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Hi All

Just got back from a holiday to the west coast region of the Western Cape, where the wife and myself had an interesting few days viewing the beautiful wild flowers that bloom during this time of the year in this region.

Whilst in this region I happened upon a very small cemetry at the village of Kamieskroon. There is a memorial to a battle/skirmish at Bleskoppoort 2 May 1902. I cannot find a referance to this incident anywhere, can anyone please shed some light on it? For those who do not understand Afrikaans..."Gesneuwel te" means "Died at" and "Vir Vryheid en Reg" means "For Freedom and Rights"

Regards
Brian

Brian

I checked the ABO roll hoping that the men would be from a single commando, but no such luck. Also, as usual, the exact initials were either not represented or there was more than one possibility. Interestingly, three of the four Stones had 'Dutch' forenames and were from the Transvaal, while the fourth was William Greyton Ernest Stone from Colesberg. Was he a 'Cape Rebel' like the man commemorated at Kamieskroon?

I hope you manage to solve the mystery of this memorial.

Regards
Brett

Hi Brian

If you put Bleskoppoort into Google you will find the above 2 articles in Afrikaans.

If you ask Google to translate it into English the result is quite funny!

Henk

1. Briers broers het só saam gestry, geval
152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/.../2/33.html‎
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May 15, 1999 - Die gesamentlike graf van die strydende burgers Wessels, Briers, Burger en Van Zyl. A.J. Briers is in Mei 1902 by Bleskoppoort noodlottig ...
2. Boere aanval het dalk anders verloop
152.111.1.87/argief/berigte/dieburger/.../2/45.html‎
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Jun 12, 1999 - Ook oor die betrokkenheid van gekleurdes by die stryd in Namakwaland verskyn heelwat inligting. Die gebeure by Bleskoppoort, toe vier Boere ...

Hi

Somehow my previous attempt to add the references did not work!

Henk

Henk

Thanks for that...believe it or not I could not find anything the first time I looked besides the pictures af the monument from the EGGSA website.

Yes, interesting reading the translation, in places it had me a little confused and at the same time laughing!

Interesting that the British appeared to be using "Coloured Scouts" in a combat role, this is the first I have heard of this! Do you have any other info regards this incident?

Regards
Brian

Brian,

I searched the newspapers but there is no mention of this action (with Bleskoppoort as the location.

Regards
David