Descendants of those who died in a shocking wartime sinking were remembered at a service of thanksgiving yesterday.

They were at the City Gate Church in London Road to commemorate the deaths in the SS Mendi in the English Channel.

More than 600 South African war volunteers were on their way to help the British war effort in France when the Mendi was rammed by a British ship that failed to stop.

It is good there is now a proper memorial to these people who perished in one of the forgotten incidents of wartime.

But the fight must carry on for an official apology from the Government for the way in which the tragedy was covered up.

The apology should have been issued years ago and would cost nothing. For the relatives, it would be better late than never.