TOPIC:

Hi
The LG of 3 December 1901, p8546, carries a Mention for Lieutenants Nicoll and Wells of the Johannesburg Mounted Rifles "For dash and judgement in attack on position at Waterval on 10th September 1901".
I cannot find a reference to the action in all the conventional sources: can any Natal member possibly help in identification?
The JMR was in the Vryheid vicinity at the time and Gen Louis Botha's farm Waterval was some 10km east of Vryheid. Any connection?
Does anybody know the date on which Botha's house on Waterval was dynamited?
Regards
Henk

Morning Henk

From the Gazetteer:

[2730: 2740-3106] a farm (number 130) in the South African Republic (Vryheid district; KwaZulu-Natal), 30 km north-east of Vryheid. The farm was Cmdt-Gen L. Botha's principal home and was blown up by a mounted British force from Vryheid* on 28 August 1901. On the same day the homes of Veg-Gen J.J.C. Emmett at adjacent Goudehoek* and of Gen L.J. Meyer at nearby Welgevonden* were also destroyed. Returning from the second invasion of Natal, Botha was there on 6 October 1901. Engelenburg p.78; Wilson IV pp.636 (photograph) (map on p.650); Eloff pp.31 and 37 (map facing p.66); Moore p.87 ( map on p.88).

A Gazetteer of the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 (Military Press, Milton Keynes 1999) . HM & MGM Jones

From the casualty rolls I can't see any likely casualties for the 10th September. Have you tried the newspapers for any reports?

Regards
Meurig

Thanks Meurig
Now at least I know the date of the fireworks!!
Henk