TOPIC:

Hi ALL
Have just discovered this great site & would like to introduce myself- I'm Derrick & live in Southport,Kwa
Zulu Natal.
My interest stems from my great grandfather ,Komdt S
Oosthuizen- Boer Forces- I have his Medals/Ribbons -
ABO/DTD & VWL but know precious little else & hope to unearth further info as I recall my grandmother's
accounts re his interaction with GEN Buller

Hello Derrick,

Warm welcome from another Natalian.

A very very nice group of medals you have there to your Great Grandfather.

The ABO and DTD are researchable to a point. The original application forms to both might well have survived which you can get copies of.

Regards

Adrian

Thanks Adrian,
Am negotiating through this veritable minefield of internet info but have already made some steps re app forms -will update

After a long internet journey restricted by time I have finally managed to obtain copies of my great grandfathers application forms for all of the ABO, DTD & LVW's in support of his medal.Interestingly his forms are separately endorsed by General Kemp with reference to the Battles he partook in & the one he perished in. I have also managed to capture reports of the engagements as well as getting a photo of the memorial of his last battle ( Battle of Kleinfontein ) Unfortunately I still cannot trace his grave. My quest has been further exacerbated by him sharing the same initials & surname as a Boer legend, Fighting General Sarel Oosthuizen. I have done an arbitrary search for Boer Kommandant's & so far can only find 2 others who have received all the medals. Lastly can anyone tell me how to update his info as neither of these 2 Oosthuizens appear on the records on the site ?

I wish you well in your quest.

Aaran

Hi Derrick,

Very interesting to read about your great grandfather. The DTD, ABO, LVW forms should give the details of the Commandos he served with and the battles he fought at.

Can you share with us and we should be able to provide some additional info for you?

You will be interested to know that your great grandfather was well known to the British during the guerilla war and described in the 1901 Intelligence Department's list (subsequently published and edited by my late father and Henk Loots in 1996) as:

"OOSTHUIZEN, Stephanus: Commandant of the Pretoria men under Kemp's personal command. Previously Field Cornet to Commandant Badenhorst of the West Pretoria Commando."

All the best,

Justin