This cache is in a medium container with a logbook and pencil. There is a short dirt (public) road to the memorial. The gate at the memorial is always open to the public.
Norval's Pont Concentration Camp Memorial stands as a poignant reminder of a significant historical chapter. Acting as a vital crossing point over the Orange River for British forces during the Boer War, Norval's Pont witnessed a pivotal development with the establishment of a concentration camp in November 1900.
Despite its geographical location in the Cape Colony, this camp became part of the network of concentration camps in the newly declared Orange River Colony. Initially accommodating Boer women and children, the camp's population swelled to approximately 400 by February 1901. These camps were a response to the scorched earth policies implemented by Milner and Kitchener, aiming to quell Boer resistance by destroying their farmhouses.
As of June 1901, the camp also interned hundreds of African prisoners, reaching a peak population of 3,479 detainees by February 1902. Many of these prisoners were transported via train from the overcrowded Bloemfontein concentration camp, adding another layer of hardship to their already challenging circumstances. Initially, the internees were provided with fresh provisions, including meat, fruit, vegetables, and milk. However, as camp numbers increased, rations were reduced to meat and flour after January 1901. The camp's conditions deteriorated due to overcrowding, compounded by outbreaks of measles, scarlet fever, and diphtheria, resulting in over 400 deaths during the war.
On February 25, 1901, Lieutenant S. Cole-Bowen assumed command from Captain Du Plat Taylor, marking the transition from military to civil administration. Despite the challenges, Emily Hobhouse, a noted Boer sympathizer, described Norval's Pont as one of the better-managed camps in the Orange River Colony during her visit in 1901.
Lieutenant Bowen, though striving to provide comfort, faced insurmountable challenges due to overcrowding. Hobhouse's report detailed the harsh living conditions, with soaked bedding and soaring temperatures, reaching 43°C in the clock-tents, that were situated a few hundred meters south from the Orange River (see image).
More than a century later, this memorial where you are currently searching for this Geocache, still bear witness to the camp's history. The Norval's Pont Concentration Camp Memorial, located in this cemetery, honors the memory of those who perished, with their names inscribed as a testament to the somber legacy of this historic site.