by Allan Gordon | May 4, 2020 | Anniversaries, South African War 1899 - 1902
Born on 4 May 1866, Captain W.E. Gordon was in his early 30’s when he arrived in South Africa to fight in the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). He was part of the force sent to relieve Kimberley, and saw action at the Battle of Magersfontein in December 1899, where he was...
by Allan Gordon | Apr 30, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
After the Siege of Wepener, the Boers were moving northwards, with the British in pursuit. The Boers had reached Thaba Nchu, a mountainous area, some 60 km east of Bloemfontein. Tobo Mountain (referred to as Thaba in Captain Towse’s V.C. citation) was well defended by...
by Allan Gordon | Apr 25, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
On 25 April 1900 Colonel Ian Hamilton left Sannah’s Post to join up with Major-General French’s force who were on their way to Thaba Nchu to cut off the Boers progress after their evacuation from Wepener. Israel’s Poort was a farm on the road between Bloemfontein...
by Allan Gordon | Apr 24, 2020 | Battles, Events, South African War 1899 - 1902
On this day the Siege of Wepener, which had lasted for 16 days, was about to be lifted. The Boer Commandos who supported General de Wet’s force of over 6 000 Boers were under the command of Commandants Wessels, Haasbroek, de Villiers and Olivier, and during the...
by Allan Gordon | Apr 23, 2020 | Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
Michael Frederic Rimington was born on this day in 1858 and was sent to South Africa a few months before the outbreak of the South African War. He raised a local unit of irregular mounted men who were known as Rimington’s Guides. The unit was involved in the Relief of...
by Allan Gordon | Apr 22, 2020 | Events, South African War 1899 - 1902
Neither the Boers or the British were making any ‘headway’ at the engagement at Wakkerstroom (refer Blog 20 April). On 22 April 1900 the Derbyshire’s were making their way to the shelter of a farm, when Corporal Beets realised a fellow soldier had been wounded. He...
by Allan Gordon | Apr 22, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Leeuwkop was a farm mid-way between Bloemfontein and Dewetsdorp, on the road connecting the towns. Boer General Lemmer had positioned himself strategically to offer protection to Boer convoys making their way to Thaba Nchu as well as to delay the advance of the...
by Allan Gordon | Apr 20, 2020 | Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
At the commencement of the South African War Kritzinger was a Burgher in the Rouxville commander. When the Commandant of the Rouxville commando was taken prisoner, Kritzinger was elected Commandant of the Rouxville Commando. Kritzinger then joined forces with General...
by Allan Gordon | Apr 20, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Towards the end of the Siege of Wepener, Lieutenant-General Rundle became aware of Boers on the farm Wakkerstroom, on the road between Dewetsdorp and Wepener. An effort was made that night to dislodge the Boers and during the course of the action Lieutenant Nickerson...
by Allan Gordon | Apr 19, 2020 | Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
General Coen Brits was a huge man standing 6 foot 6 inches tall and became a very close friend of General Louis Botha after Botha rescued him when his horse had been shot and he became tangled in barbed wire. Initially with the Wakkerstroom Commando, he took part in...
