Thousands of black and coloured South African soldiers who died saving their white compatriots in Europe, the Middle East and Africa during World War I will be recognised for the first time in 100 years. A special wall of remembrance that will contain the names of more than 6,000 South Africans who died in the Great War will be unveiled in France this week.The unveiling is part of the centenary celebrations of the battle of the Somme and other clashes, including that of Delville Wood, in which thousands of South Africans died fighting German troops.Black and coloured South African troops enlisted into the SA Native Labour Corps were used as stretcher-bearers and to dig trenches. None ever received medals for their efforts.Now the names of all black, coloured and white troops who died have been etched onto the wall, which has been erected at the South African memorial near Delville Wood.Among those to be remembered are the more than 260 Native Labour Corps members buried in Arque-la-Bataille cemetery near the Delville Wood memorial.The wall will also carry the names of the hundreds of members of the Native Labour Corps who died in the sinking of the SAS Mendi in 1917.Major-General Roy Anderson, trustee of the Delville Wood Trust, said nearly 90000 black and coloured South Africans were enlisted into the corps."Over 2000 of these men served in France in appalling conditions, with over 1100 of the corps' members dying in Europe alone."Anderson said the wall was created to recognise the sacrifices made by all South African troops.Shaun Booth, deputy director-general of heritage in the Department of Military Veterans, said the move was a long time in coming."The Native Labour Corps gave their lives while rushing to rescue their wounded white compatriots. But they never got the recognition for their brave deeds."Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will officiate at a service on Friday and President Jacob Zuma will unveil the wall...