Darling

The Hildebrand Monument from the South African War

Althought the South African war (or Anglo-Boer war as it is also known) ended in 1902, the conventional war between the Boers and British had already ended in 1901 - for the remainder of the war the Boers utilised guerrilla warfare tactics, living off the land and harassing the British forces. One of the Boers' plans was to attack the British in the Cape Colony.

In September 1901 Jan Theron and Manie Maritz's Commandos joined forces in the Van Rhynsdorp district. After achieving some success, Hildebrand was appointed Veldkornet and ordered to take 150 men and conduct raids further south - after which they would meet up with the rest of the Commandos in Darling. Preceded by a scouting party, Hildebrand's Commandos arrived in Darling on the 10th November 1901; destroying the telegraph and releasing the only prisoner in the jail, a Mr. Loubser.

Darling was the most southern village which the Boers penetrated during the war.

Hildebrand's Commandos moved to the high ground north-east of the Klipberg, and were attacked there by the British - during this battle, on the 12th November 1901, Hildebrand was mortally wounded and buried on the farm.

In 1937 a marble gravestone was erected, which is cared for to this day by the congregation of the Dutch Reformed Church of Darling. When the monument was erected in 1939 Hildebrand's marble gravestone was incorporated into the memorial obelisk.

The monument is 6km to the north of Darling on the farm Kraalbosdam.