View source for Native Military Corps

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} 
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Native Military Corps
| image = UDF era Directorate Non European Army Services badge.jpg
| alt = Directorate Non European Army Services badge
| caption = 
| dates = 1940 – 1947
| country = [[Union of South Africa|South Africa]]
| allegiance = {{flagicon|Union of South Africa|1910}} South Africa
| branch = Non-European Army Services
| type = 
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| size = 76,000 – 80,000
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| disbanded = September 1947
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| website = <!-- Commanders -->
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| notable_commanders = Colonel Ernest Thomas Stubbs<br />Lt. Colonel B.W. Martin
<!-- Insignia -->| identification_symbol = 
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}}

The '''Native Military Corps''' ('''NMC)''' was a South African military unit during World War II. It consisted of Black South African volunteers recruited into the [[Union Defence Force (South Africa)|Union Defence Force]] (UDF). Despite the unit's name, they had no combative role and served as labourers attached to white South African UDF military units. The objective was to free up the limited number of white recruits in the UDF for combat roles.

== Background ==
On 12 July 1940 the UDF created the Directorate of Non-European Army Services (NEAS) to recruit non-white South Africans into the military.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|1}}<ref name="Jackson">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cghbp0WbhxAC&q=native+military+corps&pg=PA242|title=The British Empire and the Second World War|last=Jackson|first=Ashley|publisher=A&C Black|year=2006|isbn=9781852854171|pages=604}}</ref>{{rp|242}} The NEAS would consist of three units, [[Cape Corps]], the Indian & Malay Corps and the Native Labour Corps, prior to its name change in August 1940 to the Native Military Corps.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|1}}<ref name="Jackson" />{{rp|242}}

The NEAS was under the command of a director and deputy director who would be responsible for their soldiers when in the Middle East.<ref name="Botha">{{Cite thesis|url=http://sierra-eds.wits.ac.za/iii/encore/record/C__Rb1243030__Swarriors%20without%20weapons__Orightresult__U__X7?lang=eng&suite=def|title=Warriors Without Weapons|last=Botha|first=Kevin Frank|publisher=University of Witwatersrand|date=September 1992|access-date=12 November 2017}}</ref>{{rp|8}} The first commander was Lt. Colonel B.W. Martin, previously a Director of Native Labour on the Witwatersrand, but he was shifted to the role of deputy director of NEAS troops in the Middle East in November 1940 when Colonel Ernest Thomas Stubbs became director, appointed by General [[Jan Smuts]].<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|9}} Stubbs' previous military role was as a recruiter with the [[South African Native Labour Corps]] during [[World War I]].<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|9}} This would cause conflict between the two and poor cooperation between the NEAS in South Africa and the NEAS command in the Middle East with the black troops caught in the middle.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|9}}

== Recruitment ==

=== Opposition to recruitment ===
General Jan Smuts had narrowly succeeded in parliament in having South Africa join Britain and France in the war with Germany.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|15}} A considerable number of white Afrikaners opposed supporting Britain in its war with many having pro-German sympathies.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|15}} To supplement the shortage of white soldiers, Jan Smuts and Major WHE Poole, Deputy Chief of the General Staff believed non-white recruitment was required.<ref name="Roos">{{cite journal |last1=Roos|first1=Neil|title=The Springbok and the Skunk: War Veterans and the Politics of Whiteness in South Africa during the 1940s and 1950s |journal=Journal of Southern African Studies |volume=35 |issue=3 |pages=643–661 |jstor=40283282 |date=September 2009|doi=10.1080/03057070903101870|hdl=2263/14717|s2cid=146792791|hdl-access=free}}|{{Subscription required |via=[[JSTOR]] }}</ref>{{rp|645}} Sir [[Pierre van Ryneveld]], Chief of the General Staff opposed the suggestion.<ref name=Roos/>{{rp|645}} White South Africans were also not sympathetic to the idea of black soldiers serving with equal authority with white soldiers and their close contact with the latter as well being exposed to overseas societies and their politics.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|16}} Black soldiers would serve in non-combatant roles as the 1912 Act that created the UDF dictated no combat roles for any who serve the organisation.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|16}} Like during World War I, mines, industry and farmers were opposed to the recruitment of black soldiers fearing the loss of cheap labour.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|20}}

The [[African National Congress]] (ANC) and other black organisations supported the war and initially the role of blacks soldiers on condition that they were armed and that there were political rewards for the black population thereafter.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|19–20}} There was opposition by blacks to the use of labour battalions.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|21}} Prior to its final name it was called the Native Military Guards precisely for that reason, though these guards would only carry traditional weapons.<ref name=Botha/>{{rp|21}}

=== Recruiting ===
[[file:Cape_Corps_stretcher_bearers_Western_Desert.png|thumb|left|Corps stretcher bearers Western Desert]]In early 1940, the NEAS had set recruitment levels at 8,000 black troops, but by 1941, requirements had changed drastically and the NEAS were looking at levels of 60,000 men.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|26}} Recruitment came to an end in 1943 as the Allies gained the upper hand over the Axis forces in North Africa and the need for these types of troops reduced.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|26}} Figures differ over the final levels with 77,239 as a UDF estimate to others as high 80,479 which may include recruits that were rejected.<ref name="Grundy">{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/soldierswithoutp00grun|url-access=registration|quote=native military corps.|title=Soldiers Without Politics: Blacks in the South African Armed Forces.|last=Grundy|first=Kenneth W.|publisher=University of California Press|year=1983|isbn=9780520047105|pages=[https://archive.org/details/soldierswithoutp00grun/page/297 297]}}</ref>{{rp|77}} Figures show the highest recruitment came from the Transvaal, 52,037, mostly because of a drought in the Northern Transvaal, 9,555 from the Cape Province, 7,366 from Natal, 4,522 from the Orange Free State and 7,000 from South-West Africa.<ref name="Grundy" />{{rp|77}} Thirty percent of recruits came from urban South Africa with the other seventy percent coming from the rural areas.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|44}}

Initial recruitment was through posters and film. Recruitment posters were often mounted in public places frequented by black men.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|27}} Propaganda recruitment films showing recruits in training were used too, making use of mobile film vans that showed films in black regions of the country.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|27}} Attempts were made to use Native Commissioners to recruit black men but they were more a hindrance to the process as most black people mistrusted them to begin with.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|27}} An attempt was made to private companies to promote recruitment to their own black staff but this was frowned upon by the white owners.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|27}}

Another method was to approach the Black chiefs in rural areas and with monetary incentives get them to command some of their men to sign recruitment papers.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|29}} This method was open to abuse by the chiefs in the choice of who went as well as fraudulent practices of accepting state money followed by the failure to provide recruits.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|31}}

There were also issues concerning the perceptions about the war and expectations of what their roles would be in Military Native Corps. Most rural black people had little understanding of what the war in Europe was about and there was an expectation by some potential recruits that their training would involve the learning of new trade excluded by racial labour employment laws within the country.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|38}}

Poor pay rates also hampered recruitment. As within civilian life, pay rates were based on race with black people on the lowest end of the scale with basic pay in the corps set at 1s 6p a day for unmarried troops and those with dependents, 2s 3p as opposed to basic white troops who were paid 5s a day.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|40}} The highest rank that black troop could achieve was a sergeant.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|44}} The other obstacle was the refusal of lower white ranks to take orders from a black soldier of higher rank.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|45}} This would could only be overcome if a white officer gave the black soldier permission.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|38}}

== Roles in the unit ==
[[File:Native Military Corps.jpg|thumb|right|South African Native Military Corps stretcher-bearers in the Western Desert in 1941]] The recruits' role was envisioned to initially be guards and labourers. They would guard military installations, vital infrastructure and prisoners of war.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|22}} The latter did not go down well within the white population and they would in future be guarded by white soldiers only.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|22}} By 1941, due to shortages of UDF manpower, black soldiers' roles were increased to transport drivers, dispatch riders, medic and office roles at home and abroad.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|23}}

== Prisoners of war ==
During the war, 1,753 Native Military Corps soldiers were captured by German and Italian forces and most taken prisoner at Tobruk.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|239}} The Germans were said to have treated the black soldiers better than the Italians though most continued performing menial and dangerous tasks in the war zone as POWs for those forces.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|239}} Some would be later be repatriated from Africa to France, Italy and Germany.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|241}} The prisoners would receive the same Geneva Convention rights as other prisoners including Red Cross visits, food parcels and letters from home.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|239}}

== Decorations ==
Unlike black troops during World War I, black troops of the Native Military Corps were awarded medals for service during conflict in World War II. 119 medals or commendations were awarded to the troops with one [[Distinguished Conduct Medal]] awarded for exceptional acts of bravery, sixteen [[Military Medal]]s (MM) for bravery in battle and two [[British Empire Medal]]s for meritorious military service.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|235}} One [[Union of South Africa King's Medal for Bravery, Gold|King's Medal for Bravery]], 21 Mentions in Dispatches, 6 Gazetted Commendations, 3 Commendation Cards and 69 Certificates of Good Service were also awarded.<ref name="Grundy"/>{{rp|86}}

===Distinguished Conduct Medal===
Corporal [[Lucas Majozi]] was awarded a DCM for evacuating wounded soldiers from the battlefield under fire and wounded himself.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|235}} His medal, one below the [[Victoria Cross]] is now in possession of the [[South African National Museum of Military History]] in Johannesburg.<ref name="Sunday">{{Cite news|title=The man who beat Hitler|last=Ho|first=Ufrieda|date=12 November 2017|work=Sunday Times (South Africa)}}</ref>{{rp|14}}

===Military Medal===
The [[Military Medal]] was instituted in 1916 and was awarded to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and privates for bravery in the field.  Recipients are entitled to use the letters MM behind their name.  The following Native Military Corps (NMC), Coloured Corps (CC) and Indian and Malay Corps (IMC) South Africans were awarded the Military Medal:<ref>{{cite book|last=Gleeson|first=Ian|author-link=Ian Gleeson|title=The unknown force: Black, Indian and Coloured soldiers through two world wars |year=1994|publisher=Ashanti Publishing|location=Rivonia, South Africa|page=267|isbn=1-87-4800-56-1}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-style: normal; font-size: 90%"
|-
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="90"|Surname
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="90"|Name
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="20"|Rank
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="25"|Service Number
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="25"|Corps
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="25"|Date of action
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="100"|Origin
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2"; class=unsortable|Notes
|-
|Moloi
|Reuben
|Sgt
|N14051
|NMC
|
|Johannesburg
|Awarded MM after being captured by Germans, escaping and spending 17 days crossing the desert back to Allied lines.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|236}} Cited in London Gazette 24 November 1942.<ref name="Gazette19421124">{{cite web| url = https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35794/supplement/5091| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190505225447/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35794/supplement/5091| archive-date = 2019-05-05| title = Page 5091 {{!}} Supplement 35794, 20 November 1942 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette}}</ref> 
|-
|Massemula<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|237}} 
|Springkaan 
|Pvt
|N12389
|NMC 
|
|Pretoria
|Cited in London Gazette 24 November 1942.<ref name="Gazette19421124"/>
|-
|[[Job Maseko|Masego]]
|Job
|L/Cpl
|N4448
|NMC
|
|Springs
|Awarded MM when as a POW, he accumulated explosives and sank a German ship in [[Tobruk]] before escaping.<ref name="Botha" />{{rp|241}}<ref name=Sunday/>{{rp|14}}  Cited in London Gazette 11 March 1943.<ref name="Gazette19430311">{{cite web| url = https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35934/supplement/1177| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200212042917/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35934/supplement/1177| archive-date = 2020-02-12| title = Page 1177 {{!}} Supplement 35934, 9 March 1943 {{!}} London Gazette {{!}} The Gazette}}</ref>
|-
|Tshaka
|Hermanus
|Pvt
|N10718
|NMC
|
|Bloemfontein
|Cited in London Gazette 24 November 1942.<ref name="Gazette19421124"/>
|-
|[[Berry Gazi|Gazi]]
|Berry
|Cpl
|N15769
|NMC
|1941
|Kroonstad
|Gazi participated in the Western Desert campaign as part of the 2nd Infantry Division and was awarded the Military Medal for rescuing wounded under enemy fire at Bardia, Libya on 16 December 1941. He was the first black South African to be awarded this medal. Cited in London Gazette 3 March 1942.<ref name="Gazette19420303"/>
|-
|Booysen
|John
|Gnr
|C276049
|CC
|
|Graaf-Reinet
|Cited in London Gazette 22 September 1942.<ref name="Gazette19420922">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35715/supplement/4158|title=Page 4158 &#124; Supplement 35715, 22 September 1942 &#124; London Gazette &#124; The Gazette|website=www.thegazette.co.uk|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref>
|-
|Fillies
|Solomon
|L Cpl
|M16468
|IMC
|
|Mossel Bay
|Cited in London Gazette 8 March 1945.<ref name="Gazette19450308">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36972/supplement/1302|title=Page 1302 &#124; Supplement 36972, 6 March 1945 &#124; London Gazette &#124; The Gazette|website=www.thegazette.co.uk|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref>
|-
|Gampepe
|John
|
|N19961
|NMC
|
|Bloemfontein
|
|-
|Kalamure
|George
|
|N9044
|NMC
|
|Bloemfontein
|
|-
|Loubser
|William
|Gnr
|C304505
|CC
|
|Cape Town
|Cited in London Gazette 26 July 1945.<ref name="Gazette19451030">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37194/supplement/3858|title=Page 3858 &#124; Supplement 37194, 24 July 1945 &#124; London Gazette &#124; The Gazette|website=www.thegazette.co.uk|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref>
|-
|Makgotlho
|John
|Pvt
|N10373
|NMC
|
|Rustenburg
|Cited in London Gazette 3 March 1942.<ref name="Gazette19420303">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35473/supplement/997|title = Page 997 &#124; Supplement 35473, 27 February 1942 &#124; London Gazette &#124; the Gazette}}</ref>
|-
|Matale
|Frank
|Pvt
|N22127
|NMC
|
|Leydsdorp
|Cited in London Gazette 11 March 1943.<ref name="Gazette19430311"/>
|-
|Maluka
|Moses
|Pvt
|N26308
|NMC
|
|Pietersburg
|Cited in London Gazette 11 March 1943.<ref name="Gazette19430311"/>
|-
|Maoela
|John
|
|N9480
|NMC
|
|Premier Mine
|
|-
|Masia
|Alfred
|Pvt
|N22191
|NMC
|
|Duiwelskloof
||Cited in London Gazette 11 March 1943.<ref name="Gazette19430311"/>
|-
|Masie
|Sameul
|
|N7597
|NMC
|
|Vredefort
|
|-
|Moage
|Amiel
|
|N15887
|NMC
|
|Zeerust
||Cited in ''The London Gazette'' 31 December 1942.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35840/supplement/5667/data.pdf|title=Issue 35840|work=The London Gazette|date=31 December 1942
|page=5667|access-date=27 June 2023}}</ref>
|-
|Mohlala
|Jack
|Pvt
|N18440
|NMC
|
|Pietersburg
||Cited in London Gazette 11 March 1943.<ref name="Gazette19430311"/>
|-
|Mothapo
|Jantjie
|Pvt
|N18281
|NMC
|
| Pietersburg
|Cited in London Gazette 11 March 1943.<ref name="Gazette19430311"/>
|-
|Peterson
|Harry
|
|C567276
|CC
|
|Johannesburg
|
|-
|Phyfer
|Johannes
|
|C301132
|CC
|
|Laingsburg
|
|-
|Radebe
|John
|Cpl
|N15739
|NMC
|1941
|Warden
|Stretcher-bearer assigned to [[Durban Light Infantry|RDLI]].  Radebe was the second member of the NMC to be awarded the MM after [[Berry Gazi]].  Citation for his action in February 1941 reads ''"..worked unceasingly and tirelessly in full view of the enemy and under concentrated artillery, mortar and machine-gun fire, attending to the wounded and arranging the evacuation of the serious cases.  He ceased his efforts only when the advancing enemy was 200 yards away, successfully withdrawing the stretcher-bearers under his command.''  In May 1941 he again displayed outstanding bravery at El Alamein where he evacuated wounded from forward positions, being wounded in the process.  MM was awarded in February 1943.{{sfn|Gleeson|1994|page=178}} 
|-
|Rayners
|Jacob
|Pvt
|C27294
|CC
|
|Uitenhage
|Cited in London Gazette 22 September 1942.<ref name="Gazette19420922"/>
|-
|Saphier
|Nicolas
|Cpl
|M16827
|IMC
|
|Humansdorp
|Awarded the MM for conspicuous gallantry for lifting mines to allow the extension of a track through the Mareth Line defences of Tripoli while attached to 11 Field Company, SA Engineering Corps. A mine was set off wounding Saphier and twelve other members of the platoon.  He refused to have his wounds treated until all the others had been attended to and then proceeded to clear a safe lane for the evacuation of the casualties.{{sfn|Gleeson|1994|page=226}} 
|-
|Stevens
|Johannes
|L Cpl
|C274047
|CC
|
|Vryburg
|Cited in London Gazette 9 September 1942.<ref name="Gazette19420909">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35697/page/3951|title=Page 3951 &#124; Issue 35697, 8 September 1942 &#124; London Gazette &#124; The Gazette|website=www.thegazette.co.uk|accessdate=30 June 2023}}</ref> He was assigned to 135 Motor Transport Company as a driver.  He was driving a truck containing 30 German POWs and in bad weather, he lost contact with the other vehicles in the convoy and erroneously drove into a minefield.  One of the rear wheels was destroyed and after changing the wheel Stevens attempted to reverse back out of the minefield following his tracks, but hit a mine on one of the front wheels. He led the prisoners out of the minefield on foot and guarded them through the night. He marched the prisoners under guard to a railway line where he secured transport to deliver the captives to the Allied guards at the designated POW camp.{{sfn|Gleeson|1994|page=186}}  
|-
|Stevens
|William
|
|M14487
|IMC
|
|Cape Town
|
|-
|Tonkin
|Francis
|
|M11795
|IMC
|
|Cape Town
|
|-
|Volsum
|Antony
|
|M10537
|IMC
|
|Durban
|
|-
|}

===British Empire Medal===
The [[British Empire Medal]] was instituted in 1917 and was awarded to warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and privates for meritorious and gallant service.  Recipients are entitled to use the letters BEM behind their name.  The following Native Military Corps (NMC), Coloured Corps (CC) Indian Military Corps (IMC) and Naval Forces (SANF) South Africans were awarded the British Empire Medal:{{sfn|Gleeson|1994|page=267}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-style: normal; font-size: 90%"
|-
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="90"|Surname
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="90"|Name
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="20"|Rank
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="25"|Service Number
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="20"|Corps
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" width="100"|Origin
!style="background-color: #CEE0F2" ; class=unsortable|Notes
|-
|Abrahams
|Ebrahim
|
|C12958
|CC
|Paarl
| 
|-
|Carelsen 
|Martin 
|Cpl
|C275994
|CC 
|Oudtshoorn
|Volunteered for service in January 1941 and was attached to 158th Works Company, South African Engineering Corps.  Awarded for three years of faultless work and exceptional devotion to duty, particularly for managing all company transport and fifty drivers under battlefield conditions.  He displayed natural leadership regardless of his limited education. He ended his service in Morocco in 1945.{{sfn|Gleeson|1994|page=226}}
|-
|Colbert
|John
|
|C276144
|CC
|Bloemfontein
|
|-
|Edwards
|James
|
|C288019
|CC
|Uitenhage
|
|-
|Greeve
|Martin
|
|CN72251
|SANF
|Cape Town
|
|-
|Hlanyane
|Eugene
|
|N68677
|NMC
|Kroonstad
|
|-
|Matlakala
|Lenong
|
|N4736
|NMC
|Maseru
|
|-
|Moeketsi
|Lesogo
|
|N43753
|NMC
|Rustenburg
|
|-
|Plaatjies
|Hendrik
|
|C275004
|CC
|Ladysmith
|
|-
|}

== Casualties ==
Figures from the war indicate that the Native Military Corps suffered 770 men wounded and 1,519 dead or presumed dead.<ref name="Grundy" />{{rp|86}} The [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission]] records 1,677 men of the Native Military Corps buried around the world.<ref name="CGC01" /> The majority of graves are commemorated in South Africa but graves are also found in Egypt, Libya, Italy, France, Germany, Myanmar, Lesotho, Kenya and Namibia.<ref name="CGC01">{{cite web|url=https://www.cwgc.org/find/find-war-dead/results?regiment=Native%2BMilitary%2BCorps%252c%2BS.A.%2BForces&war=2|title=Refine results|publisher=Commonwealth Graves Commission|access-date=4 October 2017}}</ref>

== Other veterans ==
Other well known black South Africans who were members of the Native Military Corps include:

* [[Potlako Leballo]]<ref name="Grundy" />{{rp|87}}
* [[Henry Nxumalo]]<ref name="Grundy" />{{rp|87}}
* [[Andimba Toivo ya Toivo|Herman Andimba Toivo ya Toivo]]<ref name="Grundy" />{{rp|87}}

== References ==
{{Reflist|50em}}

{{SA Army Units}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Regiments of South Africa in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1940]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1947]]
[[Category:Non-combatant military personnel]]