Interesting Tales of Dundee

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From Dundee Calling (Natal) Dec 1949
Interesting Tales of Dundee

Headley Keith beats Australia!

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Headley James Keith was born on 25 October 1927, son of the Mayor of Dundee, Mr Jimmy Keith. Mr Keith was Managing Director of the company that his uncle had helped found in 1896, Johnston & Keith, builders’ merchants and building contractors. Headley played cricket during his time at the High School and progressed as a left-hand batsman, strong off the back foot, to be an important component of the powerful Natal batting line-up of the 1950s. He was called … Read More

Garnet Green
Interesting Tales of Dundee

The Last Man to Walk out of Delville Wood … was a Dundee Man!

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By Kevin Burge Before the end of the “Great War” of 1914-1918, Dundee High School had lost twenty of its old scholars and three of its staff members to the vicissitudes of battle. One scholar, Capt Garnet George Green, who had passed the Annual Collective Examination in 1903 at Dundee, was awarded the Military Cross for having, “held the whole wood [Delville Wood] with 118 men (of his B Company of the Second Regiment), the whole day against three German … Read More

Jacob Davies Gregory Snr
Interesting Tales of Dundee

Gregory’s Nek

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By Pat Rundgren Who hasn’t driven over Gregory’s Nek on course to view the scenic delights of Blood River or Vryheid? Your eye is always caught by Cotswald, the beautiful Cape Dutch farmhouse built by Italian Prisoners of War during World War Two. But why Gregory’s Nek? Who were the Gregorys? The patriarch of the Gregory family was Jacob Davies Gregory “of Wales” (1785 – 1866). His imposing tombstone was accidentally uncovered by a bulldozer at Lennox Farm and is … Read More

Glencoe Colliery memorial Dundee cemetery
Interesting Tales of Dundee

Glencoe Colliery Explosion

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Memorial Glencoe Mining disaster On 13 February 1908 a blown-out shot initiated a methane explosion, resulting in a coal dust ignition which ripped through the Glencoe Colliery the following day. In the interval between the 2 explosions personnel from the mine and from neighbouring mines, as well as the Inspector of Mines, Mr William Muir, made various rescue attempts. The first party could still hear the sound of escaping gas as they went underground and brought out several injured people.  … Read More

Llandaff Oratory via Talana Museum
Interesting Tales of Dundee

The Little Church at Van Reenen

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The smallest church in the Southern hemisphere. Maynard Mathews and wife Maynard Reginald Nelson Matthews was appointed as magistrate in Dundee from 9 December 1901, having been transferred from Newcastle and having served in  number of towns throughout Natal. He also served as Chairman of the Dundee Cottage Hospital and in 1906 was the Chief leader of the Dundee Militia Reserves and Commander of Dundee under Martial Law. On his retirement in 1921 he continued to serve Dundee as the … Read More

Harry Hearn headstone Dundee cemetery
Interesting Tales of Dundee

Harry Hearn Memorial

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In the Northern Natal Courier of Friday 25 May 1934 a notice was printed that the Town Council has granted permission for the erection of the Hearn Memorial at a suitable spot in King Edwards park, and it was agreed to make the necessary water connection to the memorial, which was in the form of a drinking fountain. Who was Harry Hearn and why was this memorial erected? The inscription of the memorial  reads: “Harry Hearn 17 December 1933 To … Read More