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  16 DECEMBER 1901 - CAPTURE OF GENERAL KRITZINGER

  By archie777 · Posted 5 minutes ago

  General Kritzinger invaded the Cape Colony for a third time on 15 December 1901 by crossing the Orange River at Sand Drift.   At 6 am on 16 December Doran surprised him and his small commando at breakfast and chased them westwards with Bentick’s Column joining Doran’s Column in a day long operation of pursuit with firing from the saddle.   At 6pm Kritzinger’s progress was halted by the railway line between Franschman’s Kop and Hanover Road Sidings. Kritzinger’s men managed to keep up a heavy fire on the adjoining blockhouses and their pursuers while the wires were being cut with the majority of the men succeeding in forcing a crossing.   Kritzinger himself was foremost in the action, exposing himself recklessly and returning three times to rescue wounded men. On the last occasion he himself was severely wounded through the left arm and lungs.   He managed to cross the line on his horse but when he reached his men it was realised that the severity of his wounds necessitated medical treatment, help from a British ambulance was requested and  Kritzinger surrendered
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  15 DECEMBER 1901 - ZEEKOEGAT CARNARVON DISTRICT

  By archie777 · Posted 10 minutes ago

  Cpl Dawson and Tpr Meyer of the Carnarvon DMT rode out to Zeekoegat in the district, unaware that 40 Boer Rebels under Comdt J C Naude had off-saddled there.   Shots were exchanged, Dawson was mortally wounded, and Meyer was captured. Both men were stripped, although Meyer was allowed to keep his boots.   The farm-owner, Mr van Heerden, arrived and was asked by Dawson to pray for him as he was dying. Dawson’s ring was given to Meyer to hand over to a friend.   After the Boers left, Van Heerden took Dawson’s body to Carnarvon for burial.
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  9 DECEMBER 1901 - LEEUWENDRIFT

  By archie777 · Posted 13 minutes ago

  “Covering the egregious siege of Tontelboschkolk was Louw, Maritz’s former confederate, and Doran, surprising him on his last day’s march towards the post, scattered the commando and took nine prisoners.” “Official History”, Vol V, Grant p363.   Eben Nel in “Die Kaapse Rebelle van die Hantam-Karoo” covers the incident in great detail. The Boers were blissfully unaware of the proximity of Doran’s column. Some 30 horses were grazing in the wheat fields with a number of youngsters, the majority unarmed, were looking after them.   At approximately 10 am, when Louw and his mounted men were about to leave on patrol, the British charged. The Boers managed to charge through the British line and escaped but had to leave the horse guards and some 30 horses behind.   Vice, the Intelligence Agent at Calvinia, reported on 18 December 1901: “…At Leeuwendrift Johannes Loubser of Wilgenbosch, a Calvinia Rebel, was dangerously wounded on 9th by Col Doran’s Column. He will probably not recover. 7 prisoners were also captured….”   The 14-year-old Loubser did not survive and died on 17 December. However, he managed to make a declaration under oath on 16 December, detailing what happened when the 8 horse guards, riding bareback,  tried to evade capture.   He was forced off his horse by an “Engilsman” and stood unarmed with raised hands. His captor robbed him of his knife and other items and then shot him. As he lay on the ground, he heard the man re-loading, but was not shot again. The next afternoon he managed to start walking, looking for help.  He reached De Puts on 12 December and on 14 December managed to send a messenger to Mr van der Merwe of Brandwacht who was the member of the Legislative Assembly for Calvinia.   Van der Merwe sent a carriage to bring Loubser to Brandwacht and took his declaration, which is still in the Calvinia Museum.
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  30 NOVEMBER 1901 - VICTORIA SPRUIT

  By archie777 · Posted 20 minutes ago

  Towards the end of November 1901 Rimington received information that a Boer Council of War was convened by De Wet and he decided to move with all troops within reach to the scene of the “Krygsraad”.   The fighting force moved rapidly but two convoys under Major Bennett of the NSWMR lagged behind. At dawn on the 30th November the convoys were attacked on 3 sides by some 500 men under De Wet.   A hot fight raged round a commanding hill which was charged by a troop of the Inniskillings under Lieut Oliver. Oliver was killed and the troop driven off, but a squadron of New South Wales MR retook the position.   At this point Rimington and the main body arrived and easily dispersed the Boer force.
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  Spectacular group from 6 states...

  By Chris Boonzaier · Posted 20 minutes ago

  Nope, just the award docs. The bar would have been sexy!