Little is known about Lucas Majozi and the reason why the street was name after him.
This is his story :
In 1942… “On the night of October 23 – 24, Majozi accompanied his company into action as a stretcher-bearer. In the later stages of the action when he was within 100 yards of the enemy and under heavy fire, he thought nothing of his personal safety and continued to evacuated casualties assisted by co-bearers.
He was then wounded by shrapnel, but he continued evacuating the wounded. Told by a medical corporal to go back to the regimental aid post, he replied that there were many wounded men still in the minefield.
He went back, and with the assistance for other stretchers bearers, he brought back more wounded. After his co- bearer had become a casualty, he did not waver, but carried wounded men back alone on his back to the aid post.
When he was eventually told by the Company Commander to go back, he smilingly refused and remained on duty, working incessantly till he collapsed next morning through sheer exhaustion, stiffness, and loss of blood. His extreme devotion to duty and gallant conduct under continuous enemy fire throughout the night saved the lives of many wounded men who would otherwise have died through loss of blood or possible further wounds.’(12)
At a parade in Egypt after the battle, the commander of the 1st South African Division, Major-General Daniel Hermanus Pienaar (popularly known as Dan Pienaar) said of Lucas Majozi: ‘ This soldier did most magnificent and brave things. With a number of bullets in his body he returned time after time into a veritable hell of machine gun fire to pull out wounded men. He is ‘n man of whom South Africa can well be proud. He is a credit to his country. ‘(13)
Lucas Majozi, NMC, for the DCM is given below: No N 17525 Cpl Lucas Majozi, NMC, a Zulu from Zastron, Orange Free State att. FFB – Distinguished conduct Medal.
After the war, Majozi returned to the town of his birth, Zastron. In 1948 he joined the South African Police ( SAP), attaining the rank of sergeant. He died in 1969.
The South African National Museum of Military History is in possession of both his portrait ( by the famous artist, Neville Lewis) and his medal group.
Title : Forgotten Heroes of World War 2 – Africans at War
Source : Post by : Big-Green-Guy on January 13, 2011