Interesting Tales of Dundee

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Interesting Tales of Dundee

The names of our mountains and hills

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Biggarsberg The Biggarsberg range of mountains if an off shoot of the Drakensberg, and ends at Helpmekaar where the mountains drop down to Pomeroy. Named after Alexander Harvey Biggar. Read all about him https://www.facebook.com/virtual.eggsa/posts/alexander-harvey-biggarpost-by-pamela-mcfaddenthe-tragic-tale-of-this-ex-paymast/877254948214765/ Indumeni (height above sea level 1781 on the peak and 1640m in the pass) The name of the mountain is spelt with and I and the area round they the base of the mountain is spelt Endumeni. In Zulu this translates as  “where the thunder rolls” The … Read More

Kilty & Co. Ltd
Interesting Tales of Dundee

Kilty & Co. Ltd

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Kilty & Co. Ltd. – generally known as “Kiltys” – was for many years a jewel in Dundee’s business crown. The company had its first business premises in Johannesburg and also a manufacturing facility on a farm in the Wasbank area, where it made a very popular peanut brittle. The company moved to Dundee in the 1950s. Kiltys built modern premises on the left side of the road to Glencoe, just after the fork in Karel Landman Street, at the … Read More
Interesting Tales of Dundee

Origin of Street Names of Dundee and Glencoe

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There is much of absorbing interest to be found in a study of the street names of towns. Not only can it lead to the uncovering of much of the history of the town itself but it unveils some of those more familiar and intimate circumstances which go so far towards creating that sentimental attachment people have for some particular centre. Municipal records are largely silent about any authority or responsibility for street naming; possibly this was left to the … Read More

Alexander Biggar
Interesting Tales of Dundee

How the Biggarsberg got its name

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Alexander Harvey Biggar The tragic tale of this ex paymaster of the 85Th Regiment, and his two sons is remembered by the range of mountains named in his memory, the Biggarsberg. Biggar had fought throughout the Peninsula War and in 1820 arrived in South Africa as part of the scheme to settle immigrants along the Cape frontier. In 1835 he and his son, George move up to Natal, where his other son, Robert had already settled. In October 1837, with … Read More

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