LPA travels to South Africa

The Last Post Association (Ypres, Belgium) visits South Africa

On Wednesday 4 November 2026, the Ypres’ Last Post Association will travel to South Africa. The delegation consists of buglers Rik Vandekerckhove and Tonny Desodt, accompanied by Carl Denys (LPA director). They will take part in the official Armistice Day commemoration in Cape Town. 

During World War I, in April 1915, Great Britain asked the South African government to provide troops for deployment outside of southern Africa. The vast majority of the soldiers, who volunteered for service outside Africa, were of British descent and therefore English-speaking. They first saw action on the front lines in the Ypres Salient in April-May 1916 at Ploegsteert. Particularly well-known are the very heavy losses they suffered at Delville Wood on the Somme (July 1916). In September-October 1917, they were deployed again during the Third Battle of Ypres. Finally, they also played a role in April 1918 in halting the German Spring Offensive near Mesen and Kemmel.

The Gunner’s Association – www.gunners.org.za – in South Africa invited the Last Post Association to visit South Africa. The Gunners’ Association of South Africa’s mission is to promote unity and camaraderie among all soldiers in the Artillery. It provides them and their families with welfare and educational support, promotes artillery traditions, and preserves artillery heritage.

The Ypres delegation will participate in the official Armistice Day commemoration in Cape Town. On Sunday, November 8, 2026, the Ypres buglers will sound the Last Post during the ceremonies at the Cenotaph. Together with the Diplomatic Representation of Flanders in Southern Africa and the Belgian Consulate-General in Cape Town, the Gunners’ Association has developed a full program for the Ypres delegation.

Director Carl Denys: “The Last Post Association is particularly pleased and honored to be able to participate in the official Armistice Day commemoration in Cape Town. More than 4,300 South African soldiers lost their lives on the Western Front, 850 of them in Belgium. At the Menin Gate in Ypres alone, 560 missing South African soldiers are commemorated – a fact that speaks volumes about the circumstances in which they lost their lives. The monument on the Frezenberg in Zonnebeke also honors the sacrifice of the South African soldiers. “Our first participation in an official ceremony in South Africa highlights and strengthens the special bond between Ypres and Cape Town, as well as between South Africa and Belgium.”