TOPIC:

Johannesburg, Saturday. - In connection with the outrage at Kilfoils Boksburg, yesterday, it has been ascertained now that the dynamite exploded in a bath-room over the billiard-room of the hotel. The interior of the building was wrecked.

John Lewis, a carpenter, a native of Briton Ferry, South Wales, and Gus Oliver, a well known boxer, who were standing immediately under the bath-room, were killed, while other persons had miraculous escapes.

The outrage has aroused the indignation of the entire community. - Reuter.

Johannesburg, Saturday. - Gus Oliver had been in the Army and attached to the Gymnasium at Aldershot until recently. The Kilfoils Hotel was the headquarters of the strikers, but shortly before the explosion a large number of miners who are working were in the billiard room, and presumably the explosion was intended for them. - Reuter.



It seems probable that the John Lewis mentioned is not a native of Briton Ferry, but of Maesteg. Mr John Lewis, of Alma-road, Maesteg, where his parents still live, left Maesteg about nine years ago to take up a Government appointment as a surveyor in Johannesburg. He served with the Colonial Scouts during the Boer War, and was present at the capture of General Cronje. After the war he opened a store in Boksburg. On Saturday his sister, who lives at Ogmore Vale, received a brief telegram from relatives in South Africa to the effect that "Johnny" had been killed in an explosion. The relatives have cabled for further details.
Cardiff Times and South Wales Weekly News, Saturday 20th July 1907
newspapers.library.wales/view/3433556/3433564/160/


trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/5076881
The Adelaide Advertiser, Tuesday 16th July 1907


Boksburg Dynamite Outrage. - Confirmation of the tragic death of John Lewis, who was killed in the dynamite outrage at the Kilfoils Hotel, Boksburg, South Africa, has been given in a cablegram to his mother, Mrs. Lewis, who resides at Alma-road, Maesteg.
The Glamorgan Gazette, Friday 26th July 1907
newspapers.library.wales/view/3874757/3874764

www.facebook.com/100YearsAgo.News/

I would be very surprised indeed, if he had served in the Colonial Scouts and had been present at Paardeberg.

BereniceUK wrote:

It seems probable that the John Lewis mentioned is not a native of Briton Ferry, but of Maesteg. Mr John Lewis, of Alma-road, Maesteg, where his parents still live, left Maesteg about nine years ago to take up a Government appointment as a surveyor in Johannesburg. He served with the Colonial Scouts during the Boer War, and was present at the capture of General Cronje. After the war he opened a store in Boksburg. On Saturday his sister, who lives at Ogmore Vale, received a brief telegram from relatives in South Africa to the effect that "Johnny" had been killed in an explosion. The relatives have cabled for further details.
Cardiff Times and South Wales Weekly News, Saturday 20th July 1907
newspapers.library.wales/view/3433556/3433564/160/

Rather than the Colonial Scouts, it is possible he served in Tucker's Scouts as No 9, Trooper, earning Paardeberg and Driefontein.