Thieves, vandals strike at Dundee’s unique military graveyard
The cemetery has largely been forgotten over the years, but a new plaque describes the events that happened and resulted in both British and Boers being buried on the site.
Those who took part in the Battle of Talana anniversary commemoration were shocked to find that one of Dundee’s unique but neglected Anglo-Boer War cemeteries has been vandalised.
Local historian Pam McFadden led a group of local and visiting tourists around various heritage sites related to the battle, but the group was shocked to find that the military cemetery behind the Wesleyan Church in McKenzie Street had fallen victim to what appears to be scrap metal thieves.
A part of the railing around the graveyard (where 15 British soldiers and four Boers are buried) has been stolen.
“Disturbingly, it appears as if a tree was chopped down and the branches fell on the graveyard, breaking some of the headstones,” said McFadden.
The cemetery is unique in that it is the only one in the country where the fallen of both opposing sides are buried side by side.
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