PRIMROSE CEMETERY, GERMISTON

Primrose Cemetery in Germiston dates back to 1893. It is the second oldest cemetery in the greater Johannesburg region, after Braamfontein Cemetery. Its 20,000+ graves tell stories of the early gold mining days, an Anglo-Boer War battle, the 1914 Rebellion, the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, and the 1922 Rand Revolt. It includes a military Garden of Remembrance.

The first burial was recorded as R. LAMBERT on 25 June 1893. There is no existing gravestone. There is Ettie Fanny Ross RUSSELL who was born circa 1868 in Cape Town. She married Robert James Ernest LAMBERT (1860 – 1922) on 28 April 1886 in Vrede. She died on 24 June 1893 in Germiston.

On Christmas Day 1896, the CROSBIE family was enjoying a picnic at Primrose Dam when the dam wall collapsed. Six of their children drowned:
Adelaide Jane (1880-1896)
Frances Ellen (1885-1896)
Kate Anne (1889-1896)
Albert (1891-1896)
Francis (1893-1896)
Baby (1896-1896), age 2 months.
They were buried in Primrose Cemetery.
Three children survived:
James Pierce born on 23 June 1879 in Kimberley, died on 25 August 1958 at Addington Hospital, Durban.
Janet Mary born on 26 August 1884 in Kimberley, died on 20 May 1979 in Bergville. Married Charles Cummins HAINE on 03 March 1908 in Germiston.
William Thomas born on 15 July 1887, died in 1980. Married Amy Mary ASPELING on 28 April 1914. He was working at Rose Deep Gold Mine, Germiston, in 1914.
The children's parents, Francis (aka Frank) CROSBIE and Janet FISHER, were married on 02 July 1878 in Kimberley, South Africa.
Janet died on 14 January 1904 at the home of Thomas BELL in Belgravia, Johannesburg and was also buried in Primrose Cemetery. Her last residential address was Rose Deep Gold Mine, Germiston.
Their father married Florence Montagu RICHARDS on 10 August 1908 in Durban. She died in 1920.
Francis was born in 1857 in Newchurch, Rossendale, Lancashire, England, and died on 28 May 1943 at Germiston Hospital. His last residential address was Hotel Alexander in President Street, Germiston.

The military Garden of Remembrance contain the remains of 544 Imperial soldiers from the Anglo-Boer War, of which 181 died in battle or from their wounds. The remains of soldiers who died at Bakenlaagte, Bethal, Boschmanskop, Devon, Leslie, Nooitgedacht, Oshoek, Elandsfontein and Springs were also reinterred here. Two monuments erected by the National Monuments Council list the names and regiments of the Imperial soldiers buried here. 

Gerhardus Hendrikus Johannes GRAVETT was born on 28 June 1858 in Alexandria, Cape Colony. He was the grandson of George GRAVETT, an 1820 Settler from Rustington, Sussex, England. In 1888 he was living in Elandsfontein, Germiston, and was a transport rider building a successful business. He married Petronella Wilhelmina OOSTHUIZEN. They had two sons and three daughters. When the Anglo-Boer War broke out, Gerhardus joined the Boers as an ordinary burgher. He served with distinction on the Colesberg front, where he was elected field cornet. He was promoted to commandant and led the Boer retreat from the Orange River through the eastern Free State. He took part in the battle of Donkerhoek in June 1900. His men were known as Gravett’s Guinea Fowls. He was heavily involved in the Boer attempts to prevent the British capture of the Eastern railway line. In August 1900 he participated in the Battle of Bergendal and was promoted to a fighting General in charge of the Boksburg Commando. The Boksburg Commando was mobilised on 27 September 1899 and was made up of 1,050 Boers and about 300 black agterryers. Gerhardus saw action in Natal, the Free State, the Cape Colony and the Western Transvaal. He suffered serious shrapnel wounds on 12 October 1900 while on commando near Roosenekal. A Dr. NEETHLING attended to him but without much-needed medicines he contracted bronchitis. He was buried in Primrose. His gravestone also commemorates his son Richard Edward GRAVETT (15 May 1893 - 20 October 1903). 

Lieutenant-Colonel George BENSON is the highest rank buried in Primrose. He was killed at the Battle of Bakenlaagte on 30 October 1901, which was the last major battle in the Eastern Transvaal. He was the commander of No. 3 flying column based at Middelburg in the Eastern Transvaal. His unit was tasked with burning farms and taking Boer prisoners to Brugspruit station (present day Cluwer) for transportation to concentration camps. On 24 October 1901, 800 burghers ambushed the rearguard of the column and 14 of Benson's men were killed or wounded. On 30 October, various Boer commandos under the command of General Louis BOTHA gathered to attack Benson’s unit near Bakenlaagte. Seventy seven of Benson’s men were killed with another 161 wounded. Fifty two Boers were killed and wounded. Captain Eyre LLOYD of the 2nd Coldstream Guards was also killed, after leaving the Imperial camp to go save his commander, despite being wounded along the way. 

There is a monument to the Queen’s Bays Regiment in memory of the soldiers who died in battle on 01 April 1902. The battle involved 312 men of the Queen's Bays and 40 National Scouts who were stationed at Springs. The Imperial soldiers planned to raid what they thought was a small Boer laager, but instead came across a large Boer laager consisting of about 800 men near Boschman’s Kop (near present day Devon). Other Imperial forces monuments are the 84th Battery Royal Field Artillery Memorial and the King's Royal Rifles Mounted Infantry Memorial. 

James BLANE

Germiston's first mayor, James BLANE, is also buried here. He was a mining engineer / manager and died on 10 April 1909 at home on New Goch Mine of stomach cancer. He also owned Bultfontein farm in Kroonstad district, on which he kept cattle. The farm was sold on auction after his death. He was born on 01 March 1866 in Louden Kirk, Galston, Ayrshire, Scotland, the son of Robert BLANE (1834 – 1896) and Agnes McLAUCHLAND (1835 – 1886). He married Isabella Mary RYAN on 13 April 1891 in the Presbyterian Church, East London. They had six children: 

Agnes Elizabeth BLANE (born 1892) 

Gladys Beryl BLANE (born 1894) 

James Starr BLANE (1897 – 1961) 

Robert BLANE (1900 – 1993) 

Gordon John BLANE (1902 – 1902, Glencairn Gold Mine) 

Isabella Marrion BLANE (born 1904)

A monument commemorates Germiston men who died while serving in World War I. An obelisk commemorates Knights Deep Gold Mine employees who died in World War I. Private James COWARD of the South African Infantry 1st Regiment died on 09 April 1917 at the Battle of Arras. He was 25 years old and was the son of Anne COWARD of 10 Long Street, Germiston. His gravestone had a memorial plaque known as Dead Man's Penny, which has been been stolen. The Dead Man's Penny was issued to the families of soldiers of the British Empire who were killed in battle during World War I. The round bronze plaque was inscribed with "He died for freedom and honour" and the soldier's name. 

Captain Jacobus Everhardus NOLTE was shot and killed at Treurfontein (present day Coligny) in October 1914 and was buried in Primrose. He was married to Francina Stephina GROBLER who died in 1976. He had served with the Boksburg Commando in both Natal and the Transvaal during the Anglo-Boer War. After the war, he became a successful lawyer in Heidelberg and owned the farm Driefontein in Heidelberg district. He joined the Heidelberg Commando and by 1914 he held the rank of Captain. He was on active service fighting the 1914 rebels in the Western Transvaal. While near Treurfontein, a group of six mounted rebels approached the commandos under a white flag. The commandos were under Commandant Louwrens NOLTE. The rebels stopped about 500 yards from the commandos and signalled with their hats. Commandant NOLTE wanted to fight but his brother Captain NOLTE called for calm. The captain wrote a note to the effect that the commandant wanted to know what the rebels’ intentions were, and if bloodshed could be avoided. Captain NOLTE took off his revolver and, unarmed, walked towards the rebels with the note held high in his hand. He gave the note to someone on his left, just before someone to his right fired three shots instantly killing him. The government forces charged the rebels and captured a few hundred, killing 13 and wounding 36. A rebel, Field Cornet Hendrik Cornelis Wilhelmus VERMAAS (aka Hennie Natreen) was charged with the murder of Captain NOLTE, but was acquitted because the State could not prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Dr. Herbert John ORFORD of Klerksdorp had Nolte’s body exhumed and examined. Vermaas was charged with treason for his part in the Rebellion and sent to the Fort in Johannesburg. He died on 23 August 1948 at Witpoort, Ottosdal district. 

In the Dutch Reformed section, there are two gravestones noting the cause of death as myntering (silicosis). Petrus Cornelis Johannes POTGIETER died on 22 September 1918, and Johannes Andreas SWANEPOEL died on 14 October 1911. Petrus was married to Martha Maria LANDMAN. Johannes was married to Jacomina Christina POTGIETER. Myntering was known as miners’ phthisis. The underground miners were exposed to silica dust. 

Some gravestones name the mine where the deceased worked, such as Simmer and Jack, Village Deep, Glen Deep, Jupiter, Glencairn Main Reef, New Rietfontein, May Consolidated, Witwatersrand Deep, Bantjes, Rose Deep and Ginsberg. Forbes MERVYN-SMITH died in a mining accident at Knights Deep Mine in 1917. He was married to Lilian BROWN who died on 22 October 1918 during the Spanish flu pandemic. 

Dr. Howard Charles SPAULDING nursed many of Germiston's sick and dying during the Spanish flu pandemic, before he too died on 14 October 1918 at the government hospital in Germiston. He was buried in Primrose. He was from the coal mining town of Virden in Illinois, United States, having arrived in South Africa before the Anglo-Boer War and offered his services as doctor to the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek government. He married Annie Rhind STUART in January 1904 in the Presbyterian church in Germiston. Annie was born in Scotland. Three of her brothers had also settled in Germiston. Her older brother Alexander, who was a builder, married Petronella Wilhelmina, the widow of Boer commandant General Gerhardus Hendricus GRAVETT. Another brother, John, became a Germiston Town Councilor. By 1918, Howard and Annie had five daughters and one son. After the death of her husband, Annie married George MATHERS, an electrical engineer, and had another daughter. 

Privates George BROWN and Albert Vernon HIGHAM share a gravestone, both of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment who were killed at Dunswart Railway Crossing on 10 March 1922 during the 1922 Rand Revolt. The gravestone was was erected by the Regiment in 1970. George was a clerk in civilian life. Albert was a commercial traveller in civilian life, and the son of Gertrude HIGHAM of Germiston. Tjaart Johannes VAN DER WALT was killed in action at at Brixton Ridge on 12 March 1922 while serving with the Railways and Harbours Brigade. He was married to Theresa Allan Jane SHOOTER. Sergeant James TANNER of the South African Railways died on 10 March 1922 from gunshot wounds. He was a Guard Inspector with the Railways. He was married to Annie BEITH. Lance-Sergeant Paulus Petrus JOUBERT of the South African Police was shot during the night of 11 March 1922 when on his way to Germiston with colleagues to arrest suspicious men in Germiston. He was married to Maria Magdalena SMIT. 

2020

There have been many instances of vandalism and neglect at the cemetery. In mid-2020 one of the cemetery gates was stolen and the main gate was damaged while being forcibly opened. There was a fire in the cemetery store room in June 2020, and the cemetery office in a separate building had a bonfire in the middle of the room. All records of burials pre-1970, kept in the storeroom, were destroyed in the fire. Both cemetery buildings had been broken into and all equipment stolen. The Jewish Ohel was broken into and the palisade fence systematically stolen. In the past, the Jewish community had a garden service clear the Jewish section of overgrowth, weeds, and litter. The Jewish section was consecrated on 11 August 1907. 

2020

In January 2023, the city council did a clean-up at the cemetery. In April 2025, the City of Ekurhuleni blamed the cemetery's unkempt state on recent rainfall and lack of manpower to maintain the cemetery, after residents raised concerns. They found the cemetery had overgrown grass and bushes covering the graves. Some of the tall headstones were only partially visible. Other grievances included the overgrown trees, missing gates and broken palisade fencing. Vandalism of facilities is one of the biggest challenges that the city is confronted with. Safety at the cemeteries due to their state is also a major concern. I recently drove past Primrose Cemetery, and was saddened to see that it was again overgrown and unkempt.

March 2025

 

DANIEL RADCLIFFE'S SOUTH AFRICAN FAMILY CONNECTION

The British actor, Daniel RADCLIFFE, star of the Harry Potter movies, has some South African roots, as well as Polish, Russian, Jewish and Northern Irish roots. Daniel's maternal grandfather was South African, and his mother was born in South Africa. According to Daniel, his grandfather was not a pleasant man, and his grandmother fled with their 2-year-old daughter to England on a South African Airways flight in 1960.

Daniel and his mother.
Image from fanpop.com

Daniel Jacob RADCLIFFE was born on 23 July 1989 at Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London, the only child of Alan George RADCLIFFE (literary agent, and originally from Northern Ireland) and Marcia Gresham JACOBSON (casting agent). They were married in 1984 in London. Alan is the son of Teddy RADCLIFFE and Elsie May. Marcia was born in 1958 in South Africa, and was raised in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex. She used the GRESHAM surname instead of JACOBSON. She was a talented ballerina, having won 10 trophies and several medals by the age of 11. Her parents, Wilfred JACOBSON and Muriel Jean Patricia GRESHAM, were married in 1956 in Paddington, London. Muriel was born on 10 May 1922 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, the daughter of Samuel GERSHON and Raie Diana JACOBS. Wilfred was the son of S.H. JACOBSON. Muriel sailed to South Africa from London on 05 March 1957 onboard the "City of Durban". Her address in the ship's passenger list was given as 2 Milton Court, Station Rd, Westcliff, England. Wilfred and Muriel divorced in South Africa in 1958. She uses the name Patricia and lives in Essex, where she is an artist. There is a Wilfred JACOBSON who was born 18 Sept 1919 and died in 1994 in South Africa, divorced, but I have not yet confirmed that it is the same person as Daniel's grandfather.

Daniel and his father

There was a Wilfred JACOBSON, age 20, who sailed from Durban on the "Pretoria Castle", arriving in Southampton on 18 Jan 1952. Other passenger lists show Isaac Wilfred JACOBSON, age 42, sailed on the "Stirling Castle" from Durban, arriving in Southampton on 06 May 1938. He sailed agin, age 52, from Durban on the "Cape Town Castle", arriving in Southampton on 19 Mar 1948. He sailed again from Durban on the same ship, arriving in Southampton on 25 Apr 1952.

But impossible to know the ancestors of his father at the moment, apart from the famous "Great Uncle Ernie" killed in action during the Battle of Loos in France and his grandmother Elsie May Radcliffe (wife of the late Teddy Radcliffe), died in 2008.

Daniel's paternal grandmother was Elsie May, born in Banbridge. She lived in Cline Walk and died on 02 October 2008 at Craigavon Hospital, after taking ill at a church concert. Some of her family live in the Dromore area. Elsie is survived by her daughter Linda MCWILLIAMS (Dromore, married to Drew), son Alan (married to Marcia), three grandchildren Daniel, Stephen and Philip, and two sisters Jean WYLIE (Banbridge) and Eileen REID (Tandragee). Alan was a former pupil of Banbridge High School.

Daniel's great-uncle, Ernie, on his father's side, died at the Battle of Loos in France during World War I. Daniel played the role of Jack KIPLING, the 18-year-old son of writer Rudyard KIPLING, killed in the same battle. This was the ITV1 drama My Boy Jack.

Samuel GERSHON was a jeweller, born in 1894 in Hackney, London to Louis GERSHON and Jessie LIPMAN. Louis and Jessie married circa 1886, and emigrated from Eastern Europe to England, via Cape Town. Their children, John, Annie and Julia were born in South Africa. Louis was born in 1861 in the town of Wreschen by Posen, Germany, and died in 1919 in Hackney, London. Jessie was born in 1864 in Lurig, Poland, and died in 1941 in Hendon, Middlesex.

1901 England Census
Street Address: 93 Downs Road, Hackney
Lewis GERSHON, age 42, born circa 1859 in Germany, dealer in jewellery
Jessy GERSHON, age 36, born circa 1865 in Russia
John GERSHON, age 14, born circa 1887 in Cape Town, South Africa
Annie GERSHON, age 12, born circa 1889 in Kimberley, South Africa
Julia GERSHON, age 10, born circa 1891 in the Orange Free State, South Africa
Samuel GERSHON, age 7, born circa 1894 in Hackney, London
Alfred GERSHON, age 5, born circa 1896 in Hackney, London
Marie GERSHON, age 3, born circa 1898 in Hackney, London
David GERSHON, age 4 months, born circa 1900 in Hackney, London
Lizzie HANNON, age 26, born circa 1875 in Southampton, domestic servant
Lily GREEN, age 22, born circa 1879 in Hackney, London, domestic servant

1911 England Census
Street Address: 138 Clapton Common, Hackney
Louis GERSHON, age 50, born circa 1861 in Germany, diamond merchant.
Jessie GERSHON, age 47, born circa 1864 in Russia
Annie GERSHON, age 22, born circa 1889 in Kimberley, South Africa
Julia GERSHON, age 20, born circa 1891
Samuel GERSHON, age 17, born circa 1894, jewellers's apprentice
Alfred GERSHON, age 15, born circa 1896 in London, jeweller's apprentice
Marie GERSHON, age 13, born circa 1898 in London, scholar
Edward GERSHON, age 11, born circa 1900 in London, scholar
Gladys GERSHON, age 7, born circa 1904 in London, scholar
Harry GERSHON, infant, born circa 1911 in London
Gertie STREETER, age 15, born circa 1896 in London, domestic servant
Caroline TAYLOR, age 29, born circa 1882 in Walthamstow, domestic servant

Samuel GERSHON married Raie Diana JACOBS in 1921 in Rochford, Essex. She was born on 14 Sept 1895, the daughter of Emmanuel JACOBS, a fruit salesman. Samuel died in 1936 in Hertfordshire. Raie died in 1977 at Southend-on-Sea. Emmanuel was born 1867/8, the son of Charles Abraham JACOBS, a greengrocer, and his wife Miriam. Emmanuel married Julia JACOBS, the daughter of Frederick JACOBS, a fruiterer of Brixton, and his wife Sarah. Emmanuel died in 1937 in Essex.

1901 England Census
Street Address: 22 Tavistock Place, St Giles
Emanuel JACOBS, age 33, born circa 1868 in Strand, London, fruit salesman
Julia JACOBS, age 28, born circa 1873 in Strand, London
Maire JACOBS, age 6, born circa 1895 in Strand, London
Sadie JACOBS, age 5, born circa 1896 in Strand, London
Raie JACOBS, age 3, born circa 1898 in Strand, London
Charles JACOBS, age 5 weeks, born circa 1901 in St Pancras, London

1881 England Census
Street Address: 60A Atlantic Road with 1 and 2 Vining Street
Frederick JACOBS, age 34, born circa 1847 in St Giles, Middlesex, Fruiterer (Master, employing 2 men and 1 boy)
Sarah JACOBS, age 36, born circa 1845 in Covent Garden, Middlesex
Julia JACOBS, age 9, born circa 1872 in Covent Garden, Middlesex, Scholar
Hannah JACOBS, age 7, born circa 1874 in Covent Garden, Middlesex, Scholar
Louisa JACOBS, age 4, born circa 1877 in Covent Garden, Middlesex
Adelaide JACOBS, age 2, born circa 1879 in Covent Garden, Middlesex
Annie YOUNG, age 22, born circa 1859 in Windsor, Berkshire, Nurse Domestic Servant
Eliza EDWARDS, age 20, born circa 1861 in Scotland, General Servant
Sophia PHILLIPS, age 18, born circa 1863 in Middlesex City, Middlesex, Visitor

1911 England Census
Street Address: 15 Long Acre W C, Strand
Charles Abraham JACOBS, age 73, born circa 1838 in Cove
Mariam JACOBS, age 68, born circa 1843 in Field
Henry JACOBS, age 38, born circa 1873 in Cove, Commission Agent
Hannah Elizabeth JACOBS, age 28, born circa 1883 in Cove, Home Assistant
Marie Rose JACOBS, age 25, born circa 1886 in Cove, Dressmaker
Lillian Maud JACOBS, age 23, born circa 1888 in St Martins, Milliner
Gladyse OVERTON, age 17, born circa 1894 in Stow, Domestic Servant

Harry Potter in Cradock

In an unrelated (so far) story, a real Harry POTTER died on 27 July 1910 at the age of 46 in South Africa. He was buried in the Cradock Cemetery. He was the husband of Blanche Elizabeth BRUCE, who died on 29 December 1942 at the age of 82. The inscription on the tombstone reads: "In Sacred Memory of Harry Potter - died July 27 1910. Aged 47 years. I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." This Harry was related to the 1820 British Settlers.

There is also a Harry POTTER near Tel Aviv. Corporal Harry POTTER was a 19-year-old British soldier in the Royal Worcestershire Regiment, who died in 1939 during fighting in Hebron and was buried in Ramle, south of Tel Aviv.

CEMETERY CONDITIONS

The Mayor of George, Flip DE SWARDT, has spoken out about the neglected state of cemeteries in the area. The town's cemeteries were discussed at a recent council meeting. Many graves are no longer marked. His son, Johan, is buried at the York Street Cemetery. He passed away in 1992 at the age of 22, after an accident in Stellenbosch. Another worry, is the lack of safety when visiting cemeteries.

MORE CEMETERIES JOIN UNSAFE & UNKEMPT LIST

East London cemeteries, like most across the country, lack adequate security and maintenance. East Cemetery, opposite Buffalo Park in East London, is a notorious mugging spot. East London has 29 formal and 90 informal cemeteries within its municipality. Cambridge Cemetery has a security guard but he isn't armed. West Bank Cemetery is unkempt, overgrown with grass and there are no pathways for vehicles or pedestrians.

BUS RIDES OVER PRETORIA PIONEER GRAVES

A Tshwane Metro bus crashed through the palisades fencing of the Old Cemetery in Pretoria West on 02 July. The bus rode over 25 graves, stopping close to the grave of the artist J.H. PIERNEEF. Apparently the brakes failed. The damaged graves are those of early Pretoria pioneers and many are more than 100 years old.

STATE OF CEMETERIES IN KROONSTAD

The Scottish military cemetery at the corner of Peck and Beyers Streets are being renovated. There are about 40 Scottish soldiers, as well as a few Americans, buried here from the Anglo-Boer War. Most died in May 1901. Thirty-five of the names are known. The work is being done by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC). The Scottish cemetery and garden of remembrance is on ground that used to be the site a hospital tent camp for the British. A woman's grave is also here. Susan HARMAN died at the beginning of the war in 1899. The CWGC will also renovate the British cemetery and memorial in Kroonstad. Most of the 500 memorial crosses have been stolen from this cemetery. The memorial, unveiled in 1977, is also missing. The Moslem cemetery at the West Park cemetery in Kroonstad is well-maintained. The Kroonstad Moslem Society looks after the cemetery at their own expense. They replaced the fencing after it was stolen.

WELL DONE KIMBERLEY!

The Pioneer Cemetery in Stead Street, Kimberley, is an historic landmark and tourism attraction. Some of the graves date back to 1871. It has become overgrown with grass and littered with rubbish. Keep Kimberley Clean, the Kimberley Historical Society, the McGregor Museum, students from Adamantia High School, Kimberley Girls' High, Diamantveld Primary School, and the Sol Plaatje Municipality are now involved in a clean-up project. The project started with more than 200 students from Diamantveld Primary picking up the litter. The cemetery was the third burial ground at the diggings. The original burial registers were destroyed by fires. The cemetery was officially closed in 1884 but family plots were used long afterwards. The native (black) plots which had no headstones were levelled many years ago and are now outside the cemetery fence. The Jewish section has its own registers kept by the synagogue. In the late 1970s, a card file was compiled by Muriel MACY from headstones and notes from newspapers. This is kept by the Kimberley Public Library. The cemetery gate was presented by Countess LABIA. Some of the early burials are those of George and Jane HARDY, Alexander HALL (1834-1877), W.H. IREMONGER, Thomas HERBERT and son, W. JAHN, C.P. VAN BLERK, Hubert and Catherine BURKE, M.A. KNOLL, Jane KENNEDY, and Kate MORROGH.