Defence Districts

Thanks very much John, very helpful. Boycott is buried in Karkloof.

Steve

Hi Rusteze,

Correct. The grave is out at St Marks cemetery, Shafton.
This is located in the Karkloof and will be found 100 m off to your right (opposite sports club and polo grounds)
when taking the road down the pass through the timber plantations to the Albert Falls Dam, travelling via the
Howick / Karkloof district road.  The churchyard will be found at at/long 29deg 23.076'S / 30deg 15.835' E.
A number of the surrounding farms are owned by the Mackenzie and Shaw families, thus their family graves proliferate
in the church grounds.
Do not confuse this with the Parish of Karkloof which church is in the main street of Howick, some 10kms away,
which has a cemetery too.
If visiting the area in the wet season a 4x4, with chains, on some roads in the area is recommended, as is a day
tour on the "Midlands  Meander". It is very scenic and green, just like home, but with sunshine in abundance.

regards

barry

PS: Nearby is the Karkloof Gorge on the Umgeni River, where the first man in South Africa, one Goodman Household, flew his winged contraption (pre dating Wright Bros and Kittyhawk) when he jumped off the gorge into the ravine below. He survived the flight and more later.

Steve,

If you have a copy of Stalker's Natal Carbineers there a photograph in there of 'Lieut. Pete Otto, Karkloof Troop, 1873.' I appreciate the dates don't tally so it may be the senior rather than the junior, but just for your information.

John Y.

John
Thank you.
Barry
I didn't know SA claimed the first human flight. Or was it plummet!
Steve

Steve
I believe Shaka claimed the first human flight (s) when he threw an Impi of the top of Shakas Rock.

Cheers Mate

Hi Steve,
Indeed, Goodman John Household's flights (1871) predated Wright's at Kittyhawk by a good many years. He even predated the  German  Otto Lielienthals's attempts too.  He lived on the farm de Machtenburg which was close to the Karkloof gorge.
He survived all his attempts, which were hidden from his mother. Apparently he arranged for Bishop Colenso to check the mathematical calculations in the design of his wings before trying them out. The wings were covered in silk with bamboo spars. His design was the first to use the trapeze bar to shift weight in the course of the flight  thus altering the cg of the foil. His first flight was 3/4 mile down the gorge   
When she found out , Goodman's Mother put a stop to all his high flying lunacy.
For further detail "Google". ; First flight in South Africa

regards

barry

Hi Barry

I thought for just a moment you were going to say that the Bishop provided some divine assistance!

Steve