CECIL RHODES
Rhodes Memorial in Kimberley
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The Cecil John Rhodes Memorial on an island off Du Toitspan Road, Regiment Way & D’Arcy Street in Kimberley is one of the longest standing monuments
of Cecil John Rhodes in South Africa. The North-facing bronze statue was unveiled by by Sir Waller Hely-Hutchinscn, G.C.M.G, the Governor of Cape Colony on 4th December 1907.
The statue depicts Rhodes mounted on a horse holding a map of Africa in his hands facing north towards Cairo. On the scots granite plinth base are three bronze panels,
here reproduced below, depicting scenes in Cecil Rhodes's meteoric career. [Source: THE ILLUSTRATED LONDON NEWS, Dec. 14, 1907. 866]
This memorial,which is considered one of the most beautiful equistian statues in the world, commemorates Cecil John Rhodes (1853-1902). During the siege of Kimberley, during the South African War (2nd Boer War), he supported the defending British troops with the water supply, building fortifications, an armoured train, artillery ammunition and the Long Cecil gun. In addition, due to the desperate situation in Kimberley, he used his influence to convince the British government to end the sieges of Kimberley, Mafeking and Ladysmith. [Source: Equistrian Statue of Cecil John Rhodes The bronze statue was designed by John Tweed and was sculpted by Sir William Hamo Thornycroft, R.A. (1850-1925), you can see his plaster model of this statue here. |
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