Have you observed the sandstone obelisk before you? This is the Indian War Memorial. It stands as Johannesburg’s oldest war memorial. It commemorates the sacrifices of Indian auxiliaries. These men lost their lives during the Anglo-Boer War. This terrible war took place from 1899 to 1902.
The Indian War Memorial was unveiled on October 31, 1902. This was just five months after the end of the war. Around 9000 men came from India. They were there to support the British forces. They worked in non-combat roles. They were stretcher-bearers and farriers. They served as veterinary assistants and grooms. They were also orderlies, ammunition carriers, water carriers, and washermen.
From this high point on Observatory Ridge, you can see the valley below. Here, an Indian detachment managed a large remount camp. This camp in Bezuidenhout Park could handle up to 4000 horses. Indian troops camped on the ridge’s south side. This is now Observatory Park. Natural springs provided water for men and horses.
The first Indian reinforcements arrived in October 1899. About 1000 men landed in South Africa. By April 1900, over 3000 Indians were involved in the war. They brought 2334 horses and 611 mules and ponies. They also had medical units. These included field hospitals for British troops. There was also a field hospital for Indian orderlies. The Indian auxiliaries broke in and trained horses.
The Indian War Memorial arose from patriotic feelings. These feelings surged after the war ended. Funding came from public subscriptions. The local Indian community contributed. The Town Council Minutes of October 29, 1902, mention the unveiling ceremony. Captain J.C.C. Perkins invited officials to the event.
Sadly, the Indian War Memorial was defaced within a year. Graffiti marred the tablets. The Town Council cleaned them quickly. They asked the government to protect the monument. An iron fence was erected around the memorial. Then, the government handed care of the memorial to the municipality.
For South Africa’s Indian community, this memorial had special meaning. They faced discrimination from white rulers. The monument was a rare sign of respect for Indian dignity. In November 1902, The Star reported the Indian community’s delight. They saw it as proof of an “Imperial Spirit”.
Though non-combatants, these men were part of the Indian Army. The Indian War Memorial is noted as the only memorial to non-combatants. They died on foreign soil while in military service. To the north, the monument overlooks their camp. Some comrades were buried here.
The Indian War Memorial stands for religious diversity. Small tablets on the obelisk show this. They include inscriptions honoring Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims, and Zoroastrians.
Many Indian auxiliaries returned home after the war. However, some remained in South Africa. They became part of the Indian community. Captain Nawab Khan, a veteran, joined Gandhi’s Satyagraha movement.
In January 1908, Captain Khan stood trial. He refused to register under the Transvaal Asiatic Registration Act. Gandhi defended him in court. Captain Khan had a long military history. He had served in Burma, Chitral, and the Anglo-Boer War. He was wounded three times.
The Indian War Memorial reminds us of a complex history. It includes South Africans, immigrants, and non-South Africans. These individuals left their mark on the landscape. They have shaped South Africa’s story.
Sadly, the years have taken their toll. Vandals damaged some marble tablets in the late 1980s. Originally, the inscriptions were in Urdu, Hindi, and English. Now, only the English inscription remains. The Indian War Memorial is fenced off making it hard to reach. However, its importance endures.