Military History Tours          On Tour - Boer War 112th Anniversary Tour to South Africa 30 May 2014

Two great places to see today.

After a sumptuous breakfast we headed out early for Johannesburg a more relaxed pace today, less of a distance.

Our first stop was the Ditsong Museum of Military history at Saxonwold where we found ourselves rubbing shoulders with South Africa’s senior staff college course members on a familiarisation visit. A chance to catch-up on the current South African military insignia. The collection was first class. A BF109 as found in France, the only two seater ME262, a centurion MBT, and a centurion ARV, a T34 in excellent condition many shermans, a crusader,vakentine, churchill and an SP gun that would make an Australian artilleryman’s mouth water. The collection of locally produced armoured cars was complete, even including the strangest A vehicle yet seen, a Leopard security vehicle from Rhodesia (Zimbabwe).

Lunch in the Museum shop was most refreshing.

  

On the road again, we headed into Pretoria (no longer is there a threat to change that name) through heavy mid-day traffic. Our destination was the Church Street Cemetery. There we first encountered the graves of Harry Morant and Peter Handcock. We paused placing poppies and a small Australian flag courtesy Rob Foulds. Harry and Peter, you are not forgotten by your contrymen, what you did was unconscionable, but the political nature of the trial that led to your execution ensured no other Australian would die in such a way.

We then walked on to hero’s acre where President Kruger and the Boer hierarchy lay at rest.

Returning to our bus, we sought out every Australian grave, leaving a poppy to let them know that although they too may lay far from home; they are not forgotten.

  

After our satisfying a la carte evening meal in our Pretoria hotel we headed for bed. Tomorrow we do not have to venture far but will see more amazing things.