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Hi Frank,
I am aware of the Braamfontein ILH monument but it only seems to have a few honours and the ILH were in many fields of conflict.
The epitaph is somewhat similar to the Thermopylae stone......and very significant.
Originally, the poppy was sold to raise funds for the Earl Haig fund and the victims of the Great war (and I agree, the ABW was a dress rehearsal!) But it seems more and more to encompass all of those that have fallen for Britain.
On one of the stones I saw today and posted pictures of, a poppy had also been fixed. Both stones were 4 sided so this wasn't in the photo.

regards, Iain

Hi Iain,
I'm afraid I did not go back quite as far as you today, with your Thermopylae "Go, tell the Spartan's" epitaph, but, I did go to my local cemetery and look at a childhood hero of mine who lost his life over the Isle of White during the Battle of Britain.
Regards Frank

iaindh wrote: Hi Frank,
I am aware of the Braamfontein ILH monument but it only seems to have a few honours and the ILH were in many fields of conflict.
The epitaph is somewhat similar to the Thermopylae stone......and very significant.

regards, Iain

Hi Iain

In my ILH Bible (i.e. Gibson's history) there is a 1905 list of all the ILH memorials and headstones that were erected after the war. The Transvaal list starts as follows:

"The following Headstones have been erected, enclosed by railings and suitably inscribed:-
(1) ELANDSFONTEIN CEMETERY
Regt.-Qt.-Master Sergt. C. Belcher.
Corporal G. Mackenzie.
Trooper R.J. Davies.
Trooper J.P. McCabe.
Trooper W.H. Davies.
Trooper N. Williams.
Trooper C. Coltart."

There are 14 cemeteries on the list, as well as mention of the obelisks erected at Witklip, Maritzani and elsewhere. There also lists for Natal and the Orange River Colony.

I believe it was in the early 1970's that scattered Boer War burials and some cemeteries were consolidated into "Gardens of Remembrance" with consolidated lists of names on new memorials such as those in the Primrose Cemetery.

Regards
Brett

Good morning Brett,
Have you been to all the cemeteries listed in Gibson's book?
I do realise that your country is huge!
Regards Frank

Hi Frank

My visits to what used to be called the Transvaal have been few and far between and on none of them did I call in at cemeteries. Given my present decrepit state, I will leave it to Iain to provide more of his excellent photographs of this subject matter.

Regards
Brett

Brett,

Last time I saw you at the pub you were far from decrepit The way you were looking at the barmaids tells me that there is many many more years left in you.

Cheers
Adrian