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The Weeping Cross of Delville by Kwenda Tafuta (1.5/1.5)
S29° 36.884 E30° 23.477 (WGS84) UTM 36J E 247384 N 6721061 Use waypoint: GC11VAW Size:  Small Hidden on 2007/04/01
In Kwazulu Natal, South Africa Difficulty:  Terrain:
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| This cache will take you to the MOTH's Garden of Remembrance in Pietermaritzburg. |
During the First World War in 1916, South African troops (both Boer and Brit) were called upon to assist the British in the village of Longueval, France. On 15 July, the SA Brigade, under Maj-Gen.Lukin, was ordered to clear the d'elville woods, north-east of the village of enemy soldiers. The South African brigade was to cover the flank of a British brigade "at all costs"
On the night of the 17th/18th the woods were subjected to a bombardment which devastated the forest. At 6pm on 20th July, only 3 officers and 140 men, many of them wounded, marched out. General Lukin survived to take the salute. Six days earlier, on moving in, the strength of the brigade was 433, including all ranks.
A memorial is erected next to the historic wood just outside the village of Longueval, with replicas in the Company's Garden in Cape Town and in front of the Union Buildings in Pretoria. The memorial consists of two life-sized figures clasping hands. These figures are symbolic of the two main White South African races (Boer and Brit), who fought side by side on the battlefields of France. Only a short while previously they had been fighting against each other in the Second Anglo Boer War.
General Lukin brought wood back from the Delville forest. A cross was later made of it and is now one of Pietermaritzburg city's war memorials. It is housed in the Garden of Remembrance. Called the "Weeping Cross of Delville Wood", it regularly attracts world headlines. For the cross "weeps" on, or around the July anniversary of the battle in which so many SA soldiers died.
It has been examined by amongst others the CSIR (scientific research council), the Forestry Department and the University of Natal. No rational explanation can be found for the reason why the pine cross still oozes sap. Two similar crosses in Cape Town and Durban do not exhibit this phenomenon. Local legend has it that when the last survivor of Delville passes away, the cross will weep no more.
Cache site is open to the public between 09:00 and 17:00 daily.
Current at 2008/03/29
2008/01/02 by The Benyons
These memorials are special and a great place for a cache.
OUT: Skrewdriver set
IN: Marble and Gel Pen
TFTC
2008/01/01 by Littleclan
Comming back to a place like this sure does make one take time to remember the fallen hero's of the past. May the M.O.T.H's and what they reprsent be around for many many more years. Thanks for a very interesting cache.
2007/12/29 by Kwenda Tafuta
Have now upgraded to a small cache so can take small items to trade.
2007/12/20 by Carbon Hunter
My first cache in my old home town. An amazing story of the cross. There's apparnetly a few more around (including one at St John's College in Joburg - I think).
Look at the trees and read the inscriptions too - most interesting. Also left a brand new Micro coin - travel well and be blessed friend.
2007/12/16 by animaniacs
Another one where we thought we would leave empty handed. GPS battled for accuracy and was about 5m out, but we (Dot) got it in the end. SL. Thank you.
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