Hi guy's awesome video from start to finish fields of sunflowers and then sable and ostriches the veg kop battle site right up my alley so interesting the statue with the gun and the bible (shield of faith) really struck a cord with me i have nothing but respect for the boer people!!! .there is the Jewish connection in the Free state again glad to see it's been repurposed as a museum. The NGK church was stunning loved all the old buildings in the cbd .amazing history of the town brilliant. Spotted my favourite little bakkie. On a more sombre note the cemetery and the woman and child memorial was very moving. I love the name of the town ( spring of bliss) .let's hope they get their water problems sorted out seeing the signs for Sasolburg not far from Vanderbyl park wher i worked in Iscor so many memories. Thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one
Vechtkop is a holy place, my ggg grandfather Lukas van Rensburg, b 1803 and family survived the battle, his son Lukas [jnr], b 1824 was one of the nine boys, that's recorded as the youngster who came up with the plan to cool off the over heated barrels in water. Other boys involved was 9 yr Willem van Rensburg, the father of SIENER and 10 yr old Paul Kruger.
Good information I am not even Afrikaaner but Indian Living in UK.my Grandfather was in Transvaal around 1914 but then returned to India after few yrs but got one of his daughter married in South Africa in 1947 so during my first visit in 1983 to South Africa for my cousins wedding in Benoni I just fell in love with thd Veldt and since that day I have been fascinated with Afrikaaners History.I visited Blood River.Majuba etc even been to Oranija evry year I visit South Africa I enjoy visiting the Dorpies as they say.Ons vir Souid Afrika not in a political sense
Ok national bank blew my hair back......lol I am loving the old buildings in Heilbron. I also love the name cant even say why....So many stories hidden in the brick work. And you found the station again. Well of course you did.....mwah ❤
Vegkop was nice to see. Quite a small town but seems to survive the onslaughts of contemporary society and development. The museum and grave yard wasi also nice and reflect rich history of the town. Thanks a very informative trip well done. Till the next one
Wow kanie glo julle was in ons dorpie die die was nou baie lekker om te sie hoe julle hier deur ry, ek en my man het nou die dag so gesels julle moe hier kom draai en wel toe ek weer sien hier is die vidoe, volgende moet julle vir Corne van der Merwe kontak hy ou wat baie kan vertel. Dankie julle vidoes is fantasties.
Dit was nog n plek waar ek nog nooit was nie . Dis n baie hartseer plek , ek gaan dit weerkyk so maak ek seker ek het niks gemis nie. Baie dankie mooi ry en wees veilig
Absolutely beautiful! Visited TJ restaurant on the way to Bethlehem and Sunny-side farm and and worked for a diary company there that was huge in South Africa. Worked mainly in Natal!
Hi you two. I simply loved that Museum, the Statue with the rocks around it and the Monuments. They sure know how to preserve all ancient artifacts. Thanks once again. Safe travel mercies.❤
I have very fond memories of holidays that I enjoyed in Heilbron as a very young boy. I had great friends and family there and it was a favorite holiday place, even surpassing Durban or Cape Town for me back in the late '70's early '80s. We would often as a family book into the Tuckers Hotel, I wonder if it still exists? I would also have liked to see some footage of the dam as well as the park that was part of the dam premises. I'm sure that Oom Pottie that would feed the wildlife there is long passed away but my memory is flooding right now after watching your experience, thank you for taking me back more than forty years.
This was our first and only visit to Heilbron and I can't remember seeing Tucker's Hotel. I did a search online earlier and found some pics of the exterior and interior from days gone by. Apparently the hotel closed down and it was a retirement home for a while, but burnt down in April 2022. 😢🏨 That's if the info online is accurate. Thank you for watching our video and for sharing such special memories. 😊
Those grain silos at 33.22 minute mark, if they are just outside the main town of Heilbron, my step dad and ex husband built. Back in 1982/83/84 maybe. We lived on a little farm owned by the Mullers. Good times there. We moved to the town later and I worked for a little music store and then NJN Construction. Good old days.
So the Building at 38:00 by the train tacks was actually converted into a private English Christian school a while back. I attended Grade 1-3 there back in 1997 - 1999. Its was still beautifully kept back then. Sad to see how in a short amount of time it has dilapidated
Although lacking character (in my opinion) the town is steeped in history. Vegkop was a fascinating stop. The several memorials at both Vegkop and the Heilbron cemetry, especially that of the 781 women and children who perished in the concentration camp, is a stark reminder of the tragic futility of war. Will we ever learn! I look forward to the next stop. Thank you.
I was also surprised at the recent dates, so decided not to highlight any further specific ones. I assumed the graves were of folks who live in the district, but I didn't ask, so I'm not sure. 🚙🏛️
me during Good friday coming from Lesotho on my way back to home in alberton, as i was passing petrus steyn i realised that the road that goes to Lindley and Alington was still being fixed maybe you should have gone to those town but maybe the road works disturbed your plans
I think I've mentioned this here before, but just in case I haven't, it's almost a certainty that a career soldier like Kitchener (etc) would've known about the Cuban Ten Year War against Spain, the use of concentration camps there to suppress guerilla warfare, and the fact that lots of women and children died in those camps. That means he doesn't have the excuse of "military efficiency" for the deaths in South Africa. From what I've read and heard, a a lot of the concentration camp deaths basically came down to maladministration (which is to be expected from an army, from what I've seen), but he would've been aware that this would be one of the consequences of the measures. Yes, he still has the excuse of preferring what he saw as enemy forces dying, than his own troops doing so, but at least from some kind of _ex cathedra_ position, he "knew what he was doing". You shouldn't kill children to save your soldiers, at very least. It would be nice if one day we stopped creating this kind of history in this country, and created more of the better kind of history people with more boring stories have. Maybe one day?
At 1:02:00 there is a fence erected by the FAK (Die Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge), die Erfenisstigting, AfriForum with a donation of R25000 by AVBOB. Well kept by NOT the municipality.
I focused on the items on display, so the fact that the floorboards in the 1905 building were very creaky and that there were other folks around, didn't bother me in the slightest. I was just too happy to see other visitors there. 🏛
one more bit of trivia. The SA trade unions want to boycott Clover because of an Israeli connection , so sadly this may ruin Heilbronn all together .I hope I am wrong .
A bit of history: The Jews did play a big roll in the development of Heilbronn , but sadly antisemitism began to creep into the town (as it did elsewhere).. As early as 1916 The Grey Shirt movement was active around 1937 and boycotts were the ordered against Jewish business. In 19411 the OB was fighting against English and Jewish capitalism.There were only 129 Jews left in 1951 according to the census and by 1980, 2 jewish families remained . By 1983 all were gone. Sad!
My father went to School in Koppies quite close to Helbron and was born in the Heilbron district, some of the Jewish children were in the same school and among his friends. I specifically remember the Kirsch's , I think the father was Sam Kirsch the daughter Olga Kirsch the poet. The doctor was also Jewish, if I remember correctly he was Dr Javen not sure of the spelling. He always held the Jewish people in high respect and so do I. Can't say the same of the British tough. My great grandfather was Kmdt van Coller from Heilbron who fought in the Anglo Boer war. My grandfather Matthys Uys fought in the 1914 rebellion to gain Afrikaner independence. I can just mention from our perspective that the support for Germany was not because of the Jews but because they were fighting the British. Many of my ancestors lies buried in that OVS soil because of their concentration camps and other shenanigans. Previously there was great co operation between SA and Israel and you will find many towns which have names coming from Israel. Can't say the same of the current government, but hopefully that will change soon. Small towns depopulated as employment became scarce and the move was away from agriculture. Everybody moved not only the Jews, in fact very few of my own family live in the OVS today and those were large families. Regarding the OB, I think that ended by the end of the 1940s and was a minority far right movement that wasn't representative any way. I doubt if you ask around today if anybody remembers the OB only a few thats interested in history will know.
@@mj3299 Thanks for your thoughtful reply. It saddens me to reflect on SA's past and what could have been not to mention the present shortsightedness of the present government . I fully understand people feeling threatened and reading comprehensive history of SA makes this clear. Looking back from the various racial perspectives in hindsight I understand Afrikaner concerns when the influx of Jews started arriving in the early1900's. The Jews were seen as a threat to Afrikaners but in actual fact they never challenged anyone . They only benefited the Platteland wherever they went , from Springbok in the northern Cape to Messina in the Transvaal. Read Partick Mynhardt's book "Boy from Bethuli" to get an insight into the Jews on the Platteland . I'm truly saddened . My father was born in Springfontein where he grew up , hence my interest in the OFS.
@@Helgardt6189 My Grandfather from father's side Thys Uys lived on the farm Allandale near Greenlands he died at age 98 in Koppies and mother side Frik Oosthuizen Felix also close by. Most of the uncles and aunts cousins lived there. My parents moved away in 1954. I only went there on visits to the family. The last time I went there was for my father's brother Danie Uys's funeral. I saw the town was dilapidated.
Hey my naam willow Witbooi ek will Jul terug nooi Heilbron toe Dan kan ek jull terug nooi en invat by skool en hospital asook Al die plekke hier ek n plaaslikeonderwyse t Hier kan ook reel dat j met mense prat Ek di ou wat Sy voet seergemaak het in jul video
Hi guy's awesome video from start to finish fields of sunflowers and then sable and ostriches the veg kop battle site right up my alley so interesting the statue with the gun and the bible (shield of faith) really struck a cord with me i have nothing but respect for the boer people!!! .there is the Jewish connection in the Free state again glad to see it's been repurposed as a museum. The NGK church was stunning loved all the old buildings in the cbd .amazing history of the town brilliant. Spotted my favourite little bakkie. On a more sombre note the cemetery and the woman and child memorial was very moving. I love the name of the town ( spring of bliss) .let's hope they get their water problems sorted out seeing the signs for Sasolburg not far from Vanderbyl park wher i worked in Iscor so many memories. Thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one
Vechtkop is a holy place, my ggg grandfather Lukas van Rensburg, b 1803 and family survived the battle, his son Lukas [jnr], b 1824 was one of the nine boys, that's recorded as the youngster who came up with the plan to cool off the over heated barrels in water. Other boys involved was 9 yr Willem van Rensburg, the father of SIENER and 10 yr old Paul Kruger.
Good information I am not even Afrikaaner but Indian Living in UK.my Grandfather was in Transvaal around 1914 but then returned to India after few yrs but got one of his daughter married in South Africa in 1947 so during my first visit in 1983 to South Africa for my cousins wedding in Benoni I just fell in love with thd Veldt and since that day I have been fascinated with Afrikaaners History.I visited Blood River.Majuba etc even been to Oranija evry year I visit South Africa I enjoy visiting the Dorpies as they say.Ons vir Souid Afrika not in a political sense
Thanks for the information you must be very proud of your ancestors
Ok national bank blew my hair back......lol I am loving the old buildings in Heilbron. I also love the name cant even say why....So many stories hidden in the brick work. And you found the station again. Well of course you did.....mwah ❤
My home town Heilbron I still live here, I was born year 89 in that small hospital. Im living herr almost 35 ,years allready
Interesting video especially the story of Vegkop. Thanks for sharing 👍👍👍
The museum at Vegkop ia such a lovely insight of our ancestors. Imagine the transport of those days on a ossewa.
Daar is soveel bitter geskiedenis in hierdie Vrystaatse dorpe...... Laat ons dit nooit vergeet nie.....
Dankie dat julle my wys waar dit is...🙏🙏🙏
Yes,,,that Vegkop memorial blew me away....so glad you found it open. Pity about the rest but a town full of history.
The wanton destruction of the railways in this country is nauseating yo say the least. Love your travels. I don't miss one of them.
Vegkop was nice to see. Quite a small town but seems to survive the onslaughts of contemporary society and development. The museum and grave yard wasi also nice and reflect rich history of the town. Thanks a very informative trip well done. Till the next one
It's heartbreaking to see everything, go to waste. The Standardbank, the roads, etc etc etc... I loved seeing Vegkop! Thanks, you guys 🥰
Hi Sonia and Curtis, thanks for taking us to Heilbron. Seems to me we as the nation has kind of dropped that (shield).🙃😪🙏🎶💕
This is such a beautiful place just love the area plus buildings
Wow kanie glo julle was in ons dorpie die die was nou baie lekker om te sie hoe julle hier deur ry, ek en my man het nou die dag so gesels julle moe hier kom draai en wel toe ek weer sien hier is die vidoe, volgende moet julle vir Corne van der Merwe kontak hy ou wat baie kan vertel. Dankie julle vidoes is fantasties.
Dit was nog n plek waar ek nog nooit was nie . Dis n baie hartseer plek , ek gaan dit weerkyk so maak ek seker ek het niks gemis nie. Baie dankie mooi ry en wees veilig
Thbnks for the nice vidoe
Absolutely beautiful! Visited TJ restaurant on the way to Bethlehem and Sunny-side farm and and worked for a diary company there that was huge in South Africa. Worked mainly in Natal!
Help by the Barolong was interesting.
Hi you two. I simply loved that Museum, the Statue with the rocks around it and the Monuments. They sure know how to preserve all ancient artifacts. Thanks once again. Safe travel mercies.❤
hi thanks showing us all this history . we appreciate at full
I must whach it again !
I have very fond memories of holidays that I enjoyed in Heilbron as a very young boy. I had great friends and family there and it was a favorite holiday place, even surpassing Durban or Cape Town for me back in the late '70's early '80s. We would often as a family book into the Tuckers Hotel, I wonder if it still exists? I would also have liked to see some footage of the dam as well as the park that was part of the dam premises. I'm sure that Oom Pottie that would feed the wildlife there is long passed away but my memory is flooding right now after watching your experience, thank you for taking me back more than forty years.
This was our first and only visit to Heilbron and I can't remember seeing Tucker's Hotel. I did a search online earlier and found some pics of the exterior and interior from days gone by. Apparently the hotel closed down and it was a retirement home for a while, but burnt down in April 2022. 😢🏨 That's if the info online is accurate. Thank you for watching our video and for sharing such special memories. 😊
Such an interesting place indeed
your travels through the free state show how Christian this country is.
Those grain silos at 33.22 minute mark, if they are just outside the main town of Heilbron, my step dad and ex husband built. Back in 1982/83/84 maybe. We lived on a little farm owned by the Mullers. Good times there. We moved to the town later and I worked for a little music store and then NJN Construction. Good old days.
Thank you - this was a most interesting visit!
So the Building at 38:00 by the train tacks was actually converted into a private English Christian school a while back. I attended Grade 1-3 there back in 1997 - 1999. Its was still beautifully kept back then. Sad to see how in a short amount of time it has dilapidated
Although lacking character (in my opinion) the town is steeped in history. Vegkop was a fascinating stop. The several memorials at both Vegkop and the Heilbron cemetry, especially that of the 781 women and children who perished in the concentration camp, is a stark reminder of the tragic futility of war. Will we ever learn! I look forward to the next stop. Thank you.
😢🏛
Hope you pay visit to Koppies and Edenville.My grandparents stayed in Koppies.They had a clothing shop there.
You drove past my dads grave in the grave yard in Heilbron grave yard 💗💖
I was born in Heilbron in 1943. Our farm Posdrif was from where post was delivired at a bridge? Thanks enjoyed watching 🙌
Interesting that your family farm got its name from the postal delivery bridge. Thank you for sharing that piece of interesting info. 🚙✉️
WAARDEER !!!!!!😊
Also born in Heilbron was Henning Klopper, founder of the ATKV [SAS + H]
My home town where I lived for many years my mum used to work in that little sandstone building that was the station
what was the purpose of the sandstone building?
Initially when you went into the remembrance garden at Vegkop, who are buried there as the dates were recent?. Great episode thanks .
I was also surprised at the recent dates, so decided not to highlight any further specific ones. I assumed the graves were of folks who live in the district, but I didn't ask, so I'm not sure. 🚙🏛️
Pragtige video, ry eenmaal n week deur Heilbron, ek wens hulle kon die pragtige sandsteenhuis teenoorgestelde dwarsstraat vanaf OK grocer wys.
Nou net op Nuus gesien hoe vervalle die watertoevoerstelsel en dorp is.Wat ‘n skande.
me during Good friday coming from Lesotho on my way back to home in alberton, as i was passing petrus steyn i realised that the road that goes to Lindley and Alington was still being fixed maybe you should have gone to those town but maybe the road works disturbed your plans
I think I've mentioned this here before, but just in case I haven't, it's almost a certainty that a career soldier like Kitchener (etc) would've known about the Cuban Ten Year War against Spain, the use of concentration camps there to suppress guerilla warfare, and the fact that lots of women and children died in those camps.
That means he doesn't have the excuse of "military efficiency" for the deaths in South Africa. From what I've read and heard, a a lot of the concentration camp deaths basically came down to maladministration (which is to be expected from an army, from what I've seen), but he would've been aware that this would be one of the consequences of the measures. Yes, he still has the excuse of preferring what he saw as enemy forces dying, than his own troops doing so, but at least from some kind of _ex cathedra_ position, he "knew what he was doing". You shouldn't kill children to save your soldiers, at very least.
It would be nice if one day we stopped creating this kind of history in this country, and created more of the better kind of history people with more boring stories have. Maybe one day?
😢🏛
Baie dankie vriende
At 1:02:00 there is a fence erected by the FAK (Die Federasie van Afrikaanse Kultuurvereniginge), die Erfenisstigting, AfriForum with a donation of R25000 by AVBOB. Well kept by NOT the municipality.
Sonder die FAK en AVBOB sal hierdie monument en begraafplaas heeltemal verval.
Why is there such noise in museum ?
I focused on the items on display, so the fact that the floorboards in the 1905 building were very creaky and that there were other folks around, didn't bother me in the slightest. I was just too happy to see other visitors there. 🏛
one more bit of trivia. The SA trade unions want to boycott Clover because of an Israeli connection , so sadly this may ruin Heilbronn all together .I hope I am wrong .
Ons het daar op Heilbron gebly by N C D gewerk . Skokkend niks is oor . N skande.
A bit of history: The Jews did play a big roll in the development of Heilbronn , but sadly antisemitism began to creep into the town (as it did elsewhere).. As early as 1916 The Grey Shirt movement was active around 1937 and boycotts were the ordered against Jewish business. In 19411 the OB was fighting against English and Jewish capitalism.There were only 129 Jews left in 1951 according to the census and by 1980, 2 jewish families remained . By 1983 all were gone. Sad!
My father went to School in Koppies quite close to Helbron and was born in the Heilbron district, some of the Jewish children were in the same school and among his friends. I specifically remember the Kirsch's , I think the father was Sam Kirsch the daughter Olga Kirsch the poet. The doctor was also Jewish, if I remember correctly he was Dr Javen not sure of the spelling. He always held the Jewish people in high respect and so do I. Can't say the same of the British tough. My great grandfather was Kmdt van Coller from Heilbron who fought in the Anglo Boer war. My grandfather Matthys Uys fought in the 1914 rebellion to gain Afrikaner independence. I can just mention from our perspective that the support for Germany was not because of the Jews but because they were fighting the British. Many of my ancestors lies buried in that OVS soil because of their concentration camps and other shenanigans. Previously there was great co operation between SA and Israel and you will find many towns which have names coming from Israel. Can't say the same of the current government, but hopefully that will change soon. Small towns depopulated as employment became scarce and the move was away from agriculture. Everybody moved not only the Jews, in fact very few of my own family live in the OVS today and those were large families. Regarding the OB, I think that ended by the end of the 1940s and was a minority far right movement that wasn't representative any way. I doubt if you ask around today if anybody remembers the OB only a few thats interested in history will know.
@@mj3299 Thanks for your thoughtful reply. It saddens me to reflect on SA's past and what could have been not to mention the present shortsightedness of the present government . I fully understand people feeling threatened and reading comprehensive history of SA makes this clear. Looking back from the various racial perspectives in hindsight I understand Afrikaner concerns when the influx of Jews started arriving in the early1900's. The Jews were seen as a threat to Afrikaners but in actual fact they never challenged anyone . They only benefited the Platteland wherever they went , from Springbok in the northern Cape to Messina in the Transvaal. Read Partick Mynhardt's book "Boy from Bethuli" to get an insight into the Jews on the Platteland . I'm truly saddened . My father was born in Springfontein where he grew up , hence my interest in the OFS.
@@mj3299My family had a clothing shop in Koppies…Frik Hefers.
@@Helgardt6189 My Grandfather from father's side Thys Uys lived on the farm Allandale near Greenlands he died at age 98 in Koppies and mother side Frik Oosthuizen Felix also close by. Most of the uncles and aunts cousins lived there. My parents moved away in 1954. I only went there on visits to the family. The last time I went there was for my father's brother Danie Uys's funeral. I saw the town was dilapidated.
Ja dus n lekker dorp jull uniefeesdam gemiss of langdam ek will julle graag dt wys
Hey my naam willow Witbooi ek will Jul terug nooi Heilbron toe Dan kan ek jull terug nooi en invat by skool en hospital asook Al die plekke hier ek n plaaslikeonderwyse t
Hier kan ook reel dat j met mense prat Ek di ou wat Sy voet seergemaak het in jul video