TOPIC:

I have been given exclusive rights to investigate the skirmish that took place on 12th September 1901 between Jan Theron and the Riversdale Town Guard / District Mounted Troops and a detachment of British troops.

There is a memorial nearby which reads as follows:

Anglo-Boereoorlog
1899-1902
Die mees suidelike geveg
van die oorlog het
op 12 September 1901
hier plaasgevind

‘n Boere-kommando onder bevel van Kommandant
Jan Theron bots hier met die District Mounted
Troops en Riversdale Town Guards onder
bevel van Luitenant Smalberger en ‘n
adfdeling Britse troepe onder bevel van
Majoor Kavanagh. Die Boere was op die rantjies
Noorwes, Wes, Suidwes en Suidoos van hier.
Die Britse Troepe was in hierdie onmiddelikke
omgewing. Twee Boere, naamlik Veldkornet J.A.
van Biljon van Kroonstad en R.C.H. Tiell van
Johannesburg, word gewond. Hulle herstel
en word verban. Die Britse magte ly aansienlike
ongevalle, maar getalle is on bekend.

Other than what is written on this monument there is very little information about this skirmish. Apparently the British suffered heavy losses but a clamp on info was made by declaring Martial Law (Unconfirmed)

Has anyone come across anymore info and if so I would be grateful to hear from them

Hi

From Sheffield Daily Telegraph Oct 15 1901, but dated 20 Sep 1901

Regards

Adrian

Thanks

I have seen this reference before but note that it just refers to " another engagement took place south of Riversdale" again no more info. One of the local stories is that the British were confused by gunfire that seemed to come from a nearby hill (This hill now has the name "Echo hill") and for some reason decided not to investigate but rather turned away and rode between two other hills where they were ambushed and took heavy casualties.

The casualty rolls show 18 battle casualties for this date; 12 to Bethune's MI (6 KIA, 6 Wo) at Stoffelsburg, eastern Cape. The Boers were commanded by Smuts according to Stirling (The Colonials in South Africa 1899-1902, (1907). Stirling, John. JB Hayward & Son Suffolk 1990).

Not sure what happened around Riversdale then.

Hi
The BMI skirmish is described by Taffy & David Shearing in "General Smuts and his Long Ride", page 44.
Henk

Thanks but not the skirmish I am after - I don't think Smuts got this far down.