by Allan Gordon | Oct 11, 2020 | Anniversaries, South African War 1899 - 1902
The ultimatum issued to Britain on 9 October 1899 expired with Britain’s response ending “the conditions are impossible to discuss”. President Steyn of the Free State Republic addressed his fellow burghers with the words “our sister Republic is about to be attacked by...
by Allan Gordon | Oct 10, 2020 | Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
Stephanus Johannes Paulus (Paul) Kruger was born on 10 October 1825 in the Eastern Cape and took part in the Great Trek as a child. His family settled in the Western Transvaal and in his early life he played a prominent role in the forging of the South African...
by Allan Gordon | Oct 9, 2020 | Anniversaries, South African War 1899 - 1902
At 5 pm on 9 October 1899 the Boers issued a four point ultimatum to Britain with an expiry date of 11 October 1899 at 5 pm. Three of the points related to British troops in, and bound for South Africa. Britain had been anticipating hostilities in the Transvaal /...
by Allan Gordon | Oct 7, 2020 | Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
General Christiaan Rudolf de Wet was born in the district of Smithfield in the Boer Republic of the Orange Free State on 7 October 1854. He was involved in the Anglo-Boer War of 1880–81, serving as a field cornet. He saw action at the Battle of Majuba Hill where the...
by Allan Gordon | Oct 5, 2020 | Anniversaries, Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
Meyer de Kock was an ordinary Burgher and respected businessman in Belfast when the South African War (1899-1902) was declared. He was part of a commando which guarded railway bridges in the Eastern Transvaal. After the British had captured Pretoria and annexed...
by Allan Gordon | Oct 4, 2020 | Anniversaries, Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
Boer General Pieter Arnoldus Cronje was born in the Cape on 4 October 1836 and travelled with his family as part of the Great Trek to the Transvaal. He was involved in the Siege of Potchefstroom during the First Boer War (1880-1881) and commanded the Boer force that...
by Allan Gordon | Oct 2, 2020 | Anniversaries, Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
The President of the Orange Free State Republic, Martinus Theunis Steyn was born on 2 October 1857 on a farm in the Winburg district of the Free State. He studied law in London and, having qualified, returned to South Africa to practice his trade. He entered politics...
by Allan Gordon | Sep 30, 2020 | Anniversaries, Birthday, South African War 1899 - 1902
Frederick Sleigh Roberts was born on 30 September 1832 in India, the son of a British General who was serving in that country at the time. He was sent out to South Africa in December of 1899, after a number of defeats suffered by the British, and became the last...
by Allan Gordon | Sep 30, 2020 | Battles, South African War 1899 - 1902
Moedwil was a farm about 25 km west of Rustenburg, and Colonel Kekewich who was scouting for Boers in the area, camped on the farm on 29 September 1901. The camp was not ideally situated as it was visible over miles of flat terrain, and was bordered on the one side by...
by Allan Gordon | Sep 29, 2020 | Deaths, South African War 1899 - 1902
Lieutenant-Colonel Mahon died in Ireland on 29 September 1930 aged 68. During the South African War (1899-1902) he commanded a flying column of 2 000 men consisting mainly of South African volunteers from Kimberley, seeing action in the battles to relieve Mafeking....
