Braamfontein Cemetery. Johannesburg.



These photographs were taken from 2007 onwards at Braamfontein Cemetery, Johannesburg. This cemetery was developed during 1887 and its first burial took place in 1888. It is one of my all time favourite cemeteries and I keep on being amazed at some of the discoveries I make there... If asked why I like it I think my reply would be: Braamfontein has soldiers from the ABW, Rand Revolt, 1907 strike, WW1, WW2 and the Border War in it, as well as a VC holder, the Foster Gang, lots of the founders of Johannesburg, a Titanic survivor is mentioned in it, there are at least 4 baronets, a cartoonist, Edgard Wallace's daughter, 6 unknown Indian soldiers, the writer of our national anthem, a famous artist and her family, the 1896 dynamite explosion memorial, 3 conscientious objectors, a Muslim cemetery next to a Jewish cemetery, a famous poet, a family of stone masons who made many of the monuments in it, the founder of a pasta company, and a burger from the Boer War. And those are just the things I can think about off the top of my head.
Sadly many of the inscriptions are totally illegible, and yet this cemetery reflects on the early history of the mining camp that grew up around it and became the city of Johannesburg. It has moods of beauty that emerge in Autumn, and it can be creepy in certain parts, but, it is an experience all of its own. The Cemetery contains 77 Commonwealth burials from the Second World War and 11 from the First World War, with roughly 400 Boer War graves within its walls.
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Gate House and Office

Enoch Sontonga Memorial

Commemorative Plaque

Modderfontein Dynamite Factory Memorial

Dynamite Explosion Memorial

Dynamite Explosion Memorial Plaque

Fire Department Memorial

The Coffin Rest

Boer War Memorials

Unknown Soldiers. Boer War

Titanic Passenger Grave

East Lancashire Regiment Memorial

1888-1892 Register page

The Angels

Capt. OA Reid. VC.

The Crematorium

The Crematorium

The Crematorium



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© DR Walker 2007 - 2012. Updated 11 July 2011