Die Engelsman se graf

The Englishman's grave at Merweville

Walter Oliphant Arnot was a member of the Third South Australian Contingent during the Anglo-Boer War, a mounted unit. He was the son of a ship's doctor and was born in Essex, England, on 9 September 1860. He received his education at the Royal Naval Academy

At 19, he moved to Australia where he became foreman of a large sheep farm near Adelaide. In 1899, he joined the above-mentioned side in gelit and left for South Africa. They carried out reconnaissance trips in the Karoo and visited farms. Rumours were spread that he was fighting with the Boers. According to his travelling companions, he fell into depression and was upset. On 15 April 1902, they stopped 3km from Merweville. According to allegations, he took the gun, walked to a hill, pointed it at himself and shot. At that point, the farm owner, L.M. Botes Senior, fitted a single stone beacon. His body was transported to the village. He was buried in the original cemetery next to Koedoeskloofspruit. The grave is still cared for by the residents of Merweville. His wife, Eleanor and four children (between the ages of 4 and 9 years) were living in Tasmania at the time of his death.