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KERSAUSO~Ffre~C Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 6, Nr 2, 1976. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za A 1310GRAIJUY )F R£ EERT UE KERSAUSO~fFRE~C" VOLU~TEE~ WITH THE 130ER CO~~4.~()OS Descent result of the liquidation of the French Panama Company, which ruined many Frenchmen. One of the most colourful foreign volunteers Since this happened in 1889 - three years in the Boer army in 1900-1902 was Robert after Hippolyte's death - it could not have de Kersauson de Pennendreff; young, hand- been the cause of his financial debacle." some, gallant and devoted to the Boer cause His widow was Isabelle du Plessis-Quinquis, until the bitter end of the war. His love for daughter of Louis du Plessis-Quinquis and Ce- South Africa brought him after an absence cile de Kersauson-Kerjan. She brought as her of almost 40 years back to this country to dowry the stately country house Chateau de find a quiet place to live when many other Keroualle at Guilers near Brest when she mar- countries were suffering in the Second World ried Hippolyte in 1872. The mansion of Ke- War. roual exists at present in its 17th century He belonged to an old family in Brittany, Renaissance style. It was the home of an old France's most Western province, surrounded Breton family and gave its name to a famous by sea on three sides. The name Kersauson concubine of King Charles II of England who is said to mean "house of the Saxon"; ker died in 1685. She was Louise Renee de Ke- is a frequent prefix in Breton family names. roualle, the elder of the two daughters of It is quite possible that one of his ancient Guillaume de Penancoet, Sieur De Keroualle, ancestors was a Saxon from Great Britain, for and she became Charles' mistress in 1670." there were many migrants between Brittany and Britain. The Britishers in both countries Robert's youth, 1879-1900 belonged to the same race and spoke the In the mansion of Keroualle the seven child- same Celtic language, still used in Brittany. ren of Hippolyte and Isabelle were born: Robert's second family name, Pennendreff, is Jeanne (7/1/1875), Marthe (25/1/1877), said to mean head of the village. The De Ker- Robert (15/2/1879), Cecile (13/2/1881 ), sausons belonged to the landed gentry and Henri (1883, died in the same year), Hen- were according to an old family-tree publish- riette and Madeleine (both 18/7/1884). Ro- ed in 1886, a large family.' In the old archives bert was the only surviving son. at Nantes, the name of Pierre de Kersauson is first mentioned in 1057. The first Robert of Hippolyte's death was a major family tragedy. whom we know, accompan;ed King Louis Isabelle emigrated in 1887 to California in the IX on his crusade to Egypt in 1249. Several United States, possibly to escape the social De Kersausons served as officers in the disgrace of bankruptcy and the creditors. She French army or navy or as priests in the left all or several of her children in France. Roman Catholic Church. Our Robert came probably in the guardianship of the family de from a family with a long military tradition. Kersauson. One of her daughters followed her later to the United States and married there His grandfather was commander of the Bor- a Breton, Mr Trebaol; they had 14 children. da, a training ship, and was married to a As Trebaol, a teacher of French, died early, daughter of the notary public, Berulies. Their his family had a difficult time. Their descen- son, I'lippolyte, took up his grandfather's ca- dants now live in California and other states. reer in Brest. He was associated with Mon- sieur Bellami who ruined the firm, was res- Robert was only seven years old when his ponsible for their bankruptcy and imprisoned father died, but he received a relatively good on account of fraud. Soon thereafter, on 20 education at a French secondary school in February 1886, Hippolyte died. According to Nantes. He was a clever and handsome boy. family tradition their bankruptcy came as a During his school years he visited California, 16 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 6, Nr 2, 1976. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za CUllERS au de ..• ~ Photo of Chateau de Keroual (or Kerouals) at Guilers, a suburb of Brest in Bretagne. This mansion dates from the 16th or 17th century and was the property of the family of Isabelle du Plessis-Quinguis. Here Ro- bert de Kersauson and h is five sisters were born. (Courtesy of General Robert Counte de Kersauson) probably to see his mother. There he learned the Boer army but waited for his majority on to speak English but retained a North Ameri- his 21st birthday, 15 February 1900, in order can accent which caused the Boers later to re- to dispose over his part in the parental heri- fer to him as 'the American Frenchman.' He tage. Probably the Boer supporters provided was on the point of registering with the mili- him with letters of introduction which he tary academy to join the French army and fol- showed upon arrival at Machadodorp in June low the career of many of his ancestors when 1900 to the representatives of the Transvaal the war in South Africa broke out. He was government. swept along by the wave of enthusiasm for the Boers, rising mainly from dislike for the Warrior in South Africa, 1900-1902 British who had thwarted French expansion in Africa at Fashoda in 1898. Robert listened Towards the end of April he embarked at to the propagranda of the Boer committees Marseilles in the steamer Admiral of the Ger- in France who collected funds for the Boers man East Africa Line. The ship sailed via the and exhorted men to volunteer for service in Suez Canal and arrived towards the end of the Boer forces. One of these committees May in Lourengo Marques. On board were was active in Nantes where Robert had stu- many young men of various nationalities who died and had relatives. According to him the intended to join the Boer forces or the British president of the Boer committee in Nantes army. The relations between most members was Mr. de Villebois, an elder brother of Col of the two groups who would fight each G. de Villebois-Mareuil who won tragic fame other, were remarkably cordial. in South Africa, and he adds that this presi- Until July 1900 a great number of foreigners dent was his uncle, a statement which has flocked via Lourengo Marques into Transvaal not been confirmed. He decided to enlist in to serve as volunteers with the Boers in their 17 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 6, Nr 2, 1976. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za struggle against Britain. After the surrender attracted to De Wet by his fame. He joined of Genl P. A. Cronje at Paardeberg and the the renowned Therons Verkennerskorps or relief of Ladysmith by the British, towards the TVK, founded by Danie Theron. Most mem- end of February 1900, the Boer commandos bers were young and a mixture of Afrikaners retreated everywhere and abandoned railways and foreigners from many countries. They and towns step by step. The foreign volun- complemented each other in an excellent way teers also withdrew and when the regular and gained fame as an outstandingly capable war came to an end in August, most of them corps. returned to Lourengo Marques and left South After the death of their beloved leader Danie Africa. Some, however, remained with the Theron on 5 September 1900, the TVK chose commandos and participated in the ensuing his cousin Jan Theron as commandant. But guerrilla war. One of these foreign 'Bitterein- Jan had a much less commanding nature and ders' was the young Frenchman, Robert de also lacked Danie's charming personality. The Kersauson. TVK soon split into groups but many of its In June 1900 he came to the seat of the members rose to high ranks. Transvaal government at Machadodorp. After Robert was under Jan Theron in the Free the fall of Pretoria on 5 June, the authorities State and was present during the fights at fled to this village and took up quarters in a Bothaville on 5 November and Dewetsdorp few railway carriages. With his letters of in- on 21 to 23 November 1900. He participated troduction, Robert called on the State Secre- in De Wet's first abortive raid to the Cape tary, F. W. Reitz, and this official presented Colony, December 1900, and again in the him to President Kruger. Robert tells that on second raid in January-February 1901. These 14 June, in the presence of both gentlemen, rovings brought him into contact with several he was sworn in as a citizen of the South of the most daring Boer fighters in the war, African Republic. such as Gideon Scheepers, Wynand Malan In Middelburg, Transvaal, he first joined a and S. G. (Manie) Maritz. They were ex- group of foreign volunteers. It was no coin- TVK members and under De Wet's command cidence that their commanding officer was before they crossed the Orange River to start Capt De Kertanguy, also from Brittany. Soon the rebellion and guerrilla war in the Cape Robert ascertained that foreigners were un- Colony. Robert entered the Colony under The- popular with the Boers and deliberately de- ron's command. They were 35 men but Manie cided to join the Middelburg commando.
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