FOR the past 10 years Hannes Noeth was part of history tours with the Friends of the War Museum, but he said, after last year’s skip owing to COVID-19, this year’s tour was like a much welcomed refreshment.
The first day of their Eastern Cape tour was spend at Cradock on the banks of the Great Fish River. Visits were made to the Great Fish River Museum, the Dutch Reformed Mother Church and also to the cemetery.
“This year, I was privileged to take my dad with me. It was just a wonderful experience to have him with me. He also loves history and that is where I got my love for history from,” said Noeth, who also is the chairperson of Helping Hands.
“The people were wonderful, the nature beautiful, the history moving, and the privilege great.”
The tour started at Norvalspont Hotel, where they spent the night, and the company visited the concentration camp. From there, the history tour group travelled to the site of the battle of Ruiterskraal in the Steynsburg district, and a descendant laid a wreath at the place where Lion-Cachet was shot.
“We also visited his grave and that of his mother in Steynsburg. The highlight for the history group of Steynsburg, led by Tannie Hannie Steyn, was the visit to Bulhoek, birthplace of Paul Kruger,” Noeth said.
The group also visited Hofmeyr’s neat cemetery. They also visited the monument on the town square and the old stone prison.
Noeth, who is also a reverend, led the Sunday morning church in the Dutch Reformed Church in Steynsburg.
The special tour concluded with a lecture on the life of General Kritzinger.
