Black SAfricans who fought in WWII finally recognised

Around 80,000 Black South Africans served as part of the Native Military Corps in WWII.

But treated as inferior and segregated from white soldiers even in death, their contribution went largely unrecognised.

Now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has begun a process of commemoration for those who fought and died, and for the few left who still survive.

Simon Mhlanga, who says he is "about" 106 - although his family say he is older - is one of the last surviving soldiers of the Native Military Corps.

He said he joined the army - without even telling his parents - to escape poverty  in 1941.

The Black volunteers who joined the Corps were forbidden to fight by their white leaders, so they worked as labourers, guards and medical aides.

Mhlanga guarded prisoners of war in Italy, and returned as a non-commissioned officer.

South Africa's white leaders rewarded white soldiers with new homes.

Black soldiers, including Mhlanga, were given boots or bicycles.

He said he had to accept it at the time but felt cheated by the government.

In the war grave cemeteries the injustice continued, with Black servicemen not allowed to rest alongside their white comrades.

Some Black soldiers have never been commemorated.

Records of those who fought for Britain in the First World War is also scant.

Terry Cawood, a researcher with the South Africa War Graves Project, said he found books with the names of a thousand Black servicemen men who fought and died for Britain in WW1.

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission  is also working to commemorate these forgotten volunteers.

For Simon Mhlanga, the past is the past.

When he came back from WWII he took up singing and dancing for marching bands and over 75 years later, he is still doing both.