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South African War Memorials
While a number of Taranaki troopers served in the Anglo-Boer War of 1899 -1902 memorials to the casualties were restricted to the major centres. Two memorials to individuals were erected (Hempton and Wiggins) both who died of disease. A certain mystery surrounds Wiggins memorial as it appears to have disappeared without trace.
South African War Memorials
- Hawera - gates at King Edward Park
- Hempton, Thomas, Okato (individual) - Okato Cemetery
- Marsland Hill - fountain
- Patea - light standard
- St Mary's Cathedral - memorial cross
- Wiggins, Clement (individual) - Pukekura Park - site only
- Waitara - plaque at military cemetery
More Taranaki War Memorials
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Inscription from Auckland Weekly News photo - see below
IN MEMORIUM
CLEMENT EDWARD WIGGINS
(THIRD SOUTH AFRICAN CONTINGENT)
DIED OF ENTERIC FEVER AT GERMISTON
SOUTH AFRICA
13(?) JULY 1900 AGED 27 YEARS
ERECTED BY THE OFFICERS OF THE
BANK OF NEW SOUTH WALES, NEW ZEALAND
(?)SUBSCRIBED BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS (?)
(An article on Wiggin's
In
Memory of
T.A. Hempton
Who died
On 4th April 1900
Whilst serving
The Empire in the
2nd N.Z. Contingent
During the war
With the
South African
Republics
(Unveiled 11 October 1900 - see Taranaki Herald 11 Oct 1900 in Documents below )
THOMAS ALEXANDER HEMPTON
Thomas Hempton grew up in New Plymouth but later farmed at Ōkato. He was consistently selected as a Taranaki rugby representative for nearly a decade between 1885 and 1894.
He
South African War Plaque
The plaque records the names of the Waitara servicemen who served in the South African War. None were casualties. See details below
This tablet
Was erected
To commemorate the services
Rendered to the Empire
in the SOUTH AFRICAN WAR
of 1900 -1902
By our fellow townsmen
Whose names are subscribed hereto
Troopers
W.T. Joll G. Thornton
4th Contingent
Troopers
G.J. Johnston A.W.
The small side gates are the South African War memorial. The main central gate celebrates the Hawera Industrial Exhibition of 1904
Cast Plaque on Side Gate
These side gates have been erected in memory
of those troopers from the Hawera District
who died in South Africa
Plaque on Base of Standard
British South Africa
9th Nov 1900
The light was originally sited on The Triangle (cnr Egmont & Cambridge Streets) in Patea and unveiled on 9 Nov 1900. It was removed in the 1980s, restored and re-sited outside the South Taranaki Museum in 1988. The original plaque on the base was transferred to the WW I & II memorial wall but replaced with a replica.