TOPIC:

I wonder if anyone can assist me. We bought a farm in the Montagu area in South Africa. On one of the high vantage points is a place where boulders have been accummulated. A geologist visited our area and told us that it was possibly an ambush site used during the war. We searched around and found several doppies (ammunition shells) from rifles. I would like to find out more information about this site and whether there was a historical event that took place at the Slagkloof. Many thanks, Mandy

Hi Mandy,

That sounds an intriguing question.

Can you post a map reference please?

Thank you
David

Hi David, Sorry for the long delay in replying. Would GPS Co-ordinates help:
These are our general co-ordinates, not the exact Slagkloof site.

GPS Co-ordinates:
33º 43’ 23.70" S
20º 21’ 07.84" E

Thanks
Mandy

Hi

Here are 2 pictures showing a British Fort at Montagu, built during the Anglo Boer War. It overlooks the pass and entry into the town. In the last picture this is the other side of the pass, the fort cannot be seen but is above where the road goes through the rock face, this is only for a short distance, the fort faces into the Karoo.

Took these during a visit this March.

Brian

Yes, I know this site very well. In the Montagu area, there are other sites as well. On our farm in Driekuilshoogte, there is an area where a whole lot of boulders have been collected and banked up into a raised bulkie. We have been told that this is where soldiers lay in wait for troops to move up the valley. Also the site is called Slagkloof - translation "slaughter kloof", colloquially in the Slagkloof Mountains, and so we are curious to find out the history of this and whether it was a known ambush site. We have found evidence of rusted rifle shells, which supports this theory.

Mandy

Any chace of some pictures of the site you describe and the bullet cases?

Regards
Brian