Paardeberg Memorial and Cemetery

De Werf, South Africa

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