TOPIC:

While all contributors to this amazing thread deserve credit, I think that Henk, Munroe and Justin have proved yet again that they are in a league of their own.

Regards
Brett

Hi Brett
You are very complimentary : thanks. But remember as I have said earlier : I started more than 40 years ago and had a good disposable income before retiring more than 20 years ago.

Hi Justin
As happened so many times in the past I am amazed at what you can produce (remember the Queen's Scarf??)
The Amarula is waiting : when will you share a glass?

Henk

Henk,

Always a pleasure. But don't put the lid back on the amarula bottle just yet.

According to the correspondent of the 'London Standard's contemporary account of the fight at Tevreden, Paterson was shot in the thigh by none other than Jan Smuts, who was on horseback.

This adds detail and makes sense of the passage in 'With the Inniskilling Dragoons' (1904) p.205: "Lieut. Paterson behaved with great dash, being slightly wounded as he galloped, unfortunately unarmed, alongside Commandant Smuts himself."

Justin

Hi Justin

Many thanks for yet another valuable "press cutting"!

However, I have to correct you on one statement (a very rare occurrence!!)

The General mentioned was Tobias Smuts and not "Slim Jannie" Smuts. He was deprived of his rank by ComdtGen Louis Botha in August 1901 because, contrary to orders, he had burned down the village of Bremersdorp in Swaziland late in July 1901. He fought the rest of the war as Burgher.

Henk

Henk,

Aaaagh - that Smuts! Delighted to be corrected. I hope you drank the amarula yourself for that!

I append a photo of 'Tobias the Torcher', wondering if that was the rifle with which he shot Paterson. Did he claim his medals?

All best,

Justin

Justin
Only a little off-topic: the rifle shown is a Krag Jorgensen in calibre 6.5mm. I understand that a few of these arrived with Swedish volunteers and due to lack of ammunition, spares and sheer wear-and-tear they would not have lasted long. One such KJ with probable Boer antecedants turned up here in OZ a couple of years ago.
IL.