PAST EVENTS
"The Stormberg Saga", presented by fellow member Ken Gillings at our August meeting, covered entirely new ground and opened vistas of a little known part of our country and its history. The Stormberg area was first settled by Trekboers about 1790. They drove out the Bushmen, skirmished with the odd black raiders and began to establish permanent farms, which were followed before long by small towns. Aliwal North, being on one of the major cross roads is reasonably well known; but who, here in Natal, knows anything about Jamestown, Dordrecht, Burgersdarp and Molteno? Well, anybody who attended Ken's slide talk heard everything worth knowing about these places and many more.
Molteno, named after the Cape Prime Minister of the time, is one of the coldest places in the Cape Province and was once the centre of a coal mining area. It owes its existence to George Vice, who laid out the town in 1874. Aliwal North is twenty-five years older, having been founded in 1849, and was named after one of Sir Harry Smith's most famous battles in the Punjab. Its counterpart was Aliwal South, but this was eventually renamed to become Mossel Bay! Burgersdorp traces its origin to 1846. It is a neat little town situated in a valley below a high range of hills and is rich in Afrikaner history and tradition.
Having dealt with the geography and early history of the area, our speaker then warmed to the main aspect of his subject: the military activities in this region during the South African war and their culmination in the much overlooked battle of Stormberg. On 6 November, 1899, the Bethulie Commando under Cmdt John Olivier invaded the Cape Colony on President Steyn's orders. Olivier met the mayor of Aliwal North, a Mr. Smuts, to negotiate the surrender of the town; but suspicious that the Orange River bridge might have been mined, he ordered the Magistrate, Mr. Hugo, his assistant and the chief constable to stand in the middle of the bridge whilst the commando, some 450 men, filed past. The bridge had not been mined!
The commandos then proceeded to occupy and "annex" a series of towns, including the vital Stormberg railway junction. They were opposed by an ever increasing might of British troops under General Gatacre. On the night of December 9th Gatacre advanced against the Boer position not more than 10 miles away. His men were dog-tired, a long day's work had been followed by a long night's march. Daylight came and revealed the column still looking for its objective! It was evident that the column had lost its way and the general's plan had miscarried.
It was at a quarter past four in the clear light of a South African morning that a shot rang out. High up on the face of a steep line of hills the Boer riflemen lay hidden, and from a short range their fire scourged the exposed flank of the unsuspecting troops. Ken dwelt on much detail concerning the battle which ensued, success and failure on both sides, death vying with heroism. Particular mention was made of the exertions of the almost legendary Montmorency, who, in the end, paid the highest price. The battle cost the British only 38 killed and 51 wounded but the loss of 634 prisoners was disastrous. Two more actions of notable importance took place subsequently in the Stormberg.
Our speaker fully deserved the unanimous vote of thanks for his mammoth presentation.
FIVE FAMOUS GENERALS
The Extra-mural Studies and Extension Unit of the University of Natal, Durban, has advised that " ..... due to lack of response before the closing date of 23rd August we reluctantly had to cancel "Five Famous Generals", subsequently we have received a lot of interest from your Military History Society. ..... due to the interest from your society we may hold the course next March."
A few Extra-mural Studies mailing list forms are available on request from the undersigned.
FUTURE EVENTS
September 9th FILM EVENING "GALLIPOLI" (Australian production) It is regretted that the film "Breaker Morant" which was to have been screened is no longer available locally.
There will be a silver collection to defray expenses.
October 14th Hajor Darrell Hall will present "The 1917 Diary of 2/Lt R.E. Stevenson, 2/7 London Regiment.
November 11th Colonel C.F. Hodgson will give the second part of his recent talk entitled "From Hell to the Himalayas".
The venue for all meetings will be the Lecture Room, 'SB' Bourquin Building, the Port Natal Administration Board's head office, on the corner of Jan Smuts Highway and Buro Crescent, Mayville, commencing at 8 p.m. Glasses and ice will be supplied so please bring your own canned or bottled refreshments. Friends and interested persons are welcome to come along.
(Mrs) Tania van der Watt,
Secretary, Durban Branch,
S.A. Military History Society,
Box 870, HILLCREST, 3650.
Tel. (031) vvvvvv