Recessional

This chapter examines the last few years of the garrison, the fate of the last regiment on the Western Front after the outbreak of World War I, the fate of Fort Napier, and its place in folk memories. From May 31, 1910, Natal was no longer a separate colony within the British Empire, and Pietermaritzburg ceased to be a colonial capital. Pietermaritzburg in particular suffered a loss of political status and economic influence. This chapter first recounts the Battle of Ypres that saw the South Staffordshire Regiment and the British Army's 7th Division suffer heavily at the hands of the German troops. It then considers the closure of the internment camp at Fort Napier in early 1919, along with the red tape involved in dealing with ex-servicemen returning after World War I. It also discusses the passage of the Union Defence Act and the eventual withdrawal of British troops from Natal and concludes with an overview of the absorption of the garrison's military traditions into popular culture.