Did You Know?
Deelfontein, located near De Aar in the Northern Cape, was the site of a major British military camp during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899–1902). The Imperial Yeomanry Hospital and associated facilities were established there around 1901, serving as a convalescent depot for sick and wounded soldiers. The water trough for horses was part of the camp's infrastructure, essential for watering the thousands of horses used by the mounted infantry and transport units. The year 1883 predates the war, and Deelfontein was originally a farmstead on the railway line between Cape Town and the interior; the railway reached De Aar in 1884, making the area a strategic junction. The trough likely dates from the military occupation period, not 1883, as the site's major development occurred during the war. After the war, the Imperial Yeomanry Hospital buildings were auctioned off, and the area reverted to agricultural use. The water source at Deelfontein was historically important due to the semi-arid climate, where reliable water points were crucial for both farming and military logistics. Today, remnants of the camp, including stone structures and the trough, are considered heritage features, though specific official heritage listing details are limited. The site is associated with the broader history of De Aar as a railway and military hub in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
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