Historical

UPDATED: 15/01/2025 15 January 1877, Murderer William Danster executed in Kimberley. 15 January 1897, Secretary of De Beers CM, William Henry Craven dies in the USA. 15 January 1901, Catholic Bishop Anthony Gaughren OMI dies. 15 January 1942, Springbok rugby player AFW ...

UPDATED: 14/01/2025 14 January 1871, First official mail from Cape Town to Klipdrift dispatched. THE POST BETWEEN THE DIGGINGS AND CAPE TOWN It was on 15 October 1870 that the first mail was dispatched from the Diamond Fields to Cape ...

UPDATED: 13 JANUARY 2025 13 January 1900, The price of meat raised – beef 1/- and horse flesh 9 pennies per pound. Excerpt from “The Siege of Kimberley” – Its Humourous and Social Side – by T Phelan. Week ending ...

UPDATED: 10 January 2025 10 January 1884, Dynamite explosion kills two miners at the De Beers Mine. 10 January 1887, Irvine Grimmer takes 16 wickets for 83 runs for Strayklips vs WP CC. OUTSTANDING SPORTSMAN – IRVINE GRIMMER Irvine Grimmer ...

09 JANUARY 1873, Lt-Governor Richard Southey (pictured) takes up his appointment for Griqualand West. 09 JANUARY 1914, Unknown Chinese storekeeper murdered in his shop on Maude Street. The Maude Street Murder It has often been said that certain houses, sections ...

UPDATED: 08/01/2025 8 January 1887, William Smith shoots his wife Sarah dead in Sidney Street. 8 January 1900, Horseflesh being given out as food during the siege for first time. Siege rationing gets serious J.W. McBeath, a chemist on Stockdale ...

7 January 1858: Two-time Kimberley Mayor and department store founder John Orr (pictured) born. DEPARTMENT STORE FOUNDER BORN IN IRELAND John Orr was born to Dickson and Letitia Orr on Thursday 7 January 1858 in Benburb, County Tyrone, Ireland, and died, ...

UPDATED: 13/12/2024 13 December 1937, High ranking Freemason and accountant Arthur Abrams dies at his home, 4 Belgrave Road. 13 December 2012, Elsie McDonald, great SA bowler, dies. One of Kimberley’s greatest lawn bowlers The death at Belgrave Lodge on ...

12 December 1874, The Vine Hotel burns down. 12 December 1899, Boers and British bury their dead at Magersfontein. 12 December 1955, R Hartley Marriott retires as Town Clerk. The Battle of Magersfontein – burials and withdrawal Today, 125 years ...

11 December 1877, Kimberley’s first municipal election. 11 December 1899, The Battle of Magersfontein. 11 December 1899, Scottish General Andy Wauchope killed at Battle of Magersfontein. 11 December 1899, Jan de Wet, elder brother of Christiaan de Wet, killed at ...