The Battle of Langverwacht Hill (23 February 1902) was the first time New Zealand forces suffered heavy loss of life in an overseas conflict. In order to prevent the escape of a Boer force, the 80 men of the Seventh Contingent had positioned themselves along a ridge on Langverwacht Hill. During the night their position was attacked by more than 700 Boers; 24 New Zealanders were killed and another 40 wounded.
In 1905 a memorial was erected on Langverwacht Hill to commemorate the New Zealanders who died. To represent the strength, constancy and long life of the British Empire, three oak trees were planted around the memorial. In late 2000 the memorial cairn was destroyed when an already weakened oak was toppled during a storm.
After the memorial was restored through the efforts of the New Zealand Deputy High Commissioner to South Africa, Mike Walsh, a rededication ceremony was held in 2009. In 2010 the memorial was once again damaged, this time through vandalism. It has since been restored for a second time.
Images: Kevin Bovill (2005), Margaret Marks & Robin Smith (2009)
