his retirement from running at the age of 102. However, he continued running for his well-being and charitable causes.
Irish Independent
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
‘It's a total disgrace' – crunch meeting in rural Cork town over poor state of historic courthouse
Kanturk's historical courthouse is a building with over 200 years of history and the bridewell contains rare graffiti that was etched on the walls by Republicans who were incarcerated there during the Revolutionary Period. But the bridewell has been protected by a temporary tarpaulin covering after the roof became badly damaged, in what the Vice-Chairman of the Kanturk Courthouse Restoration Committee Dan Dennehy has described as a 'total disgrace.' 'Over three years with a temporary tarpaulin covering, which is a total disgrace. 'It is probably only adding to the deterioration of the graffiti,' Mr Dennehy told The Corkman. Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South West Christopher O'Sullivan said there is so much 'passion and dedication' within the Kanturk community to see the courthouse returned to its former glory. 'I visited the courthouse with Deputy Michael Moynihan, the [Kanturk Courthouse Restoration] Committee who have been working for a couple of years to make a case for the state to renovate it and what I can say is there is so much passion and dedication with the community. 'I can see Michael's passion for the project shines through and he has so much knowledge and interest, which shone through on the day,' Mr O'Sullivan said. Locals who formed the Kanturk Courthouse Restoration Committee have advocated for the building to be urgently restored so that its artefacts are not further damaged by dampness caused by the bridewell's damaged roof. Fianna Fáil TD for Cork North West Michael Moynihan said protecting the building is 'crucially important.' 'There's a lot of drawings on the courthouse building itself in terms of the battleships from the first World War that were drawn there by the people who were incarcerated during the War of Independence and the Civil War. 'We have evidence of people who are long since gone that have played a visible part in the War of independence who have since been forgotten,' Mr Moynihan said. Minister O'Sullivan, Deputy Moynihan, members of the Kanturk Courthouse Restoration Committee and representatives from the Irish Court Services held a 'constructive meeting' about the restoration of the building. 'I was representing the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and from the Heritage point of view to explain that there are types of funds available for groups, for state bodies and local authorities to apply for funding for the protection and renovation of these incredible landmarks. 'The Court Service has a very important role to play because they are the owners of the building. 'We certainly identified a path forward that we are exploring at the moment, and that path would have to involve the court service and eventually the local authority,' Mr O'Sullivan added. Mr Moynihan told The Corkman that further engagement with the Court Service is 'important.' 'There were routes to funding discussed by Minister O'Sullivan and the Court Services. 'We have to further engage with them because it is crucially, crucially important that we protect this structure,' he said. Mr O'Sullivan continued to say: 'I would urge the Court Services, along with the OPW and the local authority to bang heads together and for them to avail of the funding mechanisms available. 'It certainly is as my state admission as Minister to where opportunities arise to protect, renovate and to increase access to these very important monuments, that is what we want to do. 'In the case of Kanturk where you have a really passionate community and you have local representatives who are very passionate, that is the basis to doing something very special,' he concluded.
Irish Times
29-04-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Climate anxiety is like parenthood: you get used to living with constant worry
When I became a mother for the first time, amid my joy and delight, I was overwhelmed with grief for the world. The news was unbearable, there was simply too much suffering, too much violence and destruction. A friend put it like this: when you become a mother, your heart is outside yourself. You want to make the world perfect for this perfect human being, but you can't. No one can. So we develop coping mechanisms by living within what psychologist Renée Lertzman calls a 'window of tolerance'. People are deeply concerned and afraid of the future, and of the terrors that climate breakdown will bring. But we feel helpless to change any of it, and worry that our own actions would be insignificant. We're consumed by the present, and climate change feels like a future problem. We're also afraid of change itself, since we perceive change as a loss of a way of life built around expectations, comforts and convenience. Letting go of the idea of progress, which has bewitched our civilisation for thousands of years, seems impossible and foolish. Lertzman is convinced that the reason why communication campaigns that use denunciation and finger-wagging fail to galvanise the public is because people are already numb. The messaging is too far outside the zone of tolerance to land. Perhaps my zone of tolerance is too broad, but I've been grieving since the mid 1980s when it looked like the world would be incinerated by nuclear war. Then along came the destruction of the rainforests, global warming and forever chemicals. Catastrophising about such things added a burden of depression and ecological despair to all the usual life tasks. At times it has been crippling, sometimes immobilising, but over the years I have learned to befriend these feelings and moods. I now accept that they are normal and appropriate responses to the ongoing devastation around us. [ Meet Romulus and Remus, first of their kind for 10,000 years. Sort of Opens in new window ] When the climate crisis descends upon a particular place, instead of remaining an abstract, remote possibility, we can predict with certainty that human beings will respond courageously and cooperatively. A large body of research into people's responses to disasters since the outbreak of first World War demonstrates what we should already intuitively know that crisis inspires altruism, optimism and often a new sense of shared purpose as people work together to salvage and rebuild, as well as seek consolation in community. And during times of crisis and upheaval, just like during the recent Storm Éowyn , it is social capital or the networks of human relationships that really matter. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina thousands of people took to tiny boats to rescue those who were trapped in New Orleans, saving hundreds of lives. After 9/11, more than a million people evacuated from lower Manhattan safely and calmly on foot in one afternoon, and armies of random strangers volunteered to help feed and resupply rescue workers, proving that anarchy and social disorder is not inevitable in the aftermath of a disaster. READ MORE However, those suffering from psychological distress or mental health conditions will take no comfort from knowing that in a crisis, people will step up to help. Climate anxiety can incite despair and hopelessness which, for those with existing mental health problems, can lead to depression, substance abuse and suicidal ideation. When extreme weather events strike as they are in many parts of the world, mental health impacts include financial and relationship stress, increased risks of violence against women and girls, and displacement of entire communities. Services are woefully inadequate for roughly 40 per cent of the Irish population that already experience mental health issues, and these services are often not tailored to the specific requirements or gender sensitivities of those who need them. For young people, rates of depression and anxiety fuelled by financial, housing and climate change worries are skyrocketing. A 2023 survey by the mental health charity Aware found that three-in-five of those surveyed report feeling anxious or depressed and Ireland has one of the highest rates in Europe of mental health disorders. Research into the mental health impacts of climate breakdown finds that the psychological impact from any disaster exceeds physical injury by 40-1. In the case of flooding, the effects continue well after the event itself, peaking about six months later. And it will be no surprise to anyone that those most at risk of long-term mental effects are already marginalised based on their age, status, gender, culture, employment status and education. We will need our health infrastructure to be resourced adequately to cope with it. However, there is no mention of mental health impacts in the newly published climate action plan , climate-induced anxiety and depression also don't feature in the government's mental health strategy . Our brains and our hearts can join dots that the Government seemingly can't. Sadhbh Ó' Neill is an environmental and climate activist and researcher
Irish Times
25-04-2025
- General
- Irish Times
Frightfully unfashionable: Frank McNally on the century-long decline of adverbs
That Casimir Markievicz exhibition (Diary, April 23rd) reminded me in passing how dependent the upper classes of these islands used to be on what grammarians call 'degree adverbs'. Witness a letter, included in the show, in which Eva Gore-Booth congratulates her sister Constance on becoming engaged to the Polish count. 'I can't help being frightfully amused when I think of the bomb bursting,' she writes (the bomb-burst being the reaction when others find out). 'Still, I do hope you'll be awfully happy.' Those two adverbs alone convey the accent of the writer and also hint at a certain attitude to life found only in big houses, preferably Georgian, in the decades before and after 1900. READ MORE But it wasn't confined to adverbs. Adjectives ending in -ly were just as important, especially if they were 'ghastly' or 'beastly'. Here's a paragraph from Molly Keane's Good Behaviour, set in another big house a few years later, that has a bit of both: 'They were sending Richard to South Africa on a safari. It might help him a bit. 'He's taken this whole ghastly business terribly hard, poor boy,' Wobbly wrote.' The 'Wobbly' there sounds like an adjective too, which is a bit confusing. But no. The narrator tells us Wobbly is 'an old friend of Papa'. This way of speaking survived the first World War, unlike many big houses themselves. Or at least 'beastly' and 'ghastly' were still going strong in the mid-20th century novels of Enid Blyton, of which I read too many as a child. But 'awfully' and 'frightfully' were dying out by then, except in books and films evoking the earlier period. Modern literature had started to take a dim view of adverbs in general, a trend that has continued since. In a study of 1,500 books a few years ago, aimed at finding out what gains writers' critical acclaim, data journalist Ben Blatt concluded that a low adverb count was one of the keys. Books with fewer than 50 per 10,000 words had a strong chance of being considered 'great', he found. Although failing this test did not preclude wealth and fame. JK Rowling, for one, is famous for using adverbs of the -ly kind. Her favourites include 'coolly', 'calmly', 'ponderously' and 'snarkily'. But as the adverb-hating Stephen King summed up, snarkily: 'Ms Rowling seems to have never met one she didn't like.' Her overall adverb count, according to Blatt, is 140 per 10,000 words. Ernest Hemingway played a big part in making adverbs and adjectives unfashionable. And yet he used some odd ones himself on occasion, boldly going where no writer had gone before. Here, from For Whom the Bell Tolls, is a typical Hemingway passage, full of short, hard words, sometimes repeated for effect in long, flat sentences, and devoid of all -ly adverbs, with one notorious exception: 'Then there was the smell of heather crushed and the roughness of the bent stalks under her head and the sun bright on her closed eyes and all his life he would remember the curve of her throat with her head pushed back into the heather roots and her lips that moved smally and by themselves and the fluttering of the lashes on the eyes tight closed against the sun and against everything, and for her everything was red, orange, gold-red from the sun on the closed eyes.' Yes, her lips moved 'smally'. (And 'by themselves', whatever that means). There is an adverb nobody else in literature can have used before or since. Not even Donald 'Bigly' Trump would write it, if only because he has no time for diminutives. [ Bigly, Javanka, witch-hunt, sad! The Trump era in 32 words and phrases Opens in new window ] The -ly ending has fallen out of fashion in modern cuisine too. For mysterious reasons, upmarket restaurants will no longer serve 'slowly roasted pork', for example, if they can serve 'slow-roasted pork' instead (although the shorter version probably costs more). But an adverb that is still used a lot, and shouldn't be, gained renewed currency from events in Rome this week. Breaking the news, at least one British tabloid (along with many Twitter users) announced that Pope Francis had 'sadly died'. And yes, I know that grammar and syntax are not the most important things on such an occasion. I also know what each writer meant: that he or she was sad at the news. But the sentence implies that it was the pope who was upset at his own passing, as well he might be, and that in other circumstances he would have died happily. (Mind you, if anyone can die happily, one of the world's foremost believers in the afterlife has a better chance than most of us.) At least the writers here did use the verb 'die', which is often avoided now on social media. The euphemisms 'passed on' or just 'passed' tend to be preferred these days. When the dreaded d-word is used, as it was here, the effect needs to be softened with an adverb, placed however badly.
