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Foreigners in the Defence of South Africa Miss L Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 16, Nr 2, 1986. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za Foreigners in the defence of South Africa Miss L. Jooste* Introduction who, exempted from duty, could pursue their tertiary educational careers unhindered. How- South Africa and the rest of the Free World is ever, the newly-promulgated amendment to the presently engaged in a concerted struggle Defence Act, which makes provision for the ac- against the Russian communists who seek to quisition of South African citizenship by virtue of gain world power. The Soviet Union is striving to residence in this country, seeks to spread the subject South Africa to a communist regime defence burden more justly. New South African which would enable it to gain access to the citizens have therefore been called upon since country's geostrategic facilities as well as its October 1984 to accept co-responsibility for mineral wealth. The physical assault against the military duty in the country. Republic is conducted by Russian supported revolutionary and terrorist organizations whose The participation of foreigners in the defence of aim it is to cause anarchy, chaos, dislocation South Africa is by no means without precedent, and wide-spread violence. Additionally, Cuban historical evidence of this is readily available. As and East German surrogate forces are operating far back as the early days of Dutch rule in the in neighbouring countries to the north. These country, soldiers from other European nations threats against South Africa are escalating in were employed to strengthen the Cape garrison. scope and intensity by the day and for this Subsequently foreigners also played a role in the reason, it is obliged to muster the support of suppression of marauding bands and aggress- everyone in the country. including that of non- ive Black tribes who attacked the settlers, while South Africans. In the past the defence of the during the Anglo-Boer War, many Europeans Republic rested exclusively on the shoulders of joined the Boer forces fighting against British South African-born young men whose selfless imperialism which threatened the independence service was often sacrificed at the cost of their of the Boer republics. With a few exceptions academic, professional and personal ambitions. these aliens received no compensation and Their military commitments. moreover. placed quite a few lost their lives for the cause they them at a disadvantage against non-citizens believed in. Portuguese and Jewish South Africans of the July 1985 Intake carrying out rifle drill. 20 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 16, Nr 2, 1986. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za The era of Dutch rule between local farmers (mostly of Afrikaans- speaking stock) and the British settlers evolved. During the 17th and 18th centuries Britain and France looked at the southern tip of Africa with A telling example of this is exemplified by the covetous interest, causing the Dutch East India donation of a Bible by the latter to the Trek Company to be on the alert to ensure continued leader Jacobus Uys, just prior to his departure Dutch control of the Cape. The Cape garrison, from the Cape in 1837. The settlers were genui- assisted by citizen commandos, experienced a nely and deeply affected by the emigration of serious shortage of trained military personnel the Boers as is expressed in their farewell mess- during this period. Consequently, the DEIC was age to Uys and his group. These heartfelt words obliged to employ mercenaries. The latter were, were addressed to the Trekkers: however, a motley crowd, of various nationalities and frequently of unsavoury character. A suffi- "We offer this book to you as proof of our cient number among them nevertheless served regard and with expressions of sorrow that honourably in the effort to weld the Cape garri- you are going so far from us. We regret for son into a fighting force. In this respect the many reasons that circumstances should names of some Germans stand out, among them have arisen to separate us for ever since we, Hermann Rehemagen who was elected non- the British Settlers, arrived in this Colony, now commissioned officer in the citizen force in 1660, a period of seventeen years, the greatest cor- as well as Hieronymus Kruse who was promoted diality has continued to be maintained be- from sergeant to military commander of the gar- tween us and our Dutch neighbours; and we rison in 1682. Others include Gabriel Dohmann, must always acknowledge the general and promoted to field cornet in 1718, Johannes To- unbounded hospitality with which we have bias Rhenius who was military commander from been welcomed in every portion of the Col- 1728 to 1738, as well as George Konrad KOchler ony. We trust therefore that although widely who served as lieutenant of the artillery from separated, you will hold us in remembrance, 1785 to 1787.1 and we wish that all will retain for each other the warmest sentiments of friendship. "4 The Here XVII also engaged the services of mer- Somewhat less historical prominence has been cenary units from abroad. In addition to the Ger- accorded the roughly 2 200 German military man regiment WOrttemberg and the Waldeck settlersS who temporarily settled in the Eastern Battalion, the French regiments Pondicherri, Cape in 1857 under the leadership of General Luxemburg and Waaldener, and the Swiss regi- Richard von Stutterheim, to further bolster the ment Meuron, saw service at the Cape.2 Their defence against the Xhosa. These Germans, contributions had a decided impact on the im- who were accompanied in part by their wives proved efficiency of the Cape's defence. and children, came to the country at a time when the latest war was still fresh in the minds of the colonists and the White frontiersmen, and the The Eastern frontier establishment of military settlements in the terri- In contrast to the mercenary forces who were tory known as British Kaffraria, was regarded as paid to protect the Cape, the involvement of essential for the effective protection of the east- other foreigners hereafter was characterized by ern frontier of the Colony. They were allotted spontaneous willingness. The 1820 British settl- settlements in the area between the Fish and the ers in particular deserve mention. Positioned as Kei Rivers. Here they formed several protective buffer force against the Xhosa on the eastern military settlements - among them Berlin, border by the British authorities, the settlers Potsdam, Hanover, Mariental, Wiesbaden, helped to combat marauding tribesmen who Breidbach, Grey town, Stutterheim, Keiskamma- had made life insufferable for the frontiersmen hoek, Braunschweig and Frankfurt. Although since the end of the preceding century. The their stay was of relatively short duration, they settlers joined the local citizen force in its strug- contributed markedly to the establishment of gle to maintain law and order in the area and peace in these areas.6 distinguished themselves in action during the Sixth Border War of 1834-35, when they fought The Great Trek shoulder-to-shoulder with the Boers and the Brit- ish against plundering native tribes.3 Just as they had done in the Cape, foreigners also shared in the well and woe of the White A mutual feeling of respect and good fellowship settlement pioneers in the interior. At the start of 21 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 16, Nr 2, 1986. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za the Great Trek a few foreigners decided to throw and equipment. He subsequently trekked to in their lot with the departing Trekkers to face the Natal. After the arrival of Piet Retief, Biggar and unknow[1and dangerous interior, there to seek his sons, George and Robert, wholeheartedly their freedom and independence. Among the supported the Boer cause. Alexander Biggar better-known must be counted the German lost his two sons as well as his own life when the schoolmaster Daniel Pfeffer and the Frenchman three of them joined forces with the Trekkers Izaak Albach. Both of them, the latter accompa- against the Zulu chief. George Biggar died dur- nied by his family, joined Louis Trichardt's trek ing the Zulu attack on the laagers at Bloukransri- when it left the Cape Colony in 1835. Another vier on 17 February 1838 and when the British foreigner, a young Scot - William Cowie - also together with their Black followers, turned left with the Voortrekkers.7 All of them daily faced against Dingane in April of the same year, Ro- the hazards together with the Boers and had to bert fell at the Lower-Tugela. fight for their survival. Twelve settlers as well as approximately 1 000 of In Port Natal the paths of the Trekkers crossed their Black followers died during that battle. once more with those of British settlers and once Alexander Biggar died on December 27th, 1838 again they joined sides to defeat a common at the Battle of the White Umfolozi, shortly after enemy, this time it was the war-like Zulu chief- he had joined Andries Pretorius's Win Com- tain, Dingane. Most of the settlers who lived in mando with his small band of British settlers.8 that area together with their Black retinue, re- ceived the Voortrekkers most cordially upon the During the Trekkers' short-lived stay in Natal latter's arrival in October 1837. One of the lead- they received support not only from the British, ers of the settlers was Alexander Biggar who but from a group of Germans as well. At the was particularly well-disposed towards the Voor- Battle of Congella - the first engagement be- trekkers. He had already sacrificed much for his tween the Boers and the British and the first in new fatherland, for in the Eastern Cape he was which the Boers encountered an enemy ruined during the Sixth Border War when he equipped with artillery - the guns on the Boer , suffered heavy losses to his livestock, buildings side were manned exclusively by Germans.9 Pres T.F.
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