Today in Kimberley's History
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Kimberley’s first Town Clerk appointed in 1878
Kimberley’s first Town Clerk, the position today known as Municipal Manager or City Manager, was John Hamilton Boag, appointed this very day in 1878. Boag was born in Scotland in 1849 so was 29 years of age at the time, and was an accountant by profession.
He married Jane Marion Gray on 27 April 1876 at St Cyprian’s Church, Kimberley, so appears to have been in and around the diamond fields at the time.
In 1878 Boag served as a Lieutenant in the Griqualand West Light Infantry and was awarded the South Africa medal with clasp.
He was accused of embezzlement in June 1882 but was found not guilty. Boag died at his residence in Cape Town, “Spet Bona” on Union Street on 22 February 1919, aged 70 years. There were no children to the union and in his will stated everything to be left to his late wife’s sister.
(Courtesy Steve Lunderstedt, Kimberley Calls...and Recalls)
Kimberley’s first Town Clerk, the position today known as Municipal Manager or City Manager, was John Hamilton Boag, appointed this very day in 1878. Boag was born in Scotland in 1849 so was 29 years of age at the time, and was an accountant by profession.
He married Jane Marion Gray on 27 April 1876 at St Cyprian’s Church, Kimberley, so appears to have been in and around the diamond fields at the time.
In 1878 Boag served as a Lieutenant in the Griqualand West Light Infantry and was awarded the South Africa medal with clasp.
He was accused of embezzlement in June 1882 but was found not guilty. Boag died at his residence in Cape Town, “Spet Bona” on Union Street on 22 February 1919, aged 70 years. There were no children to the union and in his will stated everything to be left to his late wife’s sister.
(Courtesy Steve Lunderstedt, Kimberley Calls...and Recalls)
80 days since beginning of the Siege of Kimberley, 1900
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
A fresh Military Notice in the paper states that the Wards to receive meat are to be changed to alternate days; the people receiving two days' allowance at a time. This will greatly lessen the crowds and the delay every morning. We are also to put out our lights at 9.30 p.m.; and on no account, except in cases of real sickness, are they to be lighted again - a Permit being given in the latter case. This notice does not, however, apply to electric light or acetylene gas.
To-day is quite the worst one for dust and wind that we have had since we came, and that is saying much! The unfortunate men at the new Mounted Camp are enduring and saying terrible things, for their tents, even in the best weather, stand in 6 inches of sand but today they are often invisible. When Jack's fellow officers see him they shake their fists at him for causing their removal from the original camp, though in their hearts they know it was the best thing that could he done for them.
Our cattle guards were sniped at today near Carter's. They were also shelled at from Wimbledon, under cover of which the enemy attempted to advance. Reinforcements were sent out and the Boers retired.
News has come in that Douglas has been retaken by the Australian Contingent from Lord Methuen's Column, with a loss of three killed on our side; but greater loss to the Boers, and 40 of them taken prisoners.
Extract from "The Diary of a Doctor's Wife – During the Siege of Kimberley October 1899 to February 1900" by Winifred Heberden.
A fresh Military Notice in the paper states that the Wards to receive meat are to be changed to alternate days; the people receiving two days' allowance at a time. This will greatly lessen the crowds and the delay every morning. We are also to put out our lights at 9.30 p.m.; and on no account, except in cases of real sickness, are they to be lighted again - a Permit being given in the latter case. This notice does not, however, apply to electric light or acetylene gas.
To-day is quite the worst one for dust and wind that we have had since we came, and that is saying much! The unfortunate men at the new Mounted Camp are enduring and saying terrible things, for their tents, even in the best weather, stand in 6 inches of sand but today they are often invisible. When Jack's fellow officers see him they shake their fists at him for causing their removal from the original camp, though in their hearts they know it was the best thing that could he done for them.
Our cattle guards were sniped at today near Carter's. They were also shelled at from Wimbledon, under cover of which the enemy attempted to advance. Reinforcements were sent out and the Boers retired.
News has come in that Douglas has been retaken by the Australian Contingent from Lord Methuen's Column, with a loss of three killed on our side; but greater loss to the Boers, and 40 of them taken prisoners.
Millions Regain SA citizenship - 1994
Restoration of South African citizenship, announced on 15 December 1993 by the South African parliament led by President F.W. de Klerk, became effective on 3rd January 1994, four months before the first South Africa non-racial polls of 27 April, 1994. More than seven million people in the former homelands, forced to accept citizenship of their various homelands, regained their South African citizenship. The Restoration and Extension of South African Citizenship Act No 196 of 1993 was part of a package agreed upon by the CODESA negotiating team.
Restoration of South African citizenship, announced on 15 December 1993 by the South African parliament led by President F.W. de Klerk, became effective on 3rd January 1994, four months before the first South Africa non-racial polls of 27 April, 1994. More than seven million people in the former homelands, forced to accept citizenship of their various homelands, regained their South African citizenship. The Restoration and Extension of South African Citizenship Act No 196 of 1993 was part of a package agreed upon by the CODESA negotiating team.