| Birth: | unknown | | Death: | Sep. 16, 1897 | 
In 1897 the II Field Company of the Schutztruppe had 50 trained local soldiers amongst their ranks. During a shooting incident on the night of 1 September 1897 soldier Richard "Tooke" Karambovandu was killed. According to Omuhonge (Missionary) Kuhlmann he was the only known Herero soldier, who was laid to rest with military honors from the mission church. He was also a highly respected mail runner between Omaruru and the coast, and most traders in Omaruru paid him their last respect. Various publications honour him with a photo as mail runner. He was also a Herero soldier in 1890 when he defended Otyimbingue (Otjimbingwe) against Nama attacks.
The trip from Omaruru to Walvis Bay took him less than three weeks, which is really fast but quite normal for him. The last moments in the life of Richard 'Tooke' Karambovandu may never be known. There is no source to tell us what really happened on that first day of September 1897. Tooke, the postal runner, was highly appreciated by all and was a part of a trained Herero unit with the Schutztruppe. He was laid to rest with military honours in the cemetery of the Rhenish Mission in Omaruru. His grave can no longer be identified because the customary wooden cross of that time did not withstand the ravages of wind and weather, or termites.
NamPost issued a stamp in his honour in 1997 100 years after his death
Note: Unmarked grave | | | Burial:
Old Rhenish Cemetery
Omaruru
Erongo, Namibia |
Created by: Naomi Snider McFadden
Record added: Feb 21, 2011
Find A Grave Memorial# 65986036 |
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Rita
Added: Jun. 8, 2012 |
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