Springfontein Cemetery

SPRINGFONTEIN CEMETERY Free State, South Africa
A British Military Intelligence report in 1897 described Springfontein as a place of “about 15 houses scattered and of  no tactical importance, a small church and a hotel or store. There were two good springs near the church and a dam 600 yds north of the town”.
The town lay on the railway from Bloemfontein to Cape Town as well as a line to East London. At the start of the war in October 1899 Boer commandos moved through the town, splitting here to go either to Orange River bridge at Norvals Pont or the bridge to Bethulie, the idea being to halt the advance of British troops making their way inland along the railway lines.
Following the occupation of Bloemfontein in March 1900, the British decided to occupy Springfontein, to serve as a base for British troops. As a result of the round-up of Boer commandos, the authorities decided, in February 1901, to establish a concentration camp. In addition, a large military hospital under tents was established near “Gibraltar Hill”as well as a remount depot and a veterinary hospital. There is no trace today as to the location of these sites.
Unusually, Springfontein contains graves from both sides of the conflict.There are some 700 graves of which 305 are of those of Imperial forces. Two New Zealanders are buried here, Quartermaster J Moeller, wounded at Paardeberg, and Pvt H G Williams.
Source- Steve Watt, Pietermaritzburg.