My Father Graham Opperman's 1947 Mine Photographs

[Richard Opperman]

Hi All,
Here are some photographs I found that were taken of the mine when my father first came to Oranjemund.

My father first arrived in Oranjemund in about 1947, after completing his Second World War military duty as submariner seconded to the Royal Navy and based in Freemantle/Perth Australia and torpedoing the Japs in the Far East.

He left Oranjemund in 1948 and moved to Tsumeb in northern Namibia, where he met and married my mother Ria. Elizabeth, Cathy, and I were born in Tsumeb.

In 1956, we moved to Walvis Bay, where my brother Gary was born in 1957. In 1961, we moved back to Oranjemund.   

The first photograph is of an old screening plant, somewhere south of 4 Plant.

The second is of the old Diesel Loco workshop, also south of 4 plant.

The third is of another screening plant.

The fourth is of one of the first excavators used on the mine which were mounted on old Sherman tank chassis, note the old truck to the right standing next to a, I think power station?

The fifth is of a more advanced screening plant, note the old coco pans in the top left corner.

The sixth is of a new diesel loco shed they were building in 1947.

Some more history in the making.

Keep well.
Richard

 

[Richard Opperman]

AND finally two more!

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Thanks Richard for sharing those historical pictures....great stuff

[Diana Rudd (Boehme)]

Very Nice pictures for this Forum Richard.

[SandyB]

Stunning bit of history ...

[Michael Alexander]

EXcellent stuff Richard, most excellent     

[Richard Opperman]

Found another photograph of my fahter's first time in Oranjemund in 1947.

All the above photographs were taken by my father in 1947 and sent to his mother in Johannesburg.
When my granmother passed away in 1985 they came back to my father, then to me in 1987, when my father passed away.

This photograph was taken of the Oranjemund single quarters - note the power station (marked x) where my father work in 1947.

[georgswa (Georg Ruf) (RIP)]

Great Document
Thanks
Richard

[Michael Alexander]

Just bringing this topic to the fore again, some good old snaps in here.... 

[Charles Scheepers]

I was born too late......

[Michael Alexander]

Still find Richard's pics of the town fascinating to look at..... way in the beginning....