TOPIC:

2 duplicate names on the roll.

Forename/initials: Jan Paul Smit. Served: Pretoria.

Forename/initials: Jan Paul Smit. Served: Pretoria.

Picture courtesy of BidorBuy

ABO (Burg J.P.S. de Beer). BidorBuy, October 2018.

Jan Paul Smit de Beer made two applications for an ABO: on 13 May 1922 and again on 8 August 1924, stating that he served in the Pretoria Commando, Ward Witwatersrand until he was captured in January 1902 and sent to India. In spite of the unusual combination of initials, surname, signature, Commando, Field Cornet Opperman as immediate C/O and capture details two medals, identical as regards naming font and suspender type, were issued. This is one of them.

According to the official PoW Register De Beer was captured on 2 January 1902 at the Usutu River. At the time Bruce Hamilton was busy mopping up “the demoralized knots of Boers who crept along the river beds seeking a way of escape from the narrowing space between the British Columns and the Swazi border.” He was sent to India on 13 Feb 1902 as PoW No 27731.

I have purchased the JPS de Beer medal for my sons boer war collection. As a de Beer decendent we would be interested in finding out what happened after his internment in India.? Any suggestions on where to start?

I would normally start with the South Africa archives to check for any documentation.

www.national.archsrch.gov.za/sm300cv/smws/sm300dl