TOPIC:

Served: General Cilliers.

ABO (Burger J.J.L. van der Merwe). City Coins November 2009

Jacobus van der Merwe was a Cape Rebel who only joined the Boer Forces on 3 November 1900 (year incorrectly stated as 1901 on Vorm “B”). It seems that he served in the Griqualand West Commando. He was kept prisoner from 2 to 31 May 1902 in the camp at Kimberley (Cape Rebels were not included in the published British PoW Registers as they were not sent overseas). It is not clear from his statements whether he was captured or voluntarily surrendered on 2 May 1902: however, the Medal Board accepted his bona Tides and awarded him an ABO in 1940.