On 1 June 1773, Wolraad Woltemade braved the cold Cape winter waters with his horse Vonk to come to the aid of the stranded crew of the VOC ship, De Jonge Thomas. Fourteen members of the ship’s crew were rescued after braving the waves seven times. On his eighth attempt, the ship finally sank, and six of the remaining sailors clinging to the wreck frantically tried to cling to Woltemade and his horse. By this time both were exhausted, and disappeared under the waves. The next morning, the bodies of Woltemade and Vonk were found on the beach. Now, more than 200 years after his heroic deed, the name Wolraad Woltemde is still synonymous with selfless sacrifice for your fellow man and bravery.
“The Hero Woltemade”
Wolraad Woltemade was of German descent, but joined the V.O.C & worked as a dairy farmer at the Cape. On the evening of the incident, he & Vonk were on their way to take food for his son, Corporal Christiaan Woltemade (he was a soldier in the service of the V.O.C). Woltemade was 65 years old when he did the impossible & gave his life to save 14 crew members from the doomed ship. After his death, a V.O.C ship was named after him (De Held Woltemade), and the highest civilian award was the Woltemade Decoration for Bravery (gold & silver) between 1970-1988, and was replaced with the Woltemade Cross for Bravery (gold & silver) which were awarded up to and including 2002. The latter’s recipient could use the letters “WD” post-nominally. A statue depicting Woltemade on Vonk can be seen in front of the Woltemade Station in Cape Town. “Papendorp, also known as Woodstock” Woltemade’s heroic deed took place in the cold waters opposite what is today known as the neighbourhood, Woodstock in Cape Town (at that time the residential area was still called Papendorp). The current coat of arms of Woodstock contains images of this event, in the form of a sinking ship (which refers to the De Jonge Thomas), as well as a man on a horse in the water, representing Woltemade & Vonk.
Valhalla Woltemade T-Shirt Grey
R399.00 – R420.00
Description
On 1 June 1773, Wolraad Woltemade braved the cold Cape winter waters with his horse Vonk to come to the aid of the stranded crew of the VOC ship, De Jonge Thomas. Fourteen members of the ship’s crew were rescued after braving the waves seven times. On his eighth attempt, the ship finally sank, and six of the remaining sailors clinging to the wreck frantically tried to cling to Woltemade and his horse. By this time both were exhausted, and disappeared under the waves. The next morning, the bodies of Woltemade and Vonk were found on the beach. Now, more than 200 years after his heroic deed, the name Wolraad Woltemde is still synonymous with selfless sacrifice for your fellow man and bravery.
“The Hero Woltemade”
Wolraad Woltemade was of German descent, but joined the V.O.C & worked as a dairy farmer at the Cape. On the evening of the incident, he & Vonk were on their way to take food for his son, Corporal Christiaan Woltemade (he was a soldier in the service of the V.O.C). Woltemade was 65 years old when he did the impossible & gave his life to save 14 crew members from the doomed ship. After his death, a V.O.C ship was named after him (De Held Woltemade), and the highest civilian award was the Woltemade Decoration for Bravery (gold & silver) between 1970-1988, and was replaced with the Woltemade Cross for Bravery (gold & silver) which were awarded up to and including 2002. The latter’s recipient could use the letters “WD” post-nominally. A statue depicting Woltemade on Vonk can be seen in front of the Woltemade Station in Cape Town. “Papendorp, also known as Woodstock” Woltemade’s heroic deed took place in the cold waters opposite what is today known as the neighbourhood, Woodstock in Cape Town (at that time the residential area was still called Papendorp). The current coat of arms of Woodstock contains images of this event, in the form of a sinking ship (which refers to the De Jonge Thomas), as well as a man on a horse in the water, representing Woltemade & Vonk.
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