Ander

Commandant Louw Wepener

Cecil John Rhodes, Kaapstad

Commandant 6) Lourens (Louw) Wepener (1812-1865) was an Orange Free State Boer hero, killed at Thaba Bosiu on 15 August 1865, during The 2^nd Orange Free State-Basuto War (1864-1866) 7).

The Thaba Bosiu (Mountain of the Night) was originally spelled Thaba Bosigo in Afrikaans, thus being used on the badge.

In 1967 a medal for bravery - the Louw Wepener Medal - was instituted; see Louw Wepener Medal (South African Military History Society).

The monument is found 6 kilometres north of Bethulie (SA Routes), where Louw Wepener's farm, Constantia, was situated.

The ‘metal’ life-size sculpture is of 17 impala in a graceful arch over a fountain. There is a plaque with inscription on the ground.

The impalas were vandalised - heads and legs were cut off, and the sculpture was removed from Oppenheimer Park.
The sculpture has now been restored by Wald's son, Michael, and graces the area outside the Anglo American building in Main Street.
The original Impala Stampede was donated by Mr Harry Oppenheimer to the City of Johannesburg on 16 July 1960, in memory of his father, Sir Ernest Oppenheimer. The restored Impala Stampede was relocated to the Main Street Precinct and was unveiled on 21 May 2002 by Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer.

Harry Oppenheimer, the son of Sir Ernst Oppenheimer managed some of the world’s largest diamond and gold mining companies for over 25 years.

Inscription

"IMPALA STAMPEDE"

The original Impala Stampede was donated by
Mr Harry Oppenheimer
to the City of Johannesburg
on 16 July 1960, in memory of his father,
Sir Ernest Oppenheimer.

The restored Impala Stampede was
Relocated to the Main Street Precinct
And was unveiled on 21 May 2002 by
Mrs Bridget Oppenheimer.

This impressive arch of 17 jumping impalas was created by Herman Wald. The arch was originally in the Ernest Oppenheimer Park behind the Rissik Street Post Office, but was since moved to the revamped Main Street.

Foto: Derek Smith, Flickr, 2010

Foto" Babak Fakhamzadeh, Flickr 2007

BOER WAR MEMORIAL QUEBEC CITY