Visitor Blog
Unknown author - The British South Africa Company Historical Catalogue & Souvenir of Rhodesia, Empire Exhibition, Johannesburg, 1936–37
Lieutenant Edward Tyndale-Biscoe hoists the Union Jack on the kopje overlooking Fort Salisbury on the morning of 13 September 1890. The day of the column's arrival, 12 September, was a national holiday between 1920 and 1979.
The Pioneer Column of the British South Africa Company reached the site of Fort Salisbury on 12 September 1890, which was celebrated from 1920 as Pioneers' Day. The next morning, at 10 am on 13 September 1890, a full dress parade of the column was held. The seven-pounder gun fired a royal salute and Canon Balfour said a prayer as the column's Lieutenant Edward Tyndale-Biscoe hoisted the flag atop the kopje overlooking the site of the future capital, Salisbury.
And...if you believed they put a man on the moon...
Not Rhodesia, of course..... but the United States...on July 20,1969.
That same night, a very lonely 10 year old was traveling from Salisbury deep into the bush for school term holidays. His parents had, some time before, gifted him with a battery powered portable shortwave radio receiver. With an ear glued to the speaker and the antenna poking through an open window he listened to every update as described on the Voice of America. His imagination was ignited by a beautiful Southern African night moon overhead and with very little difficulty he was transported to the landing and shared that first step on the moon with Neil Armstrong and countless thousands across the globe.
Welcome to the Internet home of Rhodesia, Africa
There are MANY very fine websites, resources and blogs that offer a connection to the unique nation that was Rhodesia. The editorial team of this website will not pretend to supplant, nor improve on any of those.
Our hope is to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of what Rhodesia was, and to preserve, where possible, the best of that country and time.
Acknowledging that the history of man is necessarily political, a central objective of this website is to be an apolitical testament to an extraordinary time and people, believing that much may be learned and gained by understanding the successes and shortcomings of this nation.
Welcome, and we look forward to hearing from you.
The editorial staff
© copyrights attributed where known