TOPIC:

Siege of Marabastad (11 January to 2 April 1881)

The most northerly fort was established in Marabastad, a hamlet of less than 10 houses that dated back to 1868. Its location was chosen because there was a the large black population of 600,000 in the local area. A fort was constructed between February and May 1880 by the Connaught Rangers under Captain Campbell but, while it was commended for the quality of its construction, its location was poor being commanded by ridges only 800 yards distance on all sides. In compliance with the order to fall back on Pretoria, Campbell left Marabastad on 29 November taking with him 60 men and leaving 60 behind under Captain Brook. The force comprised regular soldiers, volunteers and soldiers of mixed parentage. Brooks began fortifying when news of Bronkhorstspruit arrived and recruited 30 English volunteers and 50 men from the Transvaal Mounted Police stationed at Wood Bush, some 50 miles away. A trench of 25 square yards was dug around the fort, wells sunk and supplies brought in, some commandeered from the local kraals.

The Boers arrived in January and established two laagers, one at Sand Spruit and the other at Botha's Farm (some accounts suggest three laagers). The siege commenced when Commandant Barend Vorster requested Captain Brook to cease corn seizures from the Boers in the area. On 19 January, a British patrol of 25 men was sent to reconnoitre Sand Spruit but were attacked and suffered one dead and four wounded. Vorster requested the surrender of the fort which was declined. Vorster then undertook not to attack if the British stayed in the fort. The heights above the fort were not occupied by the Boers, nor was the water supply diverted.

In the third week of February the police horses and most of the oxen were captured. This incident was a turning point and led to a closer investment of the fort but still little action by the Boers.

On 17 March, two ship carronades which had been discovered on Mr Dahl's farm were used to bombard the fort. One a 6-pounder and other a 4-pounder, they fired round shot made from beaten iron from the local Ersteling Gold Mining Company works. The Boers hid their positions well making it impossible to silence them during the day. During the night, parties of men set about repairing the damage they had wrought to the fort.

The supplies collected before the siege started, supplemented by the corn and mealies delivered from the local kraals meant the defenders were not rationed. Fresh meat was served up until 22 March, the day on which Captain Brook was informed of the cease fire. Captain Brook did not believe the information and both sides resumed their positions and desultory firing recommenced. On 2 April, a large party of mounted Boers arrived carrying a white flag with news of the end of hostilities.

Throughout the siege, the fort suffered 5 killed and 8 wounded.

Marabastad no longer appears on maps. In 1952 the town was renamed to Eerstgoud, an Afrikaans term meaning 'first gold' to commemorate the first discovery of gold in the Transvaal by Edward Button in 1871.