South African cemetery enquiry

[QSAMIKE]

To find a Headstone to go with your medal(s) or a photo of the man just makes a fantastic display.....

Hammond on Left, McGreggor on right.....

Mike

[RCN]

EXACTLY!

Here is one of my Canadian South African groups....

RCN Bryan

[Brian Conyngham]

Bryan

Sadly still nothing, I am off to Cape Town for a week, fly out tomorrow. Just hope something happens in this time, will keep you posted.

Brian

[RCN]

Thanks very much Brian, enjoy your trip!

RCN Bryan

[Brian Conyngham]

Mike

Just got back from CT and sadly it appears I have been let down

I sent an sms to the chap involved and he replied that has not heard from his source, so it appears the chain has broken.

However I will not give up!

If this does not work out hopefully Bill can get a picture on his next Namibia road trip?

Brian

[emties]

Hi Bryan,
Just happened to see your post. Unfortunately I cannot assist at the moment but will be able to during the month of September 2013. A couple of Boer War enthusiast will be going down in that time and we will be visiting Colesberg, Slingerfontein, Naauwpoort and De Aar. Our main interest at De Aar is the hospital site at Deelfontein and I am planning to photograph evert grave marker in the cemetary. Should I come across your man I will gladley forward pjotos of his resting place. Regards, Mike

[RCN]

Thanks very much Mike, I appreciate your response.

I have someone looking into De Aar cemetery for me & he seems to be making progress. I hope to know very soon if Serg't Hall's grave has been identified.
& I will keep you updated in this topic on the result.

RCN BRyan

[Brian Conyngham]

Bryan

I hope Mike comes right in his quest.

Lucky to be going on such a trip, the wife and I will be on the Cape West Coast during August and possibly up to southern Namibia if all goes well.

Regards
Brian

[7923BSAP]

Hi Byran
Well we visited the graveyard yesterday and I regret to inform you that my wife and I could not find Sgt.Hall's grave afer a very careful search. The only Hall in the cemetry was a private of the 2nd Scotts gaurds; see attached photo.I also included a photo of a row of graves where there were six markers with no names (marked unknown); the markers were the same as in the photo of the private. I included a photo of the hospital entrance, the whole place is in ruins. The graves are all well looked after.
All th best
Bill

PS : Will try and upload the pictures nce I get home and have a decent wifi connection, not having much joy now

[RCN]

Bill I do thank you very much for visiting the cemetery & searching for Band Sergt Hall's grave. I very much appreciate you efforts!

I had mentioned in an earlier post that I had someone checking on Hall's burial site in De Aar & he was able to locate Hall's gravesite thru the South African War Graves Commission:

"He is buried in De Aar in grave no 131 in the military section in the old cemetery. His name appears on the main memorial at the site."

"Thank you for the e-mail and the enquiry in respect of the grave of Sgt
Hall. According to our records, as contained in IN MEMORIAM 2697 Band Sergeant W.Hall 1st Battalion Yorkshire Regiment is commemorated in the De Aar Garden of Remembrance in the De Aar Old Cemetery.
The site was renovated in 2009, but sadly was vandalised about a year ago
with some of the headstones damaged. The Commission will return to the site later in the year to renovate the site again.
Trust that this will be of assistance."

& he has sent me some photos of the memorial at the De Aar cemetery on which Sergt Hall's name is commemorated.
As mentioned in the response above som of the numbered markers have been vandalized & are now unclear, so hopefully they will be restored in time.

& I wish to again thank all of our South African mates who have assisted me in this project, I am very appreciative of the kind offers of assistance I have received!

I will try to get a writeup of Band Serg't Hall's career completed soon & post on the forum,

Again with MANY THANKS to All!

RCN Bryan

[7923BSAP]

Hi Byran

[7923BSAP]

Hi Byran
Great to see he was found, will be grat to see your research once completed.
All the best
Bill

[RCN]

Bill did you notice this Garden of Remembrance when you visited the De Aar cemetery? None of the photos I have of the cemetery show the Garden.

RCN Bryan

[7923BSAP]

We only slept in in town and left thenext morning for Deelfontein thinknig we would find the grave there. i should have popped into De Aar as well.
Bill

[RCN]

Originally Posted by 7923BSAP

We only slept in in town and left thenext morning for Deelfontein thinknig we would find the grave there. i should have popped into De Aar as well.
Bill

Thanks Bill, I do really appreciate you taking the time to visit the Deelfontein cemetery on my behalf!

How far is Deelfontein from De Aar?

RCN Bryan