GRAAFF-REINET NEWS — On Monday evening, March 20, Brenda Shepherd, an award-winning screenwriter, will launch her historical novel - Men of the Mendi - in Graaff-Reinet.
The book is based on the 1917 sinking of the troopship Mendi that resulted in the death of 616 soldiers and officers of the South African Native Labour Contingent (SANLC) and 30 crew members.
This year marks the centenary commemoration of South Africa’s worst maritime disaster on February 21, 2017 (Armed Forces Day).The book traces the lives of the men from their enlistment to the disaster off the Isle of Wight and the subsequent enquiry held in London. The small band of survivors continue to France where they are dispersed to various sites to dig trenches, work in the quarries and offload ships.
The book is based on fact, researched over several years in South Africa, England and France. It contains an accurate and comprehensive Roll of Honour that has been compiled from a variety of sources.
The launch will be held at the Old Library Museum in Chruch Street, Graaff-Reinet, at 5pm on March 20.
The author will be presenting a talk on the background of the disaster and will be available for the signing of books as well.
All interested are invited to attend.
'We bring you the latest Graaff-Reinet, Karoo news'
