The SA Military History Society is calling on the public to help preserve the country’s overlooked military memorials through a new initiative aimed at saving “hidden histories”.
Across SA and even beyond its borders, many military memorials, cemeteries and graves are fading fast, unmaintained or forgotten about.
In response, the society has launched a dedicated webpage to record these sites and broaden understanding of the country’s complex military past.
Malcolm Kinghorn of the SA Military History Society Eastern Cape branch said even the smallest contribution could make a meaningful difference.
“Even a single photograph and description can help preserve a piece of history that might otherwise disappear,” he said.
Kinghorn told the Go! the new page gathered records of lesser-known SA military history sites to support conservation efforts, encourage visits and inspire further research into the people and events they represented.
The collection, he said, was expected to grow steadily over time.
Among the memorials already listed are All Saints Anglican Church, Woodstock War Memorial, East London Railway Station War Memorial, Port Elizabeth Main Public Library War Memorial, Saint John the Baptist Church Memorial Hall, Port Elizabeth St Mungo’s Church Christmas Day Massacres Memorial, Surgeon Captain Martin-Leake VC and Bar, and Commandant Gert Claassen’s “Whisky Train”.
Four cemeteries have been recorded so far: Bronkhorstspruit Cemetery (December 1880), Fort Brown Military Cemetery, Fort Hare Military Cemetery and Grahamstown Botanical Gardens Cemetery.
Only four individual graves have been documented to date — those of General Pieter Hendrik Kritzinger, Xhosa prophet Nongqause, Corporal J Taylor and Trooper JW Coates.
Kinghorn said the idea for the project was sparked by the Backup Ukraine initiative, a 3D archiving platform that enabled people to digitally preserve Ukrainian cultural heritage using their phones.
He said momentum for the launch was strengthened by recent events such as The Unsung Heroes Exhibition — The SA Legion’s VE80 Day Tribute to the Unsung Heroes of World War 2 and the Military Heritage Symposium, both hosted at the Castle of Good Hope in 2025.
Kinghorn said many memorials, cemeteries and graves had fallen into neglect over the years because “we have never all been on the same side” when it came to maintaining historical sites.
“They have been a lower priority than addressing the country’s urgent development needs for successive governments,” he said.
A student of SA military history, Kinghorn said the condition of many of these sites was a “cause for concern”.
“Memorials in public spaces form part of how South Africans understand military history and remembrance. Less prominent military memorials, cemeteries and graves are often neglected because they are out of the public eye.
“They are, however, important symbols of the people involved. People just like us who were shaped by the world they inherited and the choices they made in it.”
Kinghorn emphasised that photographs, personal stories and local knowledge were just as vital as formal historical records.
“Formal historical records are important because of their permanent nature. Photographs, personal stories and local knowledge are also important and need to be recorded while their custodians are available to contribute.
“I am encouraged by the enthusiasm with which the launch of the project has been received,” he said.
“If you know of a South African military history monument, cemetery or grave that should be included, we welcome your contribution. Please contact the society,” he said.
The new page can be explored at: http://samilitaryhistory.org/memorial/index.html. To contribute contact the convenor via email at culturev@lantic.net or WhatsApp 082-331-6223.
