by Allan Gordon | Aug 23, 2020 | Anniversaries, Events, South African War 1899 - 1902
On 23 August 1900 Private William Edward Heaton of the Liverpool Regiment was awarded the Victoria Cross. General Buller was advancing towards the eventual battle of Bergendal, when two companies of the Liverpool Regiment were cut off from the main force and subjected...
by Allan Gordon | Aug 23, 2020 | Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
Christian Frederick Beyers was born on 23 August 1869 and fought in the South African War with distinction. At the time of the signing of the peace treaty he had attained the rank of General. He was, together with Generals Smuts and Botha recognized as one of the...
by Allan Gordon | Aug 17, 2020 | Deaths, South African War 1899 - 1902
Jacob Louis van Deventer died on 17 August 1922 at the age of 48. He commenced his military career with the Staats Artillery and was involved in the first engagement of the South African War at Kraaipan. He then saw action, under General de la Rey at Modder River,...
by Allan Gordon | Aug 16, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Vrieskraal was a farm in the current Marble Hall district of the Eastern Transvaal (now Limpopo). On 16 August 1901 a detachment of the 19th Hussars were ambushed on the farm by a Boer commando under the command of General Muller. Five of the Hussars were killed and a...
by Allan Gordon | Aug 16, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
On 16 August 1900 Boer General de la Rey decided that the siege of Elands River, which commenced with the initial attack on the garrison on 4 August, had served its purpose, and withdrew his force. The withdrawal coincided with the arrival of the British relief force....
by Allan Gordon | Aug 12, 2020 | Deaths, South African War 1899 - 1902, Uncategorized
Major-General Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien died on 12 August 1930 aged 72. He arrived in Durban in mid-December 1899 and was put in command of the 19th Brigade. In February 1900 he was promoted to Major-General, making him one of the youngest Generals in the British...
by Allan Gordon | Aug 8, 2020 | Anniversaries, Deaths, South African War 1899 - 1902
Boer General Lukas Meyer was a member of the ZAR Volksraad and at times was sympathetic to the case of the Uitlanders. He fought in the first action of the South African War at Talana, but due to ill health was withdrawn from active service after the Battles in the...
by Allan Gordon | Aug 7, 2020 | Events, South African War 1899 - 1902
On 7 August 1900 Sergeant Brian Turner Tom Lawrence of the 17th Lancers was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery on the farm Essenbosch in the Free State, 15 km from Vredefort. He gave his horse to a wounded soldier, and then retired on foot by keeping the Boers at...
by Allan Gordon | Aug 7, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Tygerfontein was a farm south east of Potchefstroom. On 7 August 1900, Lord Methuen with his column marched from Scandinavia Drift to Tygerfontein, where they encountered General de Wet’s rear-guard. Most of de Wet’s force were still on the Free State side of the Vaal...
by Allan Gordon | Aug 6, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Baron von Steinaecker had formed a unit of ‘irregulars’ who operated in the area which is now known as the Kruger National Park. Mpisane Fort was built as a base for a detachment of this unit under the command of Captain Francis. On 6 August 1900 a commando of Boers...
