TOPIC:

Served: Potchefstroom.

In 2009 I came into possession of an ABO medal named to Veldkornet J.G. V D Berg. Forsyth’s ABO medal roll list J.G. v/d Berg as Burger in the Potchefstroom Commando. This must have been a mistake as his Form B (stamped and Aanbevolen by the Department of Defence in 1922) clearly lists his rank as Veldkornet.

According to this Form B, Jan Gabriel van den Berg joined the Potchefstroom Commando in April 1900 and served with that unit until 1902 (he probably meant to the end of the war as he is not listed as a POW). The reason that he only joined in April 1900 was because of his age which would imply he was born around 1884. Jan Gabriel listed as his address at the time “Blesbokfontein P.K. Dovesdal” and stated that he served under Kommandant A.C. Bothma. Bothma is however listed in Bie Boere Offsiere as VC for Potchefstroom. J.G. van den Berg claimed to have been involved in the battles of “Kwaggasnek Pretoria, Eisterspruit, Brakspruit, Rooiwal and Methuen Gevang” the latter indicating he was with the commando that captured Lord Methuen at Tweebosch on March 7, 1902.




Looking for further information on Jan Gabriel van den Berg proved a bit of a challenge. V D is used for shortening Van Der, Van Den as well as Van De and either shortening is habitually used for one and the same person. Then there is the recurring problem of large families and the tendency at the time to name at least one sibling after the father or an uncle. I could not find a Jan Gabriel who matched all the available info except, perhaps, in the Bloemfontein Museum Database of farm lists which shows a Jan Gabriel van den Berg as owner of the farm Roodedam in the Bloemfontein District.




Searching for van den Berg family name combined with the Blesbokfontein farm gave the following results:

Killed in Battle or taken Prisoner of War:
Hendrik Johannes, died age 55 on Oct 2, 1901 during battle in the Potchefstroom District
David Andries Stephanus, 32, captured at Paardenberg 27 February 1900
Barend P, 25, captured at Paardenberg 27 February 1900
David A.S., 31, captured at Paardenberg 27 February 1900
Jan Johannes Gabriel, 17, captured at Paardenberg 27 February 1900
Johannes Jacobus, 50, captured at Witpoort on March 24, 1902
Barend Petrus, 21, captured at Blesbokfontein on August 24, 1900

The true horrors of the Anglo Boer War however become visible in the list of the van den Berg children of the Blesbokfontein farm in the Potchefstroom District who perished in the concentration camps:

VAN DEN BERG Gillam Michael Kachelhoffer, 9 years
VAN DEN BERG Louisa Johanna, 6 years
VAN DEN BERG Elsie D. , 4 years
VAN DEN BERG Jacobus Johannes, 8 years
VAN DEN BERG Anna Eliza, 10 months
VAN DEN BERG Christina Elie, 1 year
VAN DEN BERG Cornelis R., 8 years
VAN DEN BERG Elizabeth, 2 years
VAN DEN BERG Jan Gerhardus, 2 years
VAN DEN BERG Martha Susanna, 1 year

I wonder with what words men like Rhodes, Milner or Chamberlain would have eulogized these children at their burial.

Hi EFV,

My suspicion is that your first hit for Jan Gabriel was too young to be a V/K.

I think this is your man as he passed away on the farm Blesbokfontein which is a hit on your Vorm B.

Just to add a bit of colour; his father Barend Petrus Van Den Berg was a teenager (about 14) Voortrekker during the Great Trek.

Given his age I would even go so far as to suggest that he could have participated in the 1st Boer War in 1881; potentially at the siege of Potchefstroom:

samilitaryhistory.org/vol052jo.html?utm_source=copilot.com





Cheers,
Shaun

Shaun, many thanks for the info. It can't be the Jan Gabriel born in 1858 as on the Vorm B of the Veldcornet J.G. van den Berg it is stated that he only joined in April 1900 because he was too young to join a Commando earlier. The Jan Gabriel of 1882 could perhaps qualify although this man is listed as "Diseased" and would have been 17 years of age in Oct 1899 and thus old enough to face the Rednecks.

Hi EFV,

That's very interesting.

I agree that the Jan Gabriel born in 1858 had a number of sons; one was also called "Jan Gabriel Van Den Berg" born about 1882 and is listed on his fathers death certificate. I think the "son" could then be the man behind your medal even though he was old enough at the time.

The eldest son (brother to Jan Gabriel Jnr) was Barend Petrus Van Den Berg and I think he signed his Vorm B as his "officer".

Hope that helps.