TOPIC:

As David mentioned, it was the 45th Regiment that provided the first British garrison in the then newly established Colony of Natal, and it was men of this regiment who started the construction of Fort Napier. There is a plaque commemorating the regiment's role:


Brett

Hello Brett,
That is a most interesting plaque, as it is bi lingual, how old is it, I suspect, perhaps, not as old as it might first appear to be?
Regards Frank

Frank
Thank you for taking an interest in the plaque. Since it was erected by the old National Monuments Council it predates 1994, but I cannot offer a guess of when it it made its appearance. I will make inquiries.
During the past 18 months or more I have discovered that locals with an interest in the 45th Regiment are thin on the ground.
Regards
Brett

Frank

I have done some searching on the Internet, and found that the pre-1994 heritage organisations in South Africa were:
Historical Monuments Commission - 1923 to 1969
National Monuments Council - 1969 to 2000
The Fort Napier plaque was erected by the former. I suspect it predates 1948, because after 1948 the National Party government is unlikely to have commemorated the building of the fort. Its establishment in 1843 was to ensure the security of the new Colony of Natal that had replaced the short-lived Dutch/Boer Republic of Natalia, which had been another vain effort by many Cape Boers to escape British control. Many of the Boers in Natal then moved out of Natal to what were to become the Republics of the Orange Free State and Transvaal, which the British took far longer to conquer, and at a far higher cost in both money and lives.

Regards
Brett

Hello Brett,
Many thanks, the plaque would appear as old as it looks then, I have to say that I'm not all that surprised that there is little interest these days in that period of history these days, I dare say that there are a great many who would actually like it rewritten.
Regards Frank

In danger of being killed by kindness: Wounded soldiers in Fort Napier, Maritzburg

It is certain that the women of Natal have provided comforts and luxuries with a lavish hand and, according to Sir George White, played a very admirable part throughout all the trying times.



The Graphic 9 June 1900