Mark Hobson
Joined: 18 Sep 2005 |
Posts: 106 |
Location: Halifax |
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Posted: Sun Sep 25, 2005 10:56 am |
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On a recent trip out to the battlefields I couldn't help but notice the neglected state of some of the cemetery's that contain the remains of British soldiers who died during the war, either from injuries or disease.
The most obvious one was the cemetery at Fort Eshowe, which was badly overgrown and with many inscriptions indeciperable either due to rust or neglect - we managed, after a fair amount of searching, to locate Midshipman Coker's grave which proved almost impossible to read. Another cemetery which has a very run-down appearance was at Helpmekaar, which is difficult to find and even more difficult to get to due to barbed-wire fences, undergrowth, and fields of wild horses to navigate. Worth the effort but it was still a shame that access is difficult and with no signposts (unless we missed them). Also, the small cemetery at Rorke's Drift - the one across the river, not the one at the mission which is very neat and tidy - was also very overgrown, hidden in a copse of trees, and again difficult to locate. I could go on...
I understand that their remote location and lack of funds contributes to the problem, but it seems a crying shame that these mens final resting place, buried in the red soil of Zululand, is so run-down and poorly maintained.
I wondered if any efforts are made on a regular basis to maintain their upkeep. Surely they deserve better than this?
Mark Hobson
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