South African Military History Society

Kingswood College Grahamstown Cadet Anglo-Boer War Monument

Also known as the Kingswood Cadet Detachment Memorial


Photo: William Martinson

Location
Grahamstown, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
In the dining hall foyer at Kingswood College, 1 Burton Street

GPS: 33 deg 54 min 46.95 sec S, 18 deg 24 min 55.03 sec E

Significance
As Boer commandos under Generals Jan Smuts and P.H. Kritzinger moved through the Eastern Cape, Grahamstown prepared for a possible attack.

School Cadets from St Andrew's College, Kingswood College and Grahamstown Public School (now Graeme College), were deployed on the perimeter of the town for about ten days in March 1901.

The Kingswood Cadets occupied positions on Makana's Kop. The closest the Boers came to Grahamstown was Carlisle Bridge, approximately 50 km away.


Photo: William Martinson

The plaque on the Monument is inscribed
This Plinth erected from stone
gathered on Makana's Kop
commemorates the Kingswood
Detachment that served there 
with other School Cadets in the 
defence of Grahamstown when 
the Smuts and Kritzinger
Kommandos penetrated to the 
Carlisle Bridge area of the Eastern 
Cape from 10-25 March 1901 
The Grahamstown Cadet Corps was the only one In the British Empire besides the Mafeking Corps to see Active Service in the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902

With the proceeds of their ration money voluntarily donated, the Victor Ludorum Cup was purchased and given to the School to mark the event

South African Military History Society / scribe@samilitaryhistory.org