TOPIC:

I hold a great interest in Prince Alfred’s Own Cape Artillery, and the later CO Neil Orpen’s book (Gunner’s of the Cape, 1965) had been of immense value to my research into them, and I’ve been trying to figure out the location of Fouche’s Farm, in which an action took place, the first for the Cape Artillerymen, lasting six hours with them firing 160 rounds. I have been reading Neil Orpen’s book, and an account on page 3 of The Herald (31st May 1900) is the only one of which I know about, written by a reporter attached to Brabant’s Colonial Division. The action took place on the 24th April, the day prior to the relief of Wepener. A previous action took place at Boesmanskop just some few miles behind the farm, which the Cape Artillery were held in reserve and were not called up.

The casualty rolls list the following for the action at Fouche’s Farm, remarked as “Foucher’s Farm” on the 24th April 1900:


2nd Brabant’s Horse -


Trpr. H. Boniface Slightly Wounded

Trpr. JT White “”do””

Trpr. CJ Clarke “”do””

Trpr. C. Rowe Killed in Action - [Shot in Head] - This man was an officer' servant as confirmed in the Herald account

Trpr. J. Watt. Slightly Wounded


Border Horse -


Pte. AC Geyle Missing in Action

Pte. WW Hay “”do””

4126 Pte J. Keating of the 1st Royal Scot’s, is reported missing the following day at Foucher’s Farm.

Using both Neil Orpen's Book, the Herald account (which I have posted in my PAOCA post), and the casualty rolls have led me to constructing the route that PAOCA took from their departure at Aliwal North days earlier, making thier way up to Boesmanskop on the 21st, Fouche's Farm on the 24th, Wepener on the 25th, and all the way up to Dewetsdorp and through Thaba Nchu, before arriving at Hammonia on the 25th May.

the following is taken from the Herald account:

“Next morning reports were brought in again by the scouts that the enemy had taken up a position at Fouche’s Farm, notwithstanding their heavy defeat of the previous day. It may be mentioned that in going over their position undoubted evidences were found of numerous casualties. The march was resumed, abundant supplies of forage being obtained from the farmhouses along the way, many of which were altogether deserted. General Brabant pitched his camp in the after-noon on the northern slope of the rise near the kopje’s occupied by the Boer’s at Fouche’s. Pickets were posted on all the commanding kopje’s around. General Hart’s Infantry came up later and camped alongside.”

The map I have attached is a zoomed in version of a map of Cape Colony, which also includes part of the OVS, and was taken from 'Colonial Continents Sent to South Africa' The original scale is 40 miles to 1 inch but unfortunately it wont let me attach it here.

If anyone could help shed further light I would be most grateful.






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