Golaghat British Cemetery Explained

Golaghat British Cemetery
Body:British Cemetery 1876–1957
Commemorates:British officers of tea estates in the area, family members of owners.
Coordinates:26.5094°N 93.9662°W
Golaghat
Unveiled:1876
Total:28
Commemorated:City heritage site[1]

The Golaghat British Cemetery is a cemetery located on the premises opposite to Cally Coomer Doss & Co., adjacent to the circle office of Assam Power Distribution Company Limited at Golaghat, Assam, India. It is Assam's one of the oldest burial grounds dating back to India's pre-independence era, containing 28 burials of British officers of tea estates and their families, and is open for public viewing.[2] [3] The oldest grave in the cemetery is that of Capt. John Butler, then political agent who died at the age of 33 on January 7, 1876. Butler was one of the first British officers to lead expeditions to the Naga and Manipur hills. The cemetery also houses the grave of John Gordon McIntosh, then manager of Bukhial tea estate, who died in a plane crash on May 12, 1957. McIntosh had his own personal Aeronca chief single engine propeller airplane that he flew himself, accompanied by his German shepherd.[4]

Golaghat Municipal Board maintains the cemetery premises, including preventing any land encroachment near the cemetery.[5] [6]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: The Grave Where I Slept. 2 July 2013. Sanjib Dey.
  2. News: British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia, Statuses of cemeteries. British Association for Cemeteries in South Asia.
  3. News: British officers buried in Golaghat cemetery, The Telegraph – Calcutta – Gauhati. https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015152/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130708/jsp/northeast/story_17092583.jsp#.WHNi_raLQcg. dead. 10 January 2017. 8 July 2013. Pullock Dutta.
  4. News: Caretaker seeks UK aid for graves upkeep - British officers buried in Golaghat cemetery, The Telegraph - Calcutta - Gauhati. https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015152/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130708/jsp/northeast/story_17092583.jsp#.WHNi_raLQcg. dead. 10 January 2017. 8 July 2013. Pullock Dutta.
  5. News: Caretaker seeks UK aid for graves upkeep – British officers buried in Golaghat cemetery, The Telegraph – Calcutta – Gauhati. https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015152/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1130708/jsp/northeast/story_17092583.jsp#.WHNi_raLQcg. dead. 10 January 2017. 8 July 2013. Pullock Dutta.
  6. News: Golaghat Cemetery. 8 December 2012. Pratyush Parasar Sarma.