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I've just returned from KwaZulu Natal and was able to spend one day in LadySmith. After finally finding the sign for the road up to Wagon Hill I visited the cemetery there










Sadly if you look to the right of the Devons memorial you'll see a cross has been broken off. There are 2 like that.

Hello Iain,
Fantastic photos, you appear to have had a good holiday, how old is that last to the Devonshire Regiment, it looks new?
It is a great pity that some people choose not to respect the dead, in particular, those who lost their life in the service of their country, it happens here too!
Regards Frank

Frank,

I'm not certain of the age of the Devonshire memorial, I spent a lot of time trying to find the road up to the hill. There is a sign when you head west out of LadySmith but nothing as you drive in. Maybe the sign has gone for scrap!
Consequently I was running out of time and a huge thunderstorm was looming, which broke whilst on Caesar's camp and drenched us!!!! Plus you are looking over your shoulder all the time. They also have the 2 hills separated by a fence so you have to drive down and then up the other hill.





regards, Iain

LOL Iain,
A huge thunderstorm, did you really need the historical accuracy, so not unlike the 5th and 6th January then, a little damp!
I had no idea that the scrap metal industry was so active in South Africa either!
Kind regards Frank

LOL, yes the thought did occur to me about the thunderstorm but there were no Boers coming over the hill so I ran for the car

Sadly, the scrap metal industry is huge in SA and nothing is sacred.

Moving around on the 2 hills, you realise how stoney the ground is ranging in size from say 16 - 20" and in between small approx 4 - 6" and how difficult must it have been to rush reinforcements up the hills when they were attacked, also for the charge of the Devons.

kind regards Iain






That's the last of the Wagon Hill pics

Hello Iain,
I like the way their badge has been reproduced in the lower arm of the 2n KRRC memorial in your original post in this thread too, great detail, I remain just a lttle envious that you can just drive down when ever you like.
Regards Frank