TOPIC:

Hi Henk,

This map is taken from Birkin's 'History of the 3rd Battalion Imperial Yeomanry'. Interestingly the place is indicated as 'Drifontein' and 'Dreifontein' near Boshof. The presence of the dam may help you in your search. Villebois-Mareuil's position seems to have indeed been on a kopje.

There is also a photograph of your man marching into captivity!

Best wishes,

Justin

I'm not sure why but the site won't let me upload the files and says contact site owner - Fatal Error detected!

So I have sent them to you!

J

1900 - Diary of the siege of Mafeking by Edward Ross

Thursday, 5 April

Early in the morning enemy could be seen running out two guns in the direction of Jackal’s Tree, which a little later on opened fire on some of our cattle, and then on Major Godley’s fort at our south-western outpost; they also trained a gun on the same place from Game Tree, but although they kept up the shelling for some considerable time, did no damage. During the rest of the day everything was very quiet.

The warning bell rang once or twice but it was only because some of the enemy were hanging about the breach of the gun, The 'big ’un” has not fired now for 8 or 9 days and everybody goes about their business as if nothing was happening. If we could only get a bit of decent bread we should be quite happy.

Frank Smitheman goes out again this evening, and it is to be hoped he gets through all right.

Commenced to rain about three o’clock this afternoon, and continued until late into the night.

Pitch-dark it would be an ideal night for a bayonet charge. I am afraid if we had European troops outside us, our lot would not be so happy.

From the diary of Lance Corporal Luke Gormley, 1st Royal Scots, at Wepener

Apr 5th, 1900

We are still on outpost duty, night and day, expecting to be attacked any moment. We are badly off for food and still without blankets. General Brabant's column joined us today, making us a little stronger.