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News - Date: 01 February 2008
In an unusual turn of events, the United Kingdom sponsored the restoration of the grave of an Australian officer who died in the Anglo Boer War.
"The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) normally only attends to First and Second World War graves of British soldiers and only when there are ten graves or more. The CWGC went out of its way to do this for us, mainly because of the input of Mr Andy Birmingham of Bermuda," said Charles Leach on January 25.
As part of his special interest in the history of the Anglo Boer War period (1899 -1902), Leach guides the popular Zoutpansberg Skirmishes tours and includes a visit to the grave of Captain Percy Hunt of the Bushveldt Carbineers.
"The Reverend Reuter buried Capt Hunt in the graveyard of Medingen Mission Station after the night attack by the Bushveldt Carbineers on the Viljoen homestead near Duivelskloof (now named Modjadji’s Kloof)," says Leach.
Captain Hunt led a seven-man patrol to attack the homestead, but was surprised by the large group of Boers waiting there. Two officers of the BVC and five Boers were killed in the skirmish. An estimated 600 warriors and witchdoctors of the Bolobedy (Modjadji) tribe accompanied the BVC patrol.
"It was claimed by members of the BVC that Hunt’s body had been stripped and mutilated by the Boers. This was a surprising claim, as it appeared that Viljoen’s body, likewise, had been treated in the same manner," Leach said.
Ltn Breaker Morant was infuriated by this claimed mutilation of his best friend’s body and vowed that he would take revenge by killing those Boers responsible.
"Was this the incident that sparked the rampage of the BVC on captured civilian Boers and blacks in the Spelonken, resulting in more than 30 deaths? If so, the death of Capt Hunt was indeed a historic event that caused the BVC saga to become, and remain, a controversial issue to this day," said Leach. Morant later stood trial and was executed by a firing squad in 1902.
Last year, Birmingham was among the tourists who visited the dilapidated grave of Captain Hunt at Medingen.
"Andy is an authority on the BVC, as well as on the Boer Prisoners of War who were interned on Bermuda, and he has written extensively on that subject. About a week after their return to Bermuda, I received an e-mail from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the UK to put me in touch with their South African representative, General Johan Potgieter," Leach said.
Genl Potgieter, Prof Louis Changuion and Charles Leach’s ensuing visit to the Medingen graveyard resulted in a discussion regarding the refurbishment and a quotation for the required granite slab, a new cross and railings.
The restoration of the grave was completed in November last year.
"The unreserved gratitude of the Zoutpansberg Skirmishes Route and Heritage Foundation – and all the many tourists who get taken on the BVC route - goes to all those who assisted, especially Andy, the CWGC, and Genl Potgieter. You preserved the grave of Capt Percy Hunt for the next generations of military history enthusiasts who will, once again, know who lies buried there," Leach said.
Linda van der Westhuizen has been with Zoutnet since 2001. She has a heart for God, people and their stories. Linda believes that every person is unique and has a special story to tell. It follows logically that human interest stories is her speciality. Linda finds working with people and their leaders in the economic, educational, spiritual and political arena very rewarding. “I have a special interest in what God is doing in our town, province and nation and what He wants us to become,” says Linda.
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