VAL HOTEL PEACE LABYRINTH SOLDIERS MEMORIAL
| Where: VAL HOTEL Date Unveiled: 27th SEPTEMBER 2014 Unveiled By: CAPT. JOHN ROSS RET. – SA NAVY GPS: S26° 47.784 E28° 56.100 |
Assisted By: NIGEL MASON Construction: SOUTH AFRICAN GRANITE Interest: ANGLO-BOER WAR 1899-1902 Brief Reason: A RECORDAL OF THE NAMES OF SOLDIERS ORIGINALLY BURIED AT VAL |
Note: The construction of the memorial was organised by David Scholtz. This is his story:-
RITA BRITZ, THE PROPRIETOR OF THE DELIGHTFUL COUNTRY HOTEL AT VAL DECIDED THAT SHE WANTED TO CREATE A PEACE LABYRINTH IN THE GROUNDS OF THE HOTEL, AND THOUGHT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO CREATE A MEMORIAL TO SOLDIERS WHO HAD ORIGINALLY BEEN BURIED AT VAL IN THE ANGLO-BOER WAR. THE RECORDS OF THE NATIONAL MONUMENTS COUNCIL – VICTIMS OF CONFLICT WERE RESEARCHED TO IDENTIFY THE NAMES OF THOSE SOLDIERS, AND SO THE MONUMENT WAS BORN. THE REMAINS OF THE SOLDIERS WERE SUBSEQUENTLY REINTERRED IN THE GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE IN STANDERTON. ONE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS SHOWS RITA AND PETER SCHOLTZ JNR. PLACING A TIME CAPSULE, ON 1ST FEBRUARY 2014, IN THE CONCRETE FOUNDATION OF THE MEMORIAL.
