TOPIC:

I require the collective brainpower of Forum members to help me with this one.

I have an ABO medal to Lieutenant J.S. Verheem of the Z.A.R. Staats Artillerie - having fought at Colenso, Spioenkop and other places he was taken POW "near" Paulpietersberg on 20 June 1901.

Can anyone shed light on what the Staats Artillerie were doing there on that date?

Regards

Rory

"[2730: 2726-3049] a town in the South African Republic (Paulpietersburg district; KwaZulu-Natal), 40 km north of Vryheid. Variant: P.P. Burg (abbreviation used in HMG). Between 18 and 20 June 1901, the town was surrounded by Lt-Col M.F. Rimington's column, but only seven burghers were captured as it had been evacuated. HMG IV p.201 (map no.56)."

A Gazetteer of the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 (Military Press, Milton Keynes 1999)

Further to my initial request for help and Meurig's response, I have taken a fancy to reading Maurice while on Lock Down.

I cam across this handy insert in Vol. III Ch. 12. page 201

"Between June 18th and 20th P.P. Burg was surrounded as Piet Retief had been, with the same result. Rimington again securing the only seven Boers (Verheem would have been one) captured as he intervened between the emptying township and the Pivaan River".

No wonder I could find no reference to Paulpietersburg - the abbreviation P.P.Burg was used.....

Regards

Rory

Rory See my data:

Dankie Elmarie