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Durban (West Street) Cemetery

  • Country South Africa
  • Total identified casualties 24 Find these casualties
  • Region Kwazulu Natal
  • Identified casualties from First & Second World War
  • GPS Coordinates Latitude: -29.85961, Longitude: 31.01404

Location information

The municipal cemetery is situated next to Theatre Street, a short street which runs parallel to and leads into West Street at its top end. To reach the cemetery travel along Smith Street away from the city centre: turn right into Brook Street, cross West Street and then right into Theatre Street.

Visiting information

The cemetery is open seven days a week from 0700 to 1700. Information concerning grave positions can be obtained at the cemetery office.

History information

Durban became a considerable hospital centre during the First World War; in May 1918, it contained No. 3 South African General Hospital, seven other hospitals and two convalescent camps, to which sick and wounded were brought from East African and other theatres of War.

During the Second World War, Durban was the embarkation and disembarkation port, first for the East African and Abyssinian campaigns and later for those in the Middle East and Italy. A large military hospital operated at Springfield and hospital ships plied between the port and the theatres of war in the north. Operational flights in protection of incoming and outgoing convoys and general anti-submarine patrols were conducted from the airfield to the south of Durban City.

Durban (West Street) Cemetery contains 12 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 11 from the Second World War.