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And the Beer!

Hi everybody

Thanks for the congrats on the Groenkop Collection : it was put together over a period of more than 35 years.

As requested, a bit more on the two Groenkop ABO medal recipients


Burger J W T Wessels served in the Heilbron Commando from the beginning of the war and saw extensive service: Initially on the Western Front at Colesberg and Rensburg and subsequently at the Waterworks(Sannaspost) and Lindley. He then was under De Wet during the invasion of the Cape Co;ony and fought his last major battle at Groenkop, where he was wounded in the arm ("arm afgeskiet"). He was taken PoW at Bezuidenhoutsdrift on 5 March 1902 and sent to India.




I knew Oom Izak du Plessis personally, as well as Oom Johan Naude who completed his Vorm"B" and submitted it. Both were elders in my father's congregation (Oom Johan was the Scribe) in Bethlehem (1949-1952) and Oom Johan introduced me to the "Times History". At that stage I already had a great interest in the Boer War and its history, but I collected artefacts such as shell fragments, shrapnel, cartridges, etc and service/gallantry awards for the war, unfortunately, were an unknown thing!! I well remember the Oudstryders at patriotic gatherings wearing medals, but I never thought they could be collected or that they were named! I did ask one old gentleman (name forgotten) why he had two gongs and the others one and that is when I learnt about a DTD and an ABO.
As such I also did not ask any of the old Burghers details about their war-time experiences : in retrospect Oom Izak could have told me interesting facts about joining as a "penkop" in December 1900 and taking part in the Groenkop battle a year later.

Henk

That's a fabulous way to be inducted into collecting.

Best wishes
David

Two images of the engagement from APTGW:

Hello Henk,
Just superb, I think I'd much rather have a medal, under the particular circumstances of Groenkop, to a victor than to any of the vanquished, very good examples of ABO's, you have been very lucky indeed.
Kind regards Frank

OSAKSA wrote: Hi everybody

Thanks for the congrats on the Groenkop Collection : it was put together over a period of more than 35 years.

As requested, a bit more on the two Groenkop ABO medal recipients

Burger J W T Wessels served in the Heilbron Commando from the beginning of the war and saw extensive service: Initially on the Western Front at Colesberg and Rensburg and subsequently at the Waterworks(Sannaspost) and Lindley. He then was under De Wet during the invasion of the Cape Co;ony and fought his last major battle at Groenkop, where he was wounded in the arm ("arm afgeskiet"). He was taken PoW at Bezuidenhoutsdrift on 5 March 1902 and sent to India.

I knew Oom Izak du Plessis personally, as well as Oom Johan Naude who completed his Vorm"B" and submitted it. Both were elders in my father's congregation (Oom Johan was the Scribe) in Bethlehem (1949-1952) and Oom Johan introduced me to the "Times History". At that stage I already had a great interest in the Boer War and its history, but I collected artefacts such as shell fragments, shrapnel, cartridges, etc and service/gallantry awards for the war, unfortunately, were an unknown thing!! I well remember the Oudstryders at patriotic gatherings wearing medals, but I never thought they could be collected or that they were named! I did ask one old gentleman (name forgotten) why he had two gongs and the others one and that is when I learnt about a DTD and an ABO.
As such I also did not ask any of the old Burghers details about their war-time experiences : in retrospect Oom Izak could have told me interesting facts about joining as a "penkop" in December 1900 and taking part in the Groenkop battle a year later.

Henk

Uploading the Black and White yesterday, I came across this cover picture of the Boers climbing the heights at Tweefontein.