TOPIC:

The Holkrans memorial certainly existed in 2011, when the 1:50,000 map was last updated.

GPS: -27.60651, 30.687550















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Neville, many thanks. The map allowed me to find the Holkrans Monument on Google view.

Everhard,

OpenStreetMap, which is scaled to match the satellite imagery, shows the monument a little further to the west, where the clump of trees/bushes is.














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The monument shown is still there on the farm Holkrans. I went there in November 2023. The monument is on the hillside, whilst the Boer lager was at the base of the hill as evidenced by pieces of equipment found there. There is still the donga running past the site that was used by the Zulus as cover in their approach, prior to the attack.
A relation of mine Willie Bland (Johan Wilhelm) was killed with this Vryheid Commando.

This from the sketchbook of Lieutenant Colonel George Arthur Mills, commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Royal Dublin Fusiliers during the South African War of 1899-1902:



Apologies for the quality.

Reading left to right across the top:

"BOERS GOT UP HERE AND FIRED TILL AMM WAS DONE"

"ZULUS ATTACKED UP HERE. MANY KILLED"

"BOERS RETREATED AS FAR AS THIS"

"OTHER ZULUS ATTACKED UP HERE"

In the bottom middle:

"(56 BOERS KILLED, 3 PRISONSERS)
(52 ZULUS KILLED, 48 WOUNDED)"

On the bottom right:

"HOLKRANTZ 210
Scene of fight between
Boers & Zulus
6th May 1902
GAM"

Lt-Colonel Mills was asked to hold an inquiry into the incident and his report was obviously published in January 1903. I have not been able to find a copy of his report but I have found the following reactions to it in the British newspapers of the day. The list could be even longer but I don't think any of the others add anything new:

Daily Express 29 January 1903


Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail 29 January 1903


Leeds Mercury 29 January 1903


London Evening Standard 29 January 1903


Manchester Evening News 29 January 1903


Newcastle Daily Chronicle 29 January 1903


Burnley Express 31 January 1903


In due course I will post a write-up on Lt-Colonel Mills, including a 1911 photo wearing uniform and medals, and provide a link to his on-line sketchbook.

Thanks for this fresh information on Holkrans.
This battle was very controversial coming ad it did at the close of the war.
There is no question that the Boers had been raiding the Abaqulusi cattle.
The veracity of the remarks made by Potgieter have been questioned and a recent study by a Zulu student, ironically places the blame firmly on the magistrate, Shepstones shoulders for inciting this action. I will try and find this thesis to back up my response but as always the history is written by the Victor.