DUNDEE KZN: Family re-connects with history at Talana battlefield
. "What a special day for us to come and see the grave of John Sherston, and to hear what he went through along with the others who perished here.
The present met with the past at Talana Museum when Jessica Merton and her family followed the final footsteps of Jessica’s great-great-grandfather, Colonel John Sherston, who was killed in the Battle of Talana on October 20, 1899.
Originally from the United Kingdom, the Mertons now live in Cape Town.
However, for Jessica, this was a special trip to Dundee to see the spot where her ancestor perished and where he now lies in the graveyard along with other British soldiers who died during the first battle of the Anglo-Boer War.
Jessica had been in contact with local tour guide and Talana Museum Board of Trustees chairman Pat Rundgren when she first decided she and her family wanted to undertake this historical journey.
Pat immediately set about drawing up biographical information about the man who died for Queen and country, thousands of kilometres from his place of birth (Somerset, UK, in July 1857).He was educated at Malborough and Sandhurst, and entered the Rifle Brigade in 1877. He served in the Afghan War of 1879-1880 and was twice mentioned in dispatches, gaining the medal and three clasps and the Bronze Star.
He took part in the Waziri Expedition in 1881 and was promoted to captain in 1884.
In 1882, he married Alice, daughter of General AH Bamfield. He served with the Upper Burma Field Force in 1886-1887, gaining the medal with clasp and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order.
He was killed at Talana Hill while advancing in a bid to oust the attacking Boers from their vantage position.
Jessica; her partner Luke Williams; and children Alby, Inca Rose and Rumi Blue Merton-Williams spent hours at the museum, examining the battle site and imagining what their brave ancestor had endured up to his final hours.
She later placed flowers on his grave. “What a special day for us to come and see the grave of John Sherston, and to hear what he went through along with the others who perished here.
“Our family certainly has everlasting links with Dundee because of his deeds.” This is proof that even a tragic incident of the past can bring people closer together and encourage them to become aware of their local history.
