TOPIC:

Hi
Johannes George van der Watt (“Jan Aar”) is incorrectly listed in the Forsyth roll as serving in Comdt Lategan’s commando.

He joined up with Comdt Scheepers’ Cdo in the Aberdeen District in January 1901 and was one of five Scheepers men under Judge Hugo who left for the Orange Free State with General Wynand Malan on 14 July 1901. Malan hoped that he could persuade the OFS Government to proclaim the Cape districts under guerrilla warfare operations as part of the Boer Republic, making the rebels legitimate belligerents. A captured Cape rebel could then claim OFS citizenship and be sent to a PoW camp and not tried for treason. This proved to be a pipe dream.
After the party’s return to the Cape, Jan Aar served under Malan for some months and was wounded in the leg when Malan avoided capture. He is mentioned in “Oorlogsavonture van Genl Wynand Malan” by H J C Pieterse. Afterwards he also served under Comdt van Heerden and laid down arms 5-7June 1902 at Cradock (not Aberdeen as stated on Vorm “B”) as part of Comdt Fouche’s Commando.

The photo was probably posed at the time of his surrender : the hat is worn in the exact way as on a group photo of more than 30 Aberdeen Rebels taken at Cradock after they laid down arms.
Henk

Henk
Thank for another remarkable record from your collection! I will never cease to be amazed!
Regards
Brett

David
Thank you very much for the information and advice.

Henk
Wow - I never expected so much information, and an amazing photo to boot! Remarkable, as Brett said! I really appreciate it - thank you so very much!

This ABO is being sold in the next City Coins auction, November 2020.

Johannes George van der Watt was my my great Grandfather. Do you perhaps any further information on Him?

any body perhaps know who now has the medal?
Taryn

Hi Taryn
Your GGF would have applied to have his Anglo-Boere Oorlogs medalje on an application form called Vorm B.
These Vorm B's contain a lot of information, including his service history: who his officers were, which commando he served with, and where he fought. These Vorm B's are stored in the archives in Pretoria, and you can either go and look yourself; or what I do is to pay someone who does this professionally, who will then send me a high-resolution photo of the Vorm B - and any other papers they have. It's usually quite quick, and I recommend Dewald Nel who is:
[email protected]
all the best of luck
Rob