TOPIC:

When Churchill was captured, is there any mention of which commandos were there?

I understand it was Botha's commando. But I also have a Lichtenburg Commando medal to a Boer who has listed it as his first battle on his form B.

Do any books go into detail and mention any individual Boers there?

Thanks for the help!
Ryan

Ryan

I have a booklet entitled, 'The Incredible Saga of the Boksburg Commando 1899-1902", by George Mills, which was published by the Boksburg Historical Association in 2000. On page 6 there is the following:
"Their next action was to be one of the major sensations of the war. They were involved in the derailing of the armoured train near Colenso and the capture of Winston Churchill."

Evidently, the Boksburg Commando included railwaymen who knew about trains and how best to derail them.

Regards
Brett

Hi
Breytenbach, in the very well researched Afrikaans History of the Boer War lists the Krugersdorp and Wakkerstroom Commando's.
Henk

Hi Henk

Thank you for that information. Perhaps the Boksburg Commando only caused the train derailment, and the Krugersdorp and Wakkerstroom Commandos carried out the attack and capture.

Scans of the two pages from the Boksburg Commando history are copied below.

Regards
Brett

Thanks for that gents.

I suspect it was a large group that were there, that train stood no chance! I have a grop to a man in the Lichtenburg Kommando so he or possibly they were there too.

I always thought of it as a small chance encounter but it sounds a larger force and more thought out.

Ryan

I found it right here:
www.angloboerwar.com/books/120-breytenba...7-breytenbach-part-i

Just need to find a print copy now!




Hello Henk

Do you have the full title of the Breytenbach book please? I think that would be something to look out for although not likely to find it in Australia!

Thanks
Ryan