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Battlefield Wanderers

A collection of military history and battlefields by Midge Carter and Trish Woodman

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South Africa

Cymbeline Huddart, RN, a midshipman on the Doris, is also named – among others – on a monument in the West End Cemetery in Kimberley, South Africa.

Durban

“The Lady in White” statue stands on the North Pier in Durban
“The Lady in White” statue stands on the North Pier in Durban. In memory of 400 officers and men who perished in the loss of HMS Natal 1915

“The Lady in White” statue stands on the North Pier in Durban. It reads:

To the memory of Perla Gibson, “The Lady in White” who sang to countless thousands of British Commonwealth and Allied servicemen as they passed through Durban over the years 1940 to 1971. This tablet is presented by the officers and men of the Royal Navy.

Dressed in white and wearing a white hat, Perla Gibson sang patriotic songs for more than 1000 troopships and over 350 hospital ships into and out of the harbour, meeting and farewelling them, often with the aid of a megaphone. She lost one of her own sons in the war.

During the 2nd World War, Perla Seidle Gibson sang sentimental and patriotic songs to all the troop ships going to and from the busy Durban Harbour. She always dressed in white and usually sang through a megaphone. She lost a son fighting in Italy.

Simon’s Town Naval Cemetery

Simon’s Town is a naval town in the south east corner of the South Western Cape, in South Africa.

Simon's Town naval cemetery
Simon’s Town naval cemetery
Source: Commonwealth War Graves Commission

 

Elandslaagte Naval Cemetery

This is a cemetery and a battlefield. There are the ILH monument and that of Scott-Chisolme.

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