Wakkerstroom was originally registered as Marthinus Wesselstroom on 6 Nov 1859. Although no detail is available on the first grave to be dug in the cemetary, the terrain with its various sections holds the secrets of many interesting and colourful individuals.
As you enter the terrain via the parking indicated as a waypoint, the cemetary consists of various parts:
- The front section to the left and right contains graves of locals buried here since the town was established.
- To the far left as you walk into the terrain, is a section where the local black folk were buried during apartheid.
- As you continue to the next waypoint you will come across the war memorial, erected to commemorate fallen British soldiers towards the end of the 2nd Anglo-Boer war (1901-1902). This marble slab replaces the original sandstone monument.
- 18 British soldiers died in clashes during the 1ste Anglo-Boer War (1st Freedom War) - 4 from the 58th North Stafford Regiment; 5 from the 80th South Staffordshire Regiment and 9 from the 1st Kinfs Dragoon Guards.
- Wakkerstroom was one of the first Transvaal towns to be occupied by British troops after the outbreak of the 1st Freedom War (1880) and the Staffordshire knot on Ossewakop, bears silent witness to the history and presence of the British troops and Boer fighters in this war.
Enter the gate marked "Rosemary's Garden" to see the graves of Swart Dirk Uys and his wife in addition to the oldest graves in this cemetary. Swart Dirk is recognized for finding and staking the stands of the town Marthinus Wesselstroom.