South African military veterans, serving members of the South African Armed Forces and diplomats gathered in Pretoria on Sunday to pay tribute to the fallen at the 108th Remembrance Day service at the Thaba Tshwane New Military Cemetery.
While placing traditional red poppies on graves ahead of the service, members of the South African Legion Pretoria Branch made a poignant discovery: the resting place of Private H.W. Visser, who died on 3 March 1942 at just 16 years old.
Marina Valentine, Chairperson of the South African Legion (SA Legion) Pretoria Branch, reflected on the tragic finding.
“One of our veterans found a grave marked 15318 Private H.W. Visser, 3rd of March 1942 – age 16. Let that just sink in for a minute. Incredibly young.”
The ceremony provided an opportunity to honour those who served across all chapters of military history, from the world wars to the liberation struggle and modern peacekeeping missions.
Valentine noted that the service was a vital moment to honour those who never returned.
“We remember not only their courage in times of conflict, but also the values they defended: duty, respect, comradeship and hope.”
SA Army Chaplain Nicolene Herbst highlighted the profound meaning behind the iconic remembrance flower, stating, “A beautiful red flower, which was born out of the ruined earth of the First World War, where artillery shook the ground into desolate mud and grey ashes. To the soldiers, surrounded by death, these flowers were giving hope; this was life rising out of the broken ground. It shows us that from the deepest wounds of conflict, courage and sacrifice, new life takes root.”
Herbst also honoured modern South African National Defence Force (SANDF) members deployed abroad, noting, “We remember the post-1994 members of the SANDF who paid the supreme price, carrying our flag abroad, including recent losses in the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Every soldier has a name, a family and a divine soul – we also remember our brothers and sisters who came home but carry the physical and emotional marks of war.”
Driven by the theme “United in Sport”, Valentine spoke about athletics’ unique power; she reflected on the power of sport to unite people in both times of conflict and peace.
“During the Christmas Truce of 1914, soldiers from opposing sides on the Western Front briefly laid down their weapons and met in no man’s land, where they exchanged greetings, shared gifts and famously played football together… Closer to home, South Africa witnessed the unifying power of sport during the Rugby World Cup in 1995, as the country emerged from a divided past.”
The service concluded with the laying of more than 30 wreaths by international diplomats, military chiefs and veteran organisations.
A wreath was also laid in tribute to the unknown soldier.
In World War I, the remains of hundreds of thousands of soldiers from many nations were never recovered or identified.
After World War II, millions of soldiers were reported missing on all fronts, with the Eastern Front, the Pacific and Western European theatres accounting for the vast majority.
Expressing her final gratitude to attendees, Valentine concluded, “To our veterans, we thank you for your service, sacrifice and example. May we remember the fallen with gratitude, honour the living with respect, and carry forward the enduring lesson that sport, like remembrance itself, has the power to unite us all.”
108th REMEMBRANCE DAY || The SANDF, veterans and diplomatic representatives gathered in Thaba Tshwane on 8 November 2026 to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice for peace and freedom.
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— SA National Defence Force