On the hunt for history in Dannhauser

Hunting for history is never easy. Especially when the clues that will help solve these historic mysteries have been lost over time.

But despite how hard it can be, that’s exactly what Kevan Boman’s job entails.

Kevan, a Support Technician for the Commonwealth War Grave Commission (CWGC), is tasked with travelling across the country, bringing honour to many a fallen warrior.

He was in Dundee last week where he explained that the CWGC honours the 1.7 million men and women of the Commonwealth forces who died in the First and Second World Wars and ensures they will never be forgotten.

Kevan’s first task was to restore graves at the Wesleyan Church on McKenzie Street. What makes this little cemetery unique is that both British and Boer soldiers are buried there; 15 British soldiers and four Boers.

Once the graves were restored to a respectable condition, Kevan made his way to Dannhauser, to view the three neglected Anglo Boer War graves that have recently made the news via the Courier.

Kevan was dispatched to Dannhauser by the CWGC after the Courier highlighted the poor state of the graves which are situated in a vacant plot in central Dannhauser.

Sadly, the CWGC only deals with soldiers who fought in the First and Second World Wars, while the graves are of soldiers who fought in the Anglo-Boer War. The CWGC also only maintains graves where there are ten or more bodies.

Kevan did inspect the area around the graves and believes that the surrounding area may also be littered with other unmarked graves. He also added that he would try to get more details regarding the graves.

The Courier also contacted the author and historian, Stephen Watt, regarding the Dannhauser graves. Mr Watt wrote the novel, In Memoriam, which lists every individual who died serving with the Imperial forces in the Anglo-Boer War from 1899-1902, as well as of those who died up to 1913. The research covers over 25 000 people who died and details, inter alia, which unit they were attached to, where and how they died, and where they are buried.

Mr Watt only has details regarding the first two graves, Privates Wooder and Underwood, who were both buried in 1900. The third grave, he believes, belonged to a civilian who was laid to rest next to the soldiers.

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