St John’s College in Houghton has a rich history and tradition of military service, and as a result memorials to masters and boys of the college are very prevalent at the school. I was fortunate enough to visit on two occasions, and was finally able to photograph the Roll of Honour Plaques in the chapel and to view the memorials that relate to the school. This blog post really has to do with the Delville Wood Cross in the Crypt Chapel of All Souls.
TO THE MEMORY OF
THE OFFICERS, NCO’S AND MEN OF THE 3rd SA Inf
TRANSVAAL REGT WHO FELL DURING THE BATTLE
OF THE SOMME IN JULY 1916.
RIP
There is another Delville Wood Cross at the headquarters of the Transvaal Scottish, but sadly they will not let anybody take photographs of it. This cross may also tie into the SOE Memorial at Patterson Park, although the inscription is slightly different. The chapel is inscribed with the names of masters and old boys of the school who gave their lives in the World Wars. I have finally completed transcribing the The World War 1 Roll and it may be viewed here
Google Earth co-ordinates for St Johns is: 26°10’34.42″S, 28° 3’26.28″E
© DRW 2012-2018. Created 24/09/2012. Updated 27/10/2012. Moved to blog 02/01/2014, updated with ROH link 26 November 2018