[The South African] South Africa celebrates Armed Forces Day on 21 February in remembrance of the SS Mendi tragedy which occurred more than a century ago.In 1917, a military frigate, carrying 616 South Africans belonging to the Native Labour Contingent, was struck by calamity en route to assist the British War effort. Approximately 19 kilometres South of the Isle of Wight, a cargo ship three times the size of the SS Mendi, the SS Darro, collided into the troopship. Daro survived the collision and continued onto Argentina – the Mendi sank to the bottom of the ocean, taking with it 616 South Africans and 30 crew members.