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Job Maseko, an unrecognized hero

Louis

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Lance Corporal Job Maseko, was a member of South African Native Military Corps. When Tobruk fall on June 21, 1942, Maseko and the thousands of other South African troops became prisoners of war and was detailed, with the other black prisoners, to offload german ships laden with military hardware, ammunition and vehicles destined in due course for the battle of El Alamein.

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Job had created a bomb using a condensed milk tin, some cordite from rounds of enemy ammunition and an extremely long fuse. The latter he secretly removed from German storage. So on the evening of the 21 July 1942 and before they were due off the still overloaded ship, Job placed his home-made bomb deep in the hold. He lit the fuse and ran to join his friends on the dock. At first Job was concerned that the fuse had somehow been extinguished. A few hours later, there was an almighty explosion. The ship sank almost immediately. It was a large vessel and would have resulted in a significant depletion of German equipment destined to oppose Montgomery at El Alamein.

Shortly afterwards the British liberated Tobruk. The British Generals were anxious to verify the story of the Zulu who blew up a German warship whilst being a prisoner. Divers corroborated that there was a ship below the surface; at the spot indicated by Job. The British generals nominated him for a Victoria Cross, a first for any black soldier-anywhere. However, his immediate South African commanders found the idea alarming for a black man to get such a prestigious medal ahead of his white peers. Job Maseko was then notified that “though many would like to see him awarded the Victoria Cross, the South African High Command would prefer him to receive the “Military Medal” which was the lowest military medal presentable at the time.

Maseko was killed in 1952 by being hit by a train. He died a pauper and his family had to beg and borrow money for his funeral.​
 
They should give him his Victoria Cross posthumously; better late than never.
Just yesterday I was reading a note on the BBC about this, dated April:

...The curator of the National Museum of Military History (Bulgaria) which prominently displays Maseko's portrait, agrees that he should have got a higher award.

"The sad reality is that black South Africans who volunteered to be part of the army just like their white counterparts were treated unfairly. Personally I think that Mr Maseko should've got the VC," Alan Sinclair tells the BBC.

But according to the head of the Victoria Cross Trust, which works to preserve the memories of those awarded the medal, there may have been other reasons for him not receiving the highest honour.

"There's no doubt that what Job did in terms of the sabotage of the ship was exceptionally dangerous and would've probably have led to his death had he been caught," Keith Lumley says.

"However at the moment it doesn't seem to quite hit the level of a VC because it wasn't witnessed. While there's no doubt that he did what he did… but nobody actually saw him do it. I just get the sense from what I've read that his Military Medal was a reflection of his actions."

As for the UK's ministry of defence, it seems unlikely that it will at the moment upgrade the award.

While acknowledging the bravery of all African servicemen and women in World War Two, a spokesperson told the BBC in an email that "we cannot consider retrospective awards because we are unable to confirm the circumstances or compare the merits between cases that took place so many years ago"...
 
Just yesterday I was reading a note on the BBC about this, dated April:

...The curator of the National Museum of Military History (Bulgaria) which prominently displays Maseko's portrait, agrees that he should have got a higher award.

"The sad reality is that black South Africans who volunteered to be part of the army just like their white counterparts were treated unfairly. Personally I think that Mr Maseko should've got the VC," Alan Sinclair tells the BBC.

But according to the head of the Victoria Cross Trust, which works to preserve the memories of those awarded the medal, there may have been other reasons for him not receiving the highest honour.

"There's no doubt that what Job did in terms of the sabotage of the ship was exceptionally dangerous and would've probably have led to his death had he been caught," Keith Lumley says.

"However at the moment it doesn't seem to quite hit the level of a VC because it wasn't witnessed. While there's no doubt that he did what he did… but nobody actually saw him do it. I just get the sense from what I've read that his Military Medal was a reflection of his actions."

As for the UK's ministry of defence, it seems unlikely that it will at the moment upgrade the award.

While acknowledging the bravery of all African servicemen and women in World War Two, a spokesperson told the BBC in an email that "we cannot consider retrospective awards because we are unable to confirm the circumstances or compare the merits between cases that took place so many years ago"...

Seems a bit contradictory. There is no doubt, but nobody saw it. Lol.

Oh well, not loosing sleep over it but if the UK forces themselves, back then, opted for a VC and it was downgraded on behalf of the SA; it seems like a good opportunity to right a wrong. Perhaps after another 50years ;-).
 
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