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Cientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 6, Nr 4, 1976

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Cientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 6, Nr 4, 1976 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 6, Nr 4, 1976. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za A F ~:~C-- VOLU~T :ER I~ T IE ~A~KS OF THE 130ERS The denouement knows that the peace between the British10 government and the South African republics by Robert de Kersauson was signed in Pretoria, towards midnight on (Translated from L'lliustration by C. de Jong)' 31 May 1902. But it has never been told that Introduction by the editor of L'lIIustration. the Boer commandos and rebels in the west of the Cape Colony were not informed until Towards the end of 1899, at twenty years of 14 June 1902 at 9 o'clock in the evening _ age,2 Robert de Kersauson left for South two weeks after Europe and the whole world Africa to enlist in the forces of the two South had been informed. African republics. In May 1902, when peace was signed in Pretoria, he was still under In the middle of April 1902 the operations in arms and prepared for war. He never joined the far west of the Cape Colony were led by the foreign volunteer corps but was attached the Commander-in-Chief, Smuts (previously to a commando and had become a real Boer. State Attorney of the Transvaal12). assisted He spoke the language of his comrades flu- by General Maritz and General van Deventer, ently and had completely adjusted himself to who had 1 200 and 800 men, respectively, their way of living and fighting. He had par- under their command. For a long time we had ticipated in the campaign in the Transvaal,3 been absolute masters of the immense ter- thereafter in that in the Orange Free State! ritory we had conquered. The most recent and early in 1901 he entered the Cape Colony success of Smuts' and Maritz' commandos under Commandant Jan Theron.s In the wes- was the occupation of Concordia, an impor- tern part of the Colony he continued fighting, tant village in Namaqualand, which had sur- under General Manie Maritz and the Com- rendered with its British garrison of 250 men, mander-in-Chief, Jan Smuts, until the hour without firing a shot. Maritz had laid siege when the news of the Boer surrender came to O'okiep, which is situated about 100 kilo- to cause shock and dismay in the small army metres from the coast. which had until then fought victoriously. At that time a British parlementaire arrived Because active military service in the Trans- with important despatches for General Smuts. vaal does not count in French law, de Ker- Smuts was summoned by the Boer govern- sauson is now completing his military train- ment at Vereeniging to attend a conference ing in a regiment of dragoons. On his return which would take place on 15 May, to de- to France he entrusted us with his war diary. liberate on the conditions of peace which His When he is able to publish this it will be an British Majesty had offered the two republics. important contribution to the history of that Because communications between the Trans- war which astonished the world.G Our readers vaal and the Cape Colony were extremely will be able to judge for themselves after slow, we received, at the same time, im- the first part. They constitute the last pages portant despatches from De la Rey, Botha, of the book,7 and are full of details which so and De Wet. These informed us of the disas- far have remained unknown. Neither the book trous defeats suffered by the Britsh columns 8 of General de Wet nor that of President of Anderson and Kekewich in the Western 9 Kruger contains more moving descriptions. Transvaal, and the crushing of Methuen by De la Rey at Tweebosch, his capture, and Robert de Ke'l"sauson begins his narrative the taking of his eleven guns.13 Of course we knew nothing of subsequent events. Since my return to France I have been con- tinuously asked questions such as: Why did When we added these victories to our own the Boers surrender? How did they receive in the western Colony we thought we could the news of the peace in the Western Cape understand the reasons for the intended Colony? peace negotiations announced to Smuts. Doubtless Britain was inclined to yield, and I shall answer these questions. Everyone to return freedom and independence to a 15 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 6, Nr 4, 1976. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za people which had sacrificed all for the defence and it becomes a natural occupation; he for- of its flag. Or at least this was probable. gets the quietness and joy of peace and and conclusion of peace seemed possible, does not even attempt to imagine them. even near at hand. Now from the information brought to Gene- ral Smuts it suddenly seemed that peace was So far the word 'Peace' had sounded like a possible, even probable. Several of us refused dream only. It seemed so far away that we to believe it, but at least it became the sub- had not even attempted to think of it. We ject of discussion, one of the more or less thought that we still had years of war before probable realities. us, and that before peace could be achieved 1 the immense Cape Colony would have to rise The feelings of the Boers ' and the rebels to help the two republics. This work of rais- in the Western Cape Colony, who thought ing rebellion, though well underway and cer- of peace, were strange. They asked each tain of ultimate success, was only at its be- other all sorts of questions, and they tried ginning. to form ideas of their way of life in peace time. How could a man look at a cloud of Several of our comrades, the eldest or those dust on the horizon without suspecting the who had misgivings of being killed, said: '1 approach of a squadron of British cavalry? shall never live to see the peace.' They were Would a man be able to unsaddle a horse prepared to sacrifice their lives for a happi- and enter a house without going out re- ness which they would never enjoy but to peatedly to look around distrustfully and which they were prepared to contribute with listen to the sounds carried by the wind? their blood, for their people. Would a man be able to go to bed without When a man has been at war for almost a rifle at hand and sentries before the door three years he becomes used to the war, of the house? Would a man be able to see _..;<: ,j' .l"J~-."". :~ '~i< .•i. J;" ~,,!,. ). .,••i_;:~,,;.f t.~...... "' .... ..,.... .. ~ .• - Officers of the Cape commandos, probobly taken at Springbok or Constantia on 8 April 1902. Standing from left to right are: Fct Comelis Brick, Cmdt B. D. ('Ben') Bouwer, Fct A. G. Boshoff, Genl J. (' Jaap') van Deventer, Pte B. D. Bouwer ('Oom Barend') Fct WWie Kotze, Genl S. G. ('Manie') Maritz, Cpl Hennie Ver- maas, Fct Jan van Brummelen Cmdt Christoffel Schoeman, Military Commissioner Jacob Brink, Fct A. Stan. ders. Sitting or lying are from left to right: Fct Jan van den Berg, Fct Piet F. V.isser, Genl J. C. Smuts, physician Carl T. Muller, It Robert de Kersauson, Fct Ben Coetzee. 16 Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies, Vol 6, Nr 4, 1976. http://scientiamilitaria.journals.ac.za a silhouette of a horseman in the distance State and the Cape Colony, religion is so and not wish to shoot the stranger? Would interwoven with all activities and events in this be possible? What a dream. life that this is considered quite natural. Therefore the chaplain spoke after Smuts as Most burghers and rebels could not think if it were something quite normal that a of the future and remained incredulous. servant of the Gospel should support the Others were less sceptical and appealed to arguments of a warrior. their own imagination, thinking of life in peace time. They wondered with emotion The chaplain admonished us, saying we whether they could initially get used to it, should trust God, who would not forsake His and not automatically seize their rifle and people. His were the same words of hope cartridges every morning, to run at an enemy as those of General Smuts, but with a reli- who had vanished after realizing the sense- gious flavour. A psalm proper to the occa- lessness of trying to destroy a free people. sion was sung with fervour. This showed me But for those who believed in a peace with the boundless confidence which these sons salvation of independence, these thoughts of Africa put in an almighty God who would ended in outbursts of joy. So they had not terminate their tribulations and redeem them assembled in vain every evening to pray to from the hands of the enemy. God for his help, they thought; God was just On 25 April 1902, Smuts left on the long and good, He had listened to their daily sup- journey to Vereeniging, escorted by 250 plications, He had heard the fervent prayers men'G and accompanied by our hopes and from their hearts to defend the weak against good wishes. After a journey of two days the strong, and right against wrong. in a westerly direction he was received with all military honours by Colonel Cooper, who Departure of General Smuts to Vereeniging ... gave him a safeguard to pass through the On the evening of 24 April, 1902, General British lines unhampered.
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