by Allan Gordon | Jun 12, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
After the fall of Pretoria on 5 June 1900 and the subsequent meeting of the senior Boer Generals, the defensive line east of Pretoria was prepared by the Boers from which they hoped to stop the British advance. The position covered 40 km, with the...
by Allan Gordon | Jun 11, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
General Buller’s advance to the Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga) was progressing according to plan. Botha’s Pass had been cleared on 8 June 1900, and the Boers had retreated from their position at Laing’s Nek having first destroyed the tunnel on the pass. ...
by Allan Gordon | Jun 10, 2020 | Anniversaries, Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
Commandant Jan Kemp was born on 10 June 1872. As a young Burgher he was part of the commando that halted the Jameson Raiders at Doornkop in 1896. At the outbreak of the South African War he saw action in Natal. When the Guerrilla Phase of the war started he saw...
by Allan Gordon | Jun 8, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Botha’s Pass, about 25 km north west of Newcastle, was named after Commandant-General Botha’s grandfather who had farmed in the area. General Buller, who was making his way with his force to the Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga) surprised the Boer Commandos...
by Allan Gordon | Jun 7, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Boer Commandant de Wet, who was active in the Northern Free State, decided to split his force into three and to attack three British positions on 7 June 1900. All three positions were stations on the Bloemfontein-Vereeniging railway line, south west of the current...
