Beaufort West (C14)

Name: Beaufort West

Google count: 219,000 for "Beaufort West
Date: 22 July 2008

Historic fact:

The Old Anglican Cemetery
Blyth Street


This was the main cemetery used in Beaufort West for the burial of British soldiers during the Anglo-Boer War. It contains 25 British war graves, which are all in a fair condition. However, stark Guild Grosses mark a large number of the graves as vandals struck in the 1980s and removed roundels inscribed with details of the names, ranks, and regiments. Fortunately, an old map of the cemetery was located according to which these graves could be located. Sadly, also, the very impressive grave of Captain Bull was vandalised in 1989. His bronzed helmet, sword and scabbard were removed.

Thomas Robertson was 21 years old and had just finished a term of duty. He was on his way home. He was buried from the Christchurch Anglican Church and the funeral was led by the Rector, The Reverend Guy Gething.


Beaufort West Courier

October 24, 1900


A Sad Accident


On Sunday last as a train passed Biesjespoort one of the guards, who was sitting on the little platform of a truck, owing to a sudden jerk, fell out. Before the train could be stopped some trucks passed over the unfortunate man so that death must very quickly have occurred. One of the Boer prisoners jumped out and assisted the guards to move the poor fellow’s body into the truck. He was one of the Volunteer Company of the King’s Own Scottish Volunteers, was only 22 years of age, had passed scathless through the campaign and was on his way homewards.
gis.deat.gov.za/isrdp/staticsites/ss_k/documents/beaufort_west_anglican_cemetery.docOther interesting info:

Where to stay:

Train Stories:
The Farmer and the Heater 4


A local farmer was traveling on the train from Cape Town to Beaufort West. It was mid-winter and bitterly cold, so the farmer switched on the heater in the compartment. (These heaters worked with steam from the steam engine). Somewhere along the route another man joined the farmer in the compartment and was also warmed by the heater. As they reached Beaufort West and the farmer was about to get off the train, he asked his companion if he would like to buy the heater from him. The companion, not realizing that the heater was part of the train, agreed to pay the farmer £5 for it. Nobody knows what happened when he reached his destination and wanted to take his heater with him, but the farmer was quite happy with his takings.
http://74.125.39.104/search?q=cache:9raLQMMCxuQJ:gis.deat.gov.za/isrdp/staticsites/ss_k/documents/info%2520docs%2520%26%2520photos%2520final/railway%2520stories%2520f.doc+%22Beaufort+West%22+railway&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=za


Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hwsb1csrefc&feature=related

Gert Vlok Nel - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fH4pT6JWnhY&feature=related


Links: http://www.beaufortwestsa.co.za/town_history.htm