Recently, I read the book Reefs of Fortune written by the son of Harry Filmer, who was a Rand Pioneer. In the book, it says that Harry Filmer was appointed chairman of the Eastern District Suburban Committee formed to raise funds for a small war shrine. A piece of ground at the corner of Main and Berg Streets in Belgravia (click here for map) was presented by Miss Orr, the headmistress of St Mary’s School and the shrine was unveiled by Mayor O’Hara in November 1917. Sadly, the first name to be written on the shrine was that of Harry’s son, Bob.
You can see from the photo that the plaque with all the names of the deceased has been removed, whether by vandals or by someone else for safekeeping. We are appealing to anyone who may know the whereabouts of this plaque, or the list of names that appeared on the plaque, to share that information with us. We intend restoring the shrine by replacing the plaque with something that won’t be removed again.
Please email me if you have any details - welham@icon.co.za
Sarah Welham on behalf of the Johannesburg Heritage Foundation
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