20 DECEMBER 1901 - NEAR DOORN RIVER

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A convoy of 50 waggons left Clanwilliam on 19 December with supplies for Calvinia. They were escorted by the columns of Lt-Col P G Wyndham and Lt-Col E M S Crabbe, each with 2 guns of the 88th Bty RFA.

 

On 20 December, as the convoy started the descent to the Doorn River on the farm Elizabethfontein, they were shot at by men from the Theron and Smith Rebel Commandos. The convoy hurried to the river, unaware that an ambush had been set up there by men under the two Rebel Commandants Pypers.

 

As the first waggons crossed the river the Rebels caused consternation with concentrated rifle fire but before the British guns could be brought into action, the Rebels retreated in a north-westerly direction.

 

On the Boer side 4 men were slightly wounded. The British had 3 men killed, 4 subsequently died of wounds and 5 were wounded