South African Military History Society

Commandant Danie Theron


Photo: Derek Walker

Johannesburg, Gauteng Province, South Africa Location
Eikenhof Cemetery,
From the Vereeniging Road (R82) heading South, take the Kliprivier Road turnoff (R550).
The cemetery is on the right about 60 metres along Kliprivier Road and is surrounded by a precast wall.
The grave is close to the back wall of the cemetery and stands out amongst the other graves.
GPS: 26 deg 19 min 57.5 sec S, 27 deg 59 min 4.6 sec E


Photo: Derek Walker

Significance
Daniel Johannes Stephanus Theron was a Boer commandant in the Anglo Boer War.
He was killed in action on 5 September 1900 at Elandsfontein in what was then the district of Potchefstroom.
His body was later exhumed and reburied in Eikenhof, Johannesburg.

His grave is inscribed: 


DANIEL JOHANNES
THERON
COMMANDANT THERON'S
VERKENNINGS KORPS
GEBOREN 9DEN MEI 1872
GESNEUVELD DEN
5DEN SEPTEMBER 1900
TE ELANDSFONTEIN
DISTRICT POTCHEFSTROOM
NIET HIER: NOG STEEDS VOERT HIJ HEN AAN
DE JONGE STRIJDERS VAN ZOO MENICEN SLAG
EN AAN DE SPITS DER HELDEN ZAL HIJ STAAN
WANNEER VERRIJZEN ZAL DE LANG VERBEIDE DAG

Translation: 


NOT HERE: HE STILL LEADS THEM ON
THE YOUNG FIGHTERS OF SUCH A MIGHTY STRUGGLE
AND AT THE VANGUARD OF THE HEROES HE SHALL STAND
WHEN THE LONG-AWAITED DAY SHALL DAWN

South African Military History Society / scribe@samilitaryhistory.org