Vlakfontein Monument, Roodepoort

Just behind “the Brickworks” is what is known as the Vlakfontein Monument.The Vlakfontein Monument was erected to commemorate the Jameson Raid of 1895/ 96, in which the Boer Commandos managed to prevent the Jameson’s invasion on 2 January 1896.

In 2009 the fencing had been complete around this memorial, although it was heavily overgrown. This monument was interesting because it mentions some of the casualties of the ill fated Raid. Originally a wooden cross was erected, but it was replaced in 1913 by a monument commemorating all those killed in action. A bronze plaque was affixed in 1962 and proclamation as a National Monument was due to to follow in due course. During 1963 the West Rand Historical Society, relocated the Vlakfontein Monument from its original location higher up the Ridge to an Area in the Middle of the Stone Kraal where Jameson’s column, was said to have made their last stand. At the base of the monument was an almost illegible plaque that I was only partly able to piece together, but fortunately there were two much more legible granite plaques with the inscriptions on them. In 2012 there had been no changes in the memorial and it was in a deplorable state. All the metalwork had been stolen and the grass was still as high as before.