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Dick King Memorial
Trompetter, Makhanda (Grahamstown) district, Eastern Cape

PAYNE and PAYNE: Architect

Date:1942
Type:Memorial
Status:Extant

 


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Coordinates:
33°14'01.53" S 26°57'20.05" E Alt: 189m

The monument commemorates the epic 1842 ride of Dick King, who covered the 960-km distance between Port Natal (now Durban) and Grahamstown on horseback in ten days, in order to request help for the besieged British garrison at Port Natal.

See also Wikipedia.

__________________

Inscription on the Memorial:

DICK KING
RODE THIS WAY FROM
PORT NATAL
TO
GRAHAMSTOWN
MAY 26 TO JUNE 4
1842

This granite memorial still has the white enamel badge fixed with bronze screws recording the details of the monumental mason:

CRANKSHAW BROS.
MONUMENTALIST
NEWCASTLE

While still to be confirmed, it is likely that Crankshaw Brothers of Newcastle were responsible for all ten of the memorials.

(William MARTINSON)

Ten granite pylons were erected a century later to commemorate Dick King's ride. They were sited at the following points:
Isipingo Beach
Port Shepstone
Umzimvubu River, Port St Johns
Old Bunting Mission
Mancam Store, Mqanduli
Butterworth
Komgha
King William's Town
Peddie
Trompetter's Drift

There is also a Memorial Statue in Durban and a Memorial Tablet on the clock tower of the Town Hall in Grahamstown.