Magaliesberg Snippets
June to December 1900
Stan & Desiré Kantor
The following report has been reprinted from ‘Artefacts”, a publication of the Transvaal Branch, South African Archaeological Society, with permission of both the editor and the writer.
Additional information and photos have been added by the authors of ‘Snippets’ to broaden the subject and readers should also refer to the Magaliesberg Snippets ‘Fortifications on the Mountains’ published in the December 2005 issue of the East Rand Hiking Club’s Newsletter.
Magaliesberg, South African War and battlefields (13 April 2010)
With Vincent Carruthers, authority on the Magaliesberg and author of the book of the same name
The Archaeological Society group met at an outlook on Barton's Folly along the Magaliesberg. Vincent Carruthers pointed out the geological features in the surrounding landscape and introduced us to aspects of life and historical events along that part of the Magaliesberg. He explained that the history of this area had always been deeply integrated with its geology, which together with a specific combination of factors, including altitude, rainfall and temperature had enabled the development of its particularly diverse vegetation, while the deep valleys provided sheltered enclaves where specific plant communities flourished. Given the diversity of plant and animal life in such a concentrated area it also became a draw card for early explorers, including Cornwallis Harris and Charles Bell, who travelled as part of Sir Andrew Smith's expedition in 1839.
Vincent explained that the Magaliesberg fell within the Bankenveld as far as its vegetation was concerned. The mountain range marked the parting of the Dry Highveld Grassland bioregion to the south and west, the Central Bushveld bioregion to the north and the Mesic Highveld Grassveld region to the east. Further south lay the Witwatersberg, the edge of an uplifted sea. The wide valleys between the parallel hills of the Magaliesberg had formed as a result of differentiated weathering of the upturned alternating quartzite and shale-rich geological layers of the Pretoria Group of the Transvaal Supergroup. The valleys resulted from the rapid weathering of the shale-rich layers.
The Magaliesberg had become the preferred habitat and served as the meeting place of different peoples in archaeological and historical times. This desirable landscape had invariably also become a contested region and had witnessed many battles, and had also harboured conflict when the first white colonist settled there. British garrisons marched to Pretoria along these valleys during the First Anglo-Boer War of 1880-1881, while the Magaliesberg also saw much activity during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). The battle of Nooitgedacht on 13 December 1900 took place at our meeting place, one of the highest points in the Magaliesberg. Here the Boer forces attacked and defeated the British while they were awaiting re-enforcement. Subsequently, enormous forces were deployed under Lord Roberts and in six months they had forced back the Boers. Times were tough and there was great dejection among the Boer forces, with many men returning to their farms.
During the first Magaliesberg skirmish, prior to the surrender of Pretoria, It was related that 4 000 men had left Robert's main column for Diepsloot, where they camped on 2 June 1900. The next day they were attacked during their crossing of the Crocodile River. Although the Boers lost the battle, they got away with the ambulance wagon, slowing down the march to Pretoria, which fell on 5 June. The Boer forces reorganised into smaller units after having decided to go back to war. It was said that the aim was not so much to win the war, but to get a better deal. On 11 July the Boers were ready to take on the British once again.
Dorian-Smith was taking a column to Rustenburg, intending to join the Scots Greys under Lord Roberts. The battle of Dwarsvlei ensued at the place where Maropeng lies today. The British took their mounted guns too close to the front and could therefore not fire on the Boers. The Boers shot out the draft animals, 14 of the gunners were wounded and Dorian Smith's column was trapped. However, Gen. Sarel Oosthuizen (die 'Rooi Bul') was badly wounded when he charged right into the British camp. The British, who eventually had to pull out their guns by hand, then headed for Olifantsnek, still with the objective of bringing about the release of Rustenburg.
The severity of the war intensified now with Lords Roberts and Kitchener introducing a `scorched earth' policy in a drive to cut off supplies of the Boer commandos. The Transvalers became dubious about continuing the war and President Paul Kruger had escaped Pretoria by train for Machadodorp. However, President Martinus Steyn of the Orange Free State and General Piet de Wet had managed to escape encirclement at Brandwater with 2600 men by slipping through Major-General Bruce Hamilton's forces. On the British side, Andrew Barton, in an effort to establish an administrative structure within the turmoil of war, created a network of forts, of which the fortified structure we visited at Barton's Folly formed part. The structure is in good condition and provided a good backdrop to Vincent's fascinating overview of the history of the area. It is a well-built stone structure with a roof of steel beams and concrete. This fort was manned right up to the end of the war. It predates the so-called Rice forts that were constructed of two layers of corrugated iron with an infill of stones and a corrugated iron roof.
Vincent explained that as an English-speaking person in southern Africa you were obliged to go to war. This was a drama one could not escape. Many documented and undocumented stories related to the lives of the Saunders, Heinz and Jenning families, and the exceptional adventures of Sarah Heckford. In this context, Vincent pointed to the nearby Nooitgedacht farmhouse that dated to 1864 and was the first house outside Pretoria to have had glazed windows.
The drama was not over. General Koos de la Rey held the Magaliesberg for some time and Jan Smuts came there as a fighting general. The mountain range was the backdrop to many layers of military and historic intrigue, including those related to 'hensoppers' or 'hands-uppers'. The highlight occurred when the Boers stopped and cleared a mule-train filled with Christmas delicacies for British forces. These and other stories continue to echo through the Magaliesberg.
Report by Anna Steyn
Nooitgedacht
The British column of Maj-Gen R.A.P. Clements encamped at Nooitgedacht with about 1500 men, 9 guns and more than 100 wagons. A steep gully gave access to the top of the mountain where a signalling corps and picket guards of about 150 men were posted on either side of the ravine.
With a force of 2500 burgers, the site was attacked by the combined commandos of Generals Koos de la Rey, Beyers and Jan Smuts. The attack was launched at 03h30. By 07h00 the Boers were in control of the summit and firing relentlessly into the camp below, The British casualties were 109 men killed, 186 wounded and at least 358 prisoners. The Boers captured 70 wagons loaded with supplies, 200 tents, 700 horses and mules, about 500 trek oxen and a huge supply of ammunition.
(1) The first British incursion into the Magaliesberg began on 2nd June 1900. The Cavalry, under Gen. French, had orders to make a wide sweep on the westward side over the Crocodile River, where he was fiercely attacked on the ground where his troops could not deploy but with extreme coolness and judgment, he beat off the enemy. On 4th June he had already crossed the Magaliesberg and established himself on the north of Pretoria at Onderstepoort.
(2) DIAMOND HILL (DONKERHOEK) 11 June.
After the fall of Pretoria, Gen Louis Botha remained in the Magaliesberg with a core of 5000 men, guarding the East Railway Line. Eventually Lord Roberts sent 14000 men to destroy this remnant of Boer resistance.
The sequence of the Magaliesberg battles and skirmishes are as follows:
- Gen. French crosses the Magaliesberg 2nd – 4th June 1900
- The Battle of Diamond Hill, 11th June 1900
- Dwarsvlei, 11th July, 1900
- Silkaatsnek, 11th July, 1900
- Onderstepoort, 19th July, 190
- Olifantsnek, 21st July, 1900
- De Wet’s Escape 6 – 20th Aug. 1900
- Skirmish at Commando Nek 18th Aug 1900
- British occupy the MAGALIESBERG – Sept. 1900
- Buffelspoort, 3rd Dec. 1900
- Nooigedacht, 13th Dec, 1900
Details of these events can be found in the following books:
‘The Great Boer War’ – Arthur Conan Doyle; ‘The Boer War’ – Thomas Pakenham; ‘The War Reporter’ – J.E.H. Grobler; ‘The Three Year War’ – Gen Christiaan de Wet; and ‘The Magaliesberg ‘– Vincent Carruthers.
Gen. Oosthuizen, the victor of Dwarsvlei, died of his wounds on August 14th. A true ‘fighting general’ he had seen action in a number of campaigns against rebellious black communities; the Jameson Raid; Talana; the Capture of an armoured train at
Chievely; Colenso; Spioenkop; Donkerhoek and Dwarsvlei.
An interesting insight into the personal views of a British officer can be found in the book ‘Boer War’ – Nicolas Riall. It comprises the letters, diaries and photographs of his grandfather, Malcolm Riall and pertains to some of the battles and places in the Magaliesberg mentioned in the above article. He was with the 2nd Battalion, The Prince of Wales Own (West Yorkshire Regiment).
Extracted is one of the letters sent home, referring to Gen. De Wet, dated 26th August 1900.
My dear Claud,
This is the rottenest part of the campaign. You might of course join in the general amusement of ‘chasing de Wet’ Isn’t it ridiculous making unfortunate infantry footslog after a man on a horse, every man with De Wet by the way has a spare horse. There is a lie going that someone asked De Wet what he was running about like this for and he replied that the British had taken over his country and he wanted to let them see a little of it. Personally I have seen quite enough already. There are lots of yarns going about De Wet. Here is another. When he let the Yeomanry that he captured go, he said to them ‘I can get plenty of you any day, you can go’ and when he let the Derby Militia go he said ‘Well you are of no use to me and you are less use to Lord Roberts so you can go’. We all think De Wet a thorough sportsman and treat the whole thing as a joke but all the same marching about 20 miles a day for a fortnight on end is no joke at all. We are longing to be back with Buller again, they do so rottenly this side. No canteens, no comforts of any kind, very little clothing even. Buller went slow but he went sure and camp life was very comfortable and nice. Everyone agrees that Buller is the best man out here to serve under.
Your affectionate brother
Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.
And it is the youth who must inherit the tribulations,
the sorrow and the triumphs that are the aftermath of war.’
- Herbert Clark Hoover (1944)
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