28/08/2023
The Armistice to end the First World War, the “war to end all wars”, was signed at 11 minutes past 11 o’clock on the 11th day of the 11th month, 1918. 392 Dundee men and 1 woman went to war out of a total European population of 3447. Research has found that some 89 of those were either killed in action or died on active service, which is the equivalent of + 20% casualties. People from the same area tended to join up and stick together for the duration of their service. If a particular unit took heavy casualties, then, the effect was devastating to the home towns of the fallen. For example, nine Dundee men were killed at Delville Wood alone from 15 – 20 July 1916.
The War Memorial in Karellandman Street was erected to preserve the memory of the fallen. It is all too easy for future generations to forget. According to the Dundee and District Courier -
“In August 1919, Mayor James MacKenzie rallied the town to celebrate the signing of the Peace Treaty following the Armistice that ended World War 1. The town planned a grand programme of entertainment lasting a week. This included a gigantic picnic and sports for the children of the district, thanksgiving services at all churches, five-a-side tournaments, a mask and domino ball at the Masonic Hall and a grand vocal and instrumental concert featuring the Dundee Peace Celebrations Choral Society”.
The Dundee, District and Mines Memorial to commemorate those men (and one woman) who paid the supreme price, was unveiled on 23 August 1923. The Dundee Cenotaph owes its existence to the generosity of the citizens of Dundee, and the persistence of James Mackenzie, who was Mayor of Dundee from 1918 – 1920. It was erected by Messrs. Crankshaw in Newcastle. The statue is carved from white Italian Carrara marble, with a base of local sandstone. The cost of 1200 Pounds, which was a great deal of money at the time, was raised by public subscription.
Over 70 wreaths were laid. One was even dropped by aeroplane, which missed its’ target by 50 yards and fell in the school grounds next door (now the Education Department offices).
The Cenotaph was refurbished in 2008, made possible by the efforts of many Dundee citizens. Stuart Clarke was responsible for raising a large amount of the cash needed to do the job. Morgan Govender was the contractor. Tourism Dundee and Endumeni Municipality were also instrumental in making the project a success, Peter Jones taking a major part in this effort in his own inimitable style.
In 2016 the Cenotaph was “upgraded” mainly through the efforts of Tourism Dundee (Norman Parkinson) and Talana Museum (Pam McFadden). The cannon was renovated by Posselt Lourens, and latterly again by Buffalo Coal (Bob Bentley) when an errant motorist attempted to take a short cut to the Municipal buildings through the palisade fencing. Only last year, yet another motorist attempted the same deed, and the fencing had to be repaired once again, this time through the generosity of HENCO and Talana Museum.
Pam McFadden, who has a brain for these sort of things, decided that an especial effort should be made to commemorate the Centenary. A brilliant idea, but it wasn’t even in its nappy stage before Pam departed for pastures overseas, leaving the rest of us to see it through. Tony (mainly Tony) and Val Cross spent months making imitation poppies out of re-cycled plastic bottles, an idea that Pam pinched from Newcastle Shellhole when we went there to commemorate the Anniversary of the er****on of their lynch gate. The two Croses did a sterling job, with even two purple poppies in honour of the animals that died in the war. I stole one and gave it to my wife, asking her to be my poppy, but alas, she told me to get knotted.
It was originally intended to plant these poppies in wooden pallets filled with soil, but again alas – no wooden pallets to be found. Switch to barrels originally donated by Hetta Lake for “Talana Live”. But alas (again) – on searching for them they had “disappeared”. Switch to two cut-down oil drums from the Shellhole that were originally intended as braai drums. Attempt to get into the Shellhole to get them out but alas, the keys wouldn’t fit the locks. And so on.
After some grumbling, Tourism Dundee kindly donated some money for the event. I attempted to organize a mini Fugitive’s Trail hike for Saturday (to turn the event into a weekend) but alas, not enough takers were found to make it viable. Snacks came from the Jumping Onion. We had to store them in the Shellhole fridge overnight, with the result that they were mostly frozen solid by Sunday.
Graham’s cell phone went off during the flag raising ceremony. The Sarel Cillier’s school choir failed to turn up on the day, so scratch the National Anthem. But the Municipal Manager was there (first time ever), together with Councillor Gopie. Siya, Bornwell, Vusi and Patricia worked their backsides off; all the usual descendants turned up to lay a poppy and the day went off without too many hitches. The Die Hards, led by Vince Nixon, were there in force, although Gavin Slater was AWOL (working) and Paul Garner’s poem remained silent as he was at a friend’s funeral. The best news of all is that a couple of the Die Hards expressed interest in joining the MOTHs – we need them as we’re getting very short on the ground.
Pat Rundgren
Cell 0728032885
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