TOPIC:

Served: Standerton.

BIRTH: 5 July 1869
Standerton, Transvaal, South Africa

DEATH: 3 April 1945
Modderfontein, Standerton, Transvaal, South Africa




Jacobus Johannes Philipus (JJP) Meyer, eldest son of a large family, fought alongside 8 of his brothers with the Standerton Commando.

He fought at Colenso, Spioenkop, Elandsrivier and with the Middelburg Commando for the guerrilla phase of the war.

He was captured on the 4th December 1901 along with his brother and brother-in-law in the Eastern Transvaal near Ermelo when they were serving under General Louis Botha.

About a hundred burgers were captured on that day on Oshoek farm; however, they prevented the capture of Louis Botha himself.

JJP was transferred to the Bermuda Islands as a prisoner of war. When the war ended five months later he refused to take the Oath of Allegiance and as a result remained a prisoner until 1904 when he was one of the last remaining.

In the meantime JJP, and the others, made carved items out of wood from branches that had broken from the surrounding trees. He finally returned to South Africa in October 1904, a prisoner of war for almost three years.



Parents



Father: Johannes Philippus Cornelis (Hans) Meyer, born 1841



Mother: Hester Christina Elizabeth Meyer, born 1850

Both JJP’s parents were held at the Standerton Concentration Camp from 26 October 1901 to 8 July 1902; both survived the experience.

Immediate Family
JJP married Maria Magdalena Viljoen on the 20th January 1892 and they would go to have 11 children together; 5 of which were born prior to the war (1 during) and unfortunately 3 of them did not survive the Middleburg Concentration Camp. Perhaps one of the many reasons why he refused to sign the oath of allegiance.



JJP and Maria with their 2 surviving children.

Extended Family Photos:





Johannes Philippus Cornelis Meyer (Hans) on his 75th birthday along with his 13 sons of which another 2 did not survive the Boer War, circa 1916.

Vorm B:

Stunning Sturgy - and what a bonus with all the photos etc. Did these come with the medal or were they acquired by you later on?

I'm envious....

ATB

Rory

Hi Rory,

Thanks for that, I only recently acquired the medal; the photos were all from on-line research.

I wish I had the wooden carvings...that would have been amazing...maybe one day I can re-unite them.

Thanks.

Sturgy, there were only 43 so called die-hards left on Hawkins in 1903. Janse van Rensburg was one of them. If Meyer made the one in your picture than he probably made the one in my collection one as well.

Hi EFV,

Wow, now that's amazing; looking at the two they certainly look like they were carved by the same person; or if not by two people working together.

I couldn't find which of the islands he was sent to; I'll keep searching.

Thanks for posting the picture; much appreciated