Remembrance Day is observed worldwide and is also a significant day in Hermanus.
Few visitors to Hermanus and residents nowadays realise they’re walking through one of the most militarily significant towns in South Africa’s history. During World War I this coastal community achieved the remarkable distinction of having the highest level of volunteering per capita in the entire British Empire, a testament to the patriotic spirit that still resonates today.
The Cenotaph War Memorial itself, erected in 1929, stands as a permanent reminder of the sacrifice of the many local volunteers who never returned, from both world wars. But Hermanus’ military connections extend far beyond those conflicts.
The town’s wartime legacy reads like a who’s who of military history. During World War II Hermanus operated as a radar station, playing a crucial role in coastal defence. The community also claims a connection to one of the war’s most famous escapees – Roger Bushell, a Royal Air Force fighter pilot who led the legendary great escape from a German prisoner-of-war camp, albeit tragically short-lived, which was later immortalised on film. His family’s roots ran deep in Hermanus soil, and today, Hermanus High continues to honour his memory with the Roger Bushell Trophy, awarded annually to the school’s top achiever.
Victoria Cross recipient Lance-Corporal William Henry Hewitt also holds a special place in local memory, his ashes scattered at the scenic Gearing’s Point. General Jan Smuts, wartime Prime Minister and renowned statesman, maintained strong ties with the town; his sister, Bebas Smuts, served as Mayor of Hermanus throughout much of World War II, from 1941 to 1946.
The spirit to commemorate those who served continues to thrive in modern Hermanus, exemplified by the Hermanus Sea Scouts, who took part in commemorative events on Friday and Sunday. “On Friday, they placed poppies on the crosses placed in the cemetery in remembrance of those who served,” Overstrand Municipal Manager Dean O’Neill said.
At Sunday’s service at the Cenotaph War Memorial locals and visitors alike were able to pay homage to the dead of both world wars.
