8 – 25 APRIL - WEPENER SIEGE

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“The enemy then occupied Dewetsdorp, while a considerable force attacked Wepener, where a column of Colonial troops, under Lieutenant-Colonel Dalgety had arrived a few days previously.

 

Retiring from the town to a defensible position 3 miles to the west, which commanded an important bridge over the Caledon River, Lieutenant-Colonel Dalgety entrenched his force and for 16 days he succeeded in keeping the Boers in check, despite the fact that they far outnumbered the small body of about 1,600 men under his command, and had also a considerable superiority in artillery, under pressure from the south and west caused them to withdraw northward along the Basutoland border.”
Roberts’ Despatch of 21 May 1900, London Gazette 8 February 1901.

The position assigned by Dalgety to the Cape Mounted Riflemen in the defences was the most exposed, facing an open plain. This was De Wet’s primary target with his attacks on 9 April, in which the CMR  suffered 6 killed and 25 wounded later in the evening of 10 April 1900 a further 5 killed and 27 wounded.

Pte Cornille (Corneville, as recorded in “Record of the Cape Mounted Riflemen” by Basil Williams and as Cornell in Orange River Colony Graves Register), was dangerously wounded on 10 April 1900. 

He died on 14 May 1900: according to Basil Williams this happened at Mafeteng, across the Caledon River in Basutoland. He is buried near Jammersberg Drift, Wepener.

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DCM (Edw VII): Serjt.-Maj. Roberts. Cape M.R. Art. Tr.;
1914/15 Star & BWM: Lieut. G.P. Roberts R.F.A. (Late issue small font naming);
AVM: Lieut. G.P. Roberts (original font naming). DCM: VF; Trio: 

George Peskett Roberts served in the Artillery Troop of the Cape Mounted Riflemen up to 13 November 1901 and from 14 November 1901 to the end of the war as Captain, “D” Squadron, Cape Colonial Forces.

 

He was awarded 4-clasp QSA off the roll of the CMR and a 2-clasp KSA of the CCF roll.

“During the stay at Aliwal North (Mid-March 1900) the Division was inspected by Sir Alfred Milner and at the inspection Brabant’s Horse was presented with a 14 pdr. Q.F. Hotchkiss gun, with ammunition, donated by Mr. A. Beit. Brabant’s Horse having no gunners the Hotchkiss was, at first, operated by the Artillery Troop of the C.M.R. Capt. Lukin immediately got busy and put Sgt. G P Roberts in charge, placing him and a squad of troopers from Brabant’s Horse through a course of instruction.

 

Capt. Lukin’s efforts paid good dividends for during the siege of Wepener some of the best shooting was the work of this detachment. Sgt. Roberts was a most efficient gunner and his work during the siege brought credit to himself and his detachment.” 

“A Story of the Cape Mounted Riflemen” by Major A E Lorch.

 

“Sergt.-Major G. P. Roberts was also awarded the D.C.M., not only for conspicuous gallantry shown on several occasions, but especially for the manner in which he handled the 13-pounder Hotchkiss gun of which he was in charge.”
“Record of the Cape Mounted Riflemen” by Basil Williams.

“I wish to bring to your notice the names of Sergeant Roberts, Privates Rawlings and Robarts, and Trumpeter Washington of the Cape Mounted Rifles, Private Thorn of the Royal Scots, and Private Anderson of 2nd Brabant’s Horse, who all performed acts of bravery in bringing in wounded comrades 
under a very heavy fire”.
Report by Lt-Col E H Dalgety on Siege of Wepener, LG 8 February 1901, p887.

A “double award” of the DCM to Roberts was published in the LG of 27 September 1901: viz. to Sergeant-Major Roberts, Artillery Troop as well as to Sergeant G P Roberts.

 

This mistake was later rectified. During WWI Roberts served as Lieutenant in 61 Howitzer Battery, RFA and died of wounds 
on 26 April 1916. His MIC makes no mention of a later duplicate issue of his WWI Trio.