TOPIC:

1900 - Occupation of Middelburg. Boers Held a Council of War at Slaapkranz between 8pm and 4am to decide whether Roux or Prinsloo should be the commander in chief. Prinsloo was chosen but not all the commandos were able to participate in the vote.

1901 - Two of the affadavits sent by Lord Kitchener to General Prinsloo, regarding "the conduct of burghers in guerilla warfare."

....Trooper Charles Catton, 22nd Imperial Yeomanry, being duly sworn, states : — At Doorn River, on July 27th, 1901, I was one of the patrol captured by the Boers, and after we had surrendered I saw a man lying on the ground, wounded, between two natives. I saw a Boer go up to him and shoot him through the chest, I noticed the man, Trooper Finch, was alive. I do not know the name of the Boer who shot him, but I could recognise him again.
....Trooper F. W. Madams, having been duly sworn, states :— I was one of the patrol captured by the Boers on July 27th, 1901, near Doorn River. After we had surrendered I went to look for my hat, and after finding it I was passing the wounded man, Trooper Finch, when I saw a Boer, whose name I do not know shoot Trooper Finch through the chest with a revolver. I could identify the man who shot him.
Wairarapa Daily Times, 28th December 1901

Berenice
Assuming that Tpr's Catton and Madam were in the same squadron as Tpr. Finch, "33969 Tpr. Finch of W. 22nd Coy., I.Y". is shown in Palmer as "Killed in Action, near Doorn River on 27/7/1901". Perhaps Tpr's Catton and Madam were fortunate to escape the same fate and it would be instructive to learn if General Prinsloo ever replied to the accusation of illegal conduct on the part of men under his control.
Regards
IL.

F. W. Madams may be Frederick William Madams, born at Dartford, 4th quarter of 1880.