Re-discovering history in your own town
The Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church with its stunning plaque commemorating local men who fought in World War One.
Just when you think you know everything there is to know about the history of Dundee, trust Pam McFadden to pull out another golden anecdote.
Out on a walking trail of the town recently, Pam led a huddle of history enthusiasts around the historic buildings of Dundee – buildings you drive and walk past every day without even knowing the stories behind these facades.
The NG Moederkerk – with its beautiful stained glass windows, organ and church bell and plaque commemorating those killed in the battle of Talana. Only one Boer soldier remains buried on top of Talana – the rest are interred in the church grounds.
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St James Anglican Church – full of history dating back over 100 years.
Also, a beautiful building – the most interesting gem being the hole in the wooden church floor where the Rev Bailey stored the church silverware during the Boer occupation of Dundee when it was renamed Meyersdorp.
Then there is the Williams Bakery in the Mews where one of the old ovens still remain where the Curry Parlour now is. The Methodist Church and the Presbyterian Church with its stunning plaque commemorating local men who fought in World War One.
Of particular interest, Pam told her ‘students” are the three local men, Henry John Frank Stewart, Willem Petrus Meyer and E.C. Babb – all killed on the same day, October 12, 1916, Killed in action at Snag and Tail trenches at the Butte de Warlencourt (Somme).
Pam McFadden always finds a new historical anecdote to entertain her tourists with.
Their names are now on the Cenotaph after the names were, inadvertently, left off the first time around.
The Moth hall is also full of history although the interior is in desperate need of some renovations and looks very scruffy.
Last stop was the Moth Shellhole Museum with its rich collection of memorabilia, dating back to before the Anglo Zulu War. Clearly, Dundee is the town of history.
