PE : The Drill Hall

Walking up Castle Hill in Port Elizabeth we reached the Prince Alfred’s Guard Drill Hall.
The Drill Hall was opened in 1882 and the first floor was added in 1893.  It is the headquarters of the Prince Alfred’s Guard Regiment (PAG).  It was declared a National Monument in 21 February 1992.
The PAG Regiment is one of the oldest volunteer regiments in South Africa.  It started as the Port Elizabeth Volunteer Rifle Corps in 1856.  The name changed in 1860 when they provided protection for Prince Alfred (Queen Victoria’s son) when he visited Port Elizabeth.
The Victorian style Drill Hall houses the regimental museum and military exhibits.  It is open to visitors when it is convenient for the staff and there is no entry fee.  It was open when we visited and we went inside for a look.

Some of the items on display:

Queen Victoria’s Jubilee Parade
A painting from photographs of the parade in Port Elizabeth on 21 June 1887 for Queen Victoria’s 60 years of “Glorious Reign” with some information about the celebrations
“Miracle Cannon”
A bronze cannon from the Sacramento shipwreck was discovered in 1978.  The cannon was on board the ship when it wrecked in 1647.  The cannon weighs about 4 tons and is 3.7m long
Honour Rolls
Various honour rolls for men who served in the different wars are on display.  There is also information and photographs about the Frontier Wars, The Bechuanaland Campaign and other wars.

For information about the PAG you can read on the Villigae Idiot blog.
Location: 14 Prospect Hill, Port Elizabeth 6001, South Africa

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