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January 17, 2014 Historic grave pillaged for relics [You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] “NORTHERN KZN has the largest concentration of battlefields in South Africa, and they attract visitors from all over the world. The battlefields of this area, together with the game reserves and the Berg resorts, make tourism one of northern KZN’s biggest economic sectors. But the battlefields are under siege from vandals and grave robbers. There was a significant battle on Hlobane mountain on March 28, 1879 during the Anglo Zulu War. It was a resounding victory for the Zulu impi, although it was followed the next day, March 29, by the Battle of Kambula, when about 25,000 Zulu warriors attacked a fortified British position, and were driven off with heavy casualties. A report was received by the Vryheid Herald on December 22 last year that the British grave on Hlobane mountain had been dug up. This was confirmed on the eve of New Year when local battlefields tour guide, Wilfred Mchunu, led a party of people up the mountain to visit the site of the battle. His party consisted of three local people, and a French and a British tourist. What they found was that the grave of the British officers Campbell and Lloyd had been pillaged, probably by grave robbers looking for saleable relics – buttons, badges, insignia etc. The marking cross had been struck from its plinth, the grave marker dislodged from its slab, and the slab pried aside. Then the grave had been excavated, uselessly, the robbers would have discovered because the bodies would probably have been buried only in any undergarments. “It’s a great embarrassment, especially with foreign tourists,” said Mr Mchunu on Monday this week. He confirmed that it was a waste of time digging up military graves, because the deceased were buried without insignia, even without boots. Dave Sutcliff, KZN Guides Association Secretary added on Tuesday this week, that the deceased soldier’s effects would probably have been removed, auctioned among his comrades, and the proceeds sent with any personal items to the next of kin. In effect, there are no relics in military graves. AMAFA, the organisation that looks after the history of KZN, including the battlefields and the graves and monuments, has been advised of this attack on the heritage of the province. The SAPS will have been advised for investigative purposes, and then presumably the grave will be rehabilitated – until the next time, because the grave robber will not know there is nothing worth stealing.” Pete could you post this here: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
90th
Posts : 10233 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 64 Location : Melbourne, Australia
Subject: Not sure if this is already on the Forum Fri Jul 27, 2018 11:50 pm
I think it may've been on here at one time , I first went to the Gravesite in 2014 and it was fine , been a few times since and it's always been undamaged , but I do remember reading that it's been damaged a few times over the years . 90th
littlehand
Posts : 7077 Join date : 2009-04-24 Age : 52 Location : Down South.
Posts : 10233 Join date : 2009-04-07 Age : 64 Location : Melbourne, Australia
Subject: Not sure if this is already on the Forum Sat Jul 28, 2018 12:13 am
As I mentioned I was there in 2014 it was fine , the article is dated 2014 , it was fine the times I'd been there after that date , the last time I was there in 2017 . But who knows , it may be damaged again by now , it has been damaged from what I've read several times over many years . Just noticed the article is dated Jan 2014 , first time I went there was March 2014 it was fine . 90th