THE COMMEMORATIVE MUSEUM

For many years partes of war veterans returning from pilgrimages to these battlefields complained about the lack of factual informations. Senior officials of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission repeatedly urged the provision of tourist facilities to keep the South African Nationa Memorial in line with other Memorials in the area. The decision was taken to build a Commemorative Museum.

Plans and drawings by the Architect in charge of the project, Mr John Alan WYLIE, ARIBA, (1929-2009).

The first stone was solemny laid down on the 7th June 1984.

On the 11th November 1986, the South African Commemorative Museum was unveiled by the President of the South African Republic, Mr P.W. BOTHA.

Built around the Cross of Consecration, this museum commemorates the sacrifice of 25 000 South African volunteers, men an women of all races and creeds, who laid down their lives in two world wars and in Korea.

The design of the Museum is the replica of  the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town.

On the 18th July 2006, during the ceremony of the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Delville Wood, the new Coat of Arms of the Republic of South Africa was unveiled on the pediment of the Museum.