TOPIC:

Hi
Do anybody know of the Krugersdorp commando (or part thereof) participating in the event? I read only in Biggen's book that a small contingent was there , but nothing else. Fieldcornet Potgieter that led one of the patrols was mentioned as under Schiel's command but not anywhere else after the initial part of the battle. Was he part of the Krugersdorp commando, as there is in the roll only a Fieldcornet Potgieter to the Krugerdorp commando? I know not everybody applied for their medals, so its a quess from my part. Any Ideas?

Chris

Welcome Chris,

Your question is a difficult one to answer as there is little information on the Boer commandos in most cases. Tracking men from the accounts to the ABO medal roll is also difficult because, as you mentioned, not everyone applied for their medal and because, for some names, Potgieter included, there are many people with this surname on the roll.

There are 11 Fieldcornet Potgieters on the ABO roll but only 1 listed as servind in the Krugersdorp Commando:

Potgieter C J Cornelius Johannes Smithfield
Potgieter E F E F Kroonstad
Potgieter H J M Henri Johan Mauritz Carolina
Potgieter J A Johannes Adam Vryheid
Potgieter J T Johannes Theodorus Johannesburg
Potgieter J T Johannes Theodorlus Vryheid
Potgieter P D Petrus Dirk Jacobsdal
Potgieter P L Paul Lodewyk Boksburg
Potgieter S A J Stefanus Andries Jacobus Krugersdorp
Potgieter S A P Stephanus Andries Petrus Potchefstroom
Potgieter W J J Wessel Jacobus Johannes Heilbron

It would be worth seeking more information on SAJ Potgieter.

Best wishes
David

This would be your man in the SA Archives:

DEPOT TAB SOURCE SS TYPE LEER VOLUME_NO 0 SYSTEM 01 REFERENCE R13425/96 PART 1 DESCRIPTION SAJ POTGIETER, KRUGERSDORP. RE RUILING VAN ZYN BURGERRECHT ERVEN. STARTING 18960917 ENDING 18960917 REMARKS BY R4691/96.

There are 3 other similar references to the same matter in the Archives but you will have to employ a researcher and get a translation from the original Dutch which I am quite happy to help you with. (It has something to do with a property transaction.

Regards

Rory

Hi
Thanks for the replies Rory and David.
From the POW roll of the Boers I see that he was captured on the 23 October 1900, at Elandsfontein. He was 49 years of age.
He was one of several brothers to the Commandant F.J. Potgieter of the Krugersdorp Commando. He is not mentioned in any other literature, that I can find. When I came upon the story of Elandslaagte, I thought maybe there is a connection as it is mentioned that there was a small contingent of the Krugersdorp Commando, and I couldn't find any further mention of Potgieter in the German Commando.

Thanks to all members that keeps me fascinated in the Boer war.
Regards Chris

Hello Chris,
I had a brief look at the German Commando nominal roll upon reading your thread and noted there are actually two men on it, a C J Potgieter and a V C Potgieter, this particular Commando had over six hundred men, but, from memory, I think only twenty or so medals were ever issued to it's members.
Kind regards Frank Kelley

Rookie wrote: Hi
Thanks for the replies Rory and David.
From the POW roll of the Boers I see that he was captured on the 23 October 1900, at Elandsfontein. He was 49 years of age.
He was one of several brothers to the Commandant F.J. Potgieter of the Krugersdorp Commando. He is not mentioned in any other literature, that I can find. When I came upon the story of Elandslaagte, I thought maybe there is a connection as it is mentioned that there was a small contingent of the Krugersdorp Commando, and I couldn't find any further mention of Potgieter in the German Commando.

Thanks to all members that keeps me fascinated in the Boer war.
Regards Chris

Hi

Frank, thank you for the info. I appreciate it. So not the same person.

Thanks all, for an interesting discussion.

Chris