Your guide to Heidelberg Gauteng
#2 Retief Street
Heritage Blue Plaque #Nr 63
2 Retief Street
What is the story here?
David Anderson, a member of the Heidelberg Dorpswyk was the owner at 2 Retief Street, Heidelberg in 1901.
There was a small memorial stone erected in the garden in memory of Anderson’s wife. The stone was dated 1885. It could be a possibility that the Anderson’s already lived in the house at that time. Unfortunately due to the age and time and corrosion the stone is not there anymore.
Article from the 26th October edition of the Heidelberg/Nigel Herald written by Eugene Viljoen.
HEIDELBERG – Blue Plaque for Heritage to Anderson’s Residence.
On October 21, Tony Burisch awarded the latest blue plaque to David Anderson’s residence.
The plaque is no. 63 in the series for blue plaques for heritage.
The house in Retief Street was built next to the Brickfield Native Settlement. The Brickfield Native settlement was where the Netball fields of the Volkskool High school are currently.
On the other side of the spruit the settlement graves were discovered and is still quite visible. The location of the settlement was found according to a map that was dated 1905.
David Anderson lost his life in the battle of Chrissiemeer along with 80 other soldiers.The Battle of Chrissiesmeer was on February 6, 1901. At 02:55 on February 6, 1901 the Boers under leadership of General Louis Botha attacked British forces under General Smith-Dorrien at Chrissiemeer.
Botha's main aim was to cripple the advance of Smith-Dorrien into the Eastern Transvaal. The Boers achieved initial success. About 300 horses of the British force was killed or stampeded. Despite heavy losses on the Boer side the British advance into the eastern Transvaal was delayed by the loss of their horses, which gave the Boer commandos time to re-group.
The casualty list was about 80 casualties from the Boers and the British suffered with about 75 casualties.
The sponsors of the plaque is Louise and Dirk Opperman.
