Letterklip

Last updated

Letterklip
"Lettered rock"
Garies, South Africa
Coordinates 30°33′20″S17°58′33″E / 30.55556°S 17.97583°E / -30.55556; 17.97583 Coordinates: 30°33′20″S17°58′33″E / 30.55556°S 17.97583°E / -30.55556; 17.97583
TypeNatural rock formation, Dry Wall construction.
Site information
Controlled byFlag of South Africa.svg  South Africa
Open to
the public
Yes
ConditionIntact
Site history
Built1901 (1901)
MaterialsLocal stone.
Events Second Boer War
Garrison information
GarrisonBritish Forces

The Letterklip, Afrikaans for "lettered rock", is a provincial heritage site in Namaqualand in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The unique rock formation was fortified by dry stone walling; it was occupied from 1901 to 1902 by British forces during the Anglo-Boer War. Various regimental badges and officers' names are engraved in the rockface. [1]

Contents

History

In 1980, it was described in the Government Gazette of South Africa :

This unique rock formation was fortified and occupied from 1901 to 1902 by the British forces during the Anglo-Boer War. Various regimental badges and officers' names are engraved in the rockface.

See also

Related Research Articles

Second Boer War British invasion of two Boer Republics between 1899–1902

The Second Boer War, also known as the Boer War, the Anglo–Boer War, or the South African War, was a conflict fought between the British Empire and the two Boer Republics over the Empire's influence in Southern Africa from 1899 to 1902. Following the discovery of gold deposits in the Boer republics, there was a large influx of "foreigners", mostly British from the Cape Colony. They were not permitted to have a vote, and were regarded as "unwelcome visitors", invaders, and they protested to the British authorities in the Cape. Negotiations failed and, in the opening stages of the war, the Boers launched successful attacks against British outposts before being pushed back by imperial reinforcements. Though the British swiftly occupied the Boer republics, numerous Boers refused to accept defeat and engaged in guerrilla warfare. Eventually, British scorched earth policies, and the poor conditions suffered in concentration camps by Boer women and children who had been displaced by these policies, brought the remaining Boer guerillas to the negotiating table, ending the war.

Solomon Mahlangu Regiment Military unit

The Solomon Mahlangu Regiment is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army.

Gonnema Regiment Military unit

The Cape Town Highlanders is a reserve mechanised infantry regiment of the South African Army.

Durban Light Infantry Military unit

The Durban Light Infantry is a Motorised Infantry regiment of the South African Army. It lost its status as a Mechanised infantry regiment in 2010 in line with the rationalisation of resources. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Army Reserve or United States Army National Guard unit.

Chief Langalibalele Rifles Military unit

The Chief Langalibalele Rifles is a reserve infantry regiment of the South African Army.

Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment Military unit

The Autshumato Anti-Aircraft Regiment is a reserve air defence artillery regiment of the South African Army.

South Africa has a number of Traditional Regiments. These are mostly South African Army Reserve Force regiments that were established either under previous colonial governments or by the Apartheid regime and which have continued to exist by accepting the authority of the government-of-the-day - be it colonial, union, Apartheid, or fully democratic.

Henry Lukin South African military commander

Major General Sir Henry Timson Lukin was a South African military commander. He fought in the Anglo-Zulu War (1879) and the Basutoland Gun War (1880–1881), the Bechuanaland Campaign (1897), and the Anglo-Boer War when he was in command of the artillery during the defence of Wepener for which action he was awarded a Distinguished Service Order. From 1900 to 1901 he commanded the Cape Mounted Riflemen, from 1904 to 1912 he was Commandant-General of the Cape Colonial Forces and in 1912 Inspector-General of the Permanent Force of the Union of South Africa.

Kings South Africa Medal Award

The King's South Africa Medal is a British campaign medal awarded to all British and Colonial military personnel who served in the Second Boer War in South Africa, and who were in the theatre on or after 1 January 1902 and who had completed 18 months service in the conflict prior to 1 June 1902.

Pretoria Forts

The Pretoria Forts consists of four forts built by the government of the South African Republic (ZAR) just before the outbreak of the Second Anglo-Boer War around their capital of Pretoria.

Prince Alfreds Guard Memorial

Prince Alfred's Guard Memorial is a provincial heritage site in St George's Park in Port Elizabeth in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. The memorial is situated on top of Port Elizabeth's second oldest reservoir. On November 6, 1907 the Honourable Edgar H Walton, MLA, Treasurer General of the Cape Colony, unveiled the memorial to the fallen of the Prince Alfred's Guard.

Military history of Australia during the Second Boer War

The military history of Australia during the Boer War is complex, and includes a period of history in which the six formerly autonomous British Australian colonies federated to become the Commonwealth of Australia. At the outbreak of the Second Boer War, each of these separate colonies maintained their own, independent military forces, but by the cessation of hostilities, these six armies had come under a centralised command to form the Australian Army.

Bruce Hamilton (British Army officer) British Army general

General Sir Bruce Meade Hamilton, was a British Army general during the Second Boer War and the First World War.

Norvalspont is a small town in Pixley ka Seme District Municipality in the Northern Cape province of South Africa. The name is Afrikaans for Norval’s ferry, and named after an enterprising Scot who constructed a ferry here in 1848. The settlement lies some 40 km east-north-east of Colesberg and 43 km west-north-west of Venterstad, on the southern bank of the Orange River, just below the Gariep Dam.

Bloemhof Commando Military unit

Bloemhof Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

Harrismith Commando Military unit

Harrismith Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

Alexander Thorneycroft British Army general

Major-General Alexander Whitelaw Thorneycroft, was a senior British Army officer during the Second Boer War.

Heidelberg Commando Military unit

Heidelberg Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

Boksburg Commando Military unit

Boksburg Commando was a light infantry regiment of the South African Army. It formed part of the South African Army Infantry Formation as well as the South African Territorial Reserve.

Blockhouses of the Second Anglo-Boer War Fortifications built by the British Empire in South Africa during the Second Anglo-Boer War

This is a list of blockhouses built by the British Empire in South Africa during the Second Anglo-Boer War from 1899–1901. Of the fortifications constructed during the war, around 441 were solid masonry blockhouses, many of which stand today. Different designs were used in the construction, but most were either two or three story structures built using locally quarried stone.

References

  1. "SAHRA - Home Page". Archived from the original on 31 December 2008. Retrieved 31 December 2008. South African Heritage Resource Agency database