Mémorial et cimetière de Paardeberg

De Werf, Afrique du Sud

The Paardeberg Memorial located inside the Vendusie Drift Cemetery honours the Canadian soldiers who died during the Battle of Paardeberg, the first significant victory for the Commonwealth forces during the South Arican War.

The plaque on the memorial is inscribed with this text:

IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE OF IMPERIAL AND COLONIAL SAILORS AND SOLDIERS WHO WERE KILLED IN ACTION OR DIED OF WOUNDS BETWEEN 18 FEBRUARY AND 11 MARCH 1900 AND WHO NOW LIE BURIED HERE AT WOLWEKRAALIVENDUSIEDRIFT TOGETHER WITH THOSE WHO WERE ORIGINALLY BURIED AT CORNWALL, OSFONTEIN, PATRYSVLEI, POPLARGROVE, THORNBURY AND WILHELMINA.

 

Canada's first major international engagement

The men buried in the Vendusie Drift Cemetery lost their lives during the Battle of Paardeberg (18–27 February 1900), which was the first major engagement for Canadian troops in the South African War. The highest single-day losses our soldiers suffered throughout the conflict came on this battle’s opening day when 18 Canadians were killed and 60 were wounded. 

Source : Le Royal Canadian Regiment

Le mémorial de Paardeberg, situé à l'intérieur du cimetière de Vendusie Drift, rendent hommage aux soldats canadiens morts au combat durant la bataille de Paardeberg, la première victoire importante des forces britanniques pendant la guerre d’Afrique du Sud.

Premier engagement militaire majeur du Canada à l’échelle internationale

Les hommes enterrés dans le Jardin du Souvenir de Vendusie Drift ont perdu la vie durant la bataille de Paardeberg (du 18 au 27 février 1900), le premier déploiement majeur de troupes canadiennes pendant la guerre d’Afrique du Sud. C’est le premier jour de la bataille où les Canadiens ont subi les plus lourdes pertes, alors que 18 Canadiens ont perdu la vie et 60 autres ont été blessés. 

Source : Le Royal Canadian Regiment