Whatshot

2026
All
September
2025
All
November
All
2024
All
June
All
April
All
2023
All
March
All
2022
All
2021
All
2020
All
March
All
February
All
2019
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
2018
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
2017
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2016
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2015
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
DHS
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2014
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
KZN
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2013
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2012
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All

My poor cat

My poor cat

Date: 2021-10-22

Obviously war does not only negatively impact soldiers. It also leaves a mark in the minds and hearts of civilians and sometimes civilians are part of the casualty list. Like Dr Arthur Stark of Ladysmith.

During the Siege of Ladysmith (2 November 1899-28 February 1900), Dr Stark was one of the town's physicians. He stayed at the Royal Hotel and would leave the hotel daily to keep well away from the bombardment of Long Tom shells fired off by the Boer Commando's besieging Ladysmith.

This he did until 18 November 1899 when he was seriously injured just outside the front door of the Royal Hotel. Carrying his pet cat with him, some sources say it was a kitten, he was on his way back to the Royal Hotel when a Long Tom Shell collided with his feet and ripped them right off. In that moment he lost grip of his cat and the poor feline perished in the incident. While lying hopelessly on the hotel's veranda, Dr Stark was in great pain and sought help from bystanders. He was rushed to the nearest medical facility but he did not survive. It is said that his last words were: "My poor cat".

Today, the precise spot where Dr Stark was struck by a Long Tom shell is indicated with a plaque and the bottom part of an artillery shell on the veranda of the Royal Hotel in Ladysmith.

Find its precise location on the Road Trip SA App. Download the app on Google Playstore, Appstore or on the Road Trip