Skip to main content

South Africa

First Operational Use Of Wireless Telegraphy
Society: IEEE Main Category: Electric Sub Category: Era: 1900-1909 DateCreated: 1899-1902 Telkom Museum Capetown State: Zip: Country: South Africa Website: http://www.ieeeghn.org/wiki/index.php/Milestones:First_Operational_Use_Of_Wireless_Telegraphy,_1899-1902 Creator:

The first use of wireless telegraphy in the field occurred during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). The British Army experimented with Marconi's system and the British Navy successfully used it for communication among naval vessels in Delagoa Bay, prompting further development of Marconi's wireless telegraph system for practical uses. The Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 will be remembered as the last of the gentleman's wars, the war that marked the end of the Victorian era.

YearAdded:
1999
Image Credit: Courtesy Cardiff Council Flat Holm Project (CC BY 3.0) Image Caption: Post Office Engineers inspect Marconi's equipment on Flat Holm, May 1897 Era_date_from: 1899
Woodhead Dam
Society: ASCE Main Category: Civil Sub Category: Dams Era: 1890-1899 DateCreated: 1897 Woodhead Dam Cape Town State: Western Cape Zip: Country: South Africa Website: http://www.asce.org/Project/Woodhead-Dam/ Creator: Stewart, Thomas

With the discoveries of South Africa's diamonds in the 1860s and gold in the 1880s, immigrants flooded into Cape Town and changed it into a major commercial center. Unfortunately, its water supply had not kept pace with the population growth.  After several droughts and years of inadequate water supply, the Woodhead Tunnel was constructed between 1887 and 1891. When it failed to solve the water shortage problem, the Municipality of Cape Town determined that a dam and reservoir needed to be built.

YearAdded:
2008
Image Credit: Courtesy Flickr/Tim Fields (CC BY-ND 2.0) Image Caption: Woodhead Dam Era_date_from: 1897
Subscribe to South Africa
Woodhead Dam

With the discoveries of South Africa's diamonds in the 1860s and gold in the 1880s, immigrants flooded into Cape Town and changed it into a major commercial center. Unfortunately, its water supply had not kept pace with the population growth.  After several droughts and years of inadequate water…

Read More
First Operational Use Of Wireless Telegraphy

The first use of wireless telegraphy in the field occurred during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). The British Army experimented with Marconi's system and the British Navy successfully used it for communication among naval vessels in Delagoa Bay, prompting further development of Marconi's…

Read More

We hope you enjoyed this essay.

Please support this 70-year tradition of trusted historical writing and the volunteers that sustain it with a donation to American Heritage.

Donate

Stay informed - subscribe to our newsletter.
The subscriber's email address.