1917 in South Africa
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The following lists events that happened during 1917 in South Africa.
Incumbents[edit]
- Monarch: King George V.
- Governor-General and High Commissioner for Southern Africa: The Viscount Buxton.[1]
- Prime Minister: Louis Botha.
- Chief Justice: James Rose Innes
Events[edit]
- January
- 16 – The SS Mendi, a troopship, sets sail from Cape Town to Le Havre, France, transporting 823 members of the 802nd South African Native Labour Corps.[2]
- February
- 21 – The SS Mendi is struck on the starboard side by the SS Darro, an 11,000 ton liner, and sinks with the loss of 646 lives.[2]
- September
- The Industrial Workers of Africa, South Africa's first predominantly black trade union, is established in Johannesburg.
- Unknown date
- The Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town is handed over to the South African Defence Force.
- Gold mining company Anglo American Corporation is founded by Ernest Oppenheimer.
Births[edit]
- 27 October – Oliver Tambo, activist and revolutionary. (d. 1993)
- 20 December – Petrus Hugo, Second World War fighter pilot. (d. 1986)
Deaths[edit]
- 18 January – Andrew Murray, author, educationist and pastor. (b. 1828)
Railways[edit]
Railway lines opened[edit]
- 5 March – Natal – Izingolweni to Harding (narrow gauge), 39 miles 56 chains (63.9 kilometres).[3]
- 20 June – Natal – Gingindlovu to Eshowe, 20 miles 2 chains (32.2 kilometres).[3]
Locomotives[edit]
- Three new Cape gauge locomotive types enter service on the South African Railways (SAR):
- November – Ten Class 16B 4-6-2 Pacific type passenger steam locomotives.[4]
- Seven Class K 4-6-4 tank locomotives that had been built for the Philippines but could not be delivered.[4]
- At least four 2-8-2 Mikado type steam locomotives, built for the Chemins de Fer du Bas Congo à Katanga and obtained on temporary lease to alleviate the critical wartime shortage of locomotives.[4][5]
References[edit]
- ^ Archontology.org: A Guide for Study of Historical Offices: South Africa: Governors-General: 1910-1961 (Accessed on 14 April 2017)
- ^ a b SA Legion – Atteridgeville Branch. "The SS Mendi – A Historical Background". Navy News. South African Navy. Archived from the original on 5 March 2012. Retrieved 20 November 2008.
- ^ a b Statement Showing, in Chronological Order, the Date of Opening and the Mileage of Each Section of Railway, Statement No. 19, p. 188, ref. no. 200954-13
- ^ a b c Holland, D. F. (1972). Steam Locomotives of the South African Railways. Vol. 2: 1910-1955 (1st ed.). Newton Abbott, England: David & Charles. pp. 32–34. ISBN 978-0-7153-5427-8.
- ^ Espitalier, T.J.; Day, W.A.J. (1945). The Locomotive in South Africa - A Brief History of Railway Development. Chapter VII - South African Railways (Continued). South African Railways and Harbours Magazine, September 1945. p. 673.
