The Anglo-Boer-Zulu War Commemoration leaves attendees wanting more
The Anglo-Boer-Zulu War Commemoration held on June 30 at Haggards on Hilldrop, was an enlightening event, where visitors had the chance to go back in time and relive the life of Sir Henry Rider Haggard and his role in the first Boer war.
The Battle of Schuinshoogte was fought on February 8, 1881 during the First Boer War. A British convoy, which included a mail wagon, a few ambulances, with around 273 soldiers, left Mount Prospect in the early hours of February 8 under the command of General George Pomeroy Colley.
Colley’s plan was to protect all incoming and outgoing convoys from attacks by the Boers who were frequently active in the area.
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At the time however, the British forces were being closely monitored by the Boers following their beating Battle of Laing’s Nek, and during their passage over Schuinshoogte (via Ingogo) the British troops were ambushed by approximately 350 Boers, led by General Nicolaas Smit and Commander JD Weilbach.
Colley retaliated and deployed his troops in a semi-circle formation straddling the road, after which the Boers intensified their attack.
The skirmish lasted throughout the afternoon in blazing heat, before a sudden rain storm broke out which brought the battle to an abrupt end. The English used this storm to cover their retreat.
Four British officers and 63 troops died in the action and a number of soldiers were captured. The Boers had only 8 men killed and 6 troops injured.
The Anglo-Boer-Zulu War Commemoration held on June 30 at Haggards on Hilldrop, was an enlightening event, where visitors had the chance to go back in time and relive the life of Sir Henry Rider Haggard and his role in the first Boer war.
The presentation by Eksteen of the Fort Amiel Museum supplied a superb overview of the famous author’s life, and the Dundee Diehards held a mock battle re-enactment of the Battle of Schuinshoogte for the benefit of the people in attendance, to demonstrate what had occurred.
The day was a huge success according to Eksteen, and this was the first of many events planned by the Fort Amiel Museum for the future.
READ: Notice: Anglo-Boer War event in the sights
Saterdag, 30 Junie het Haggards on Hilldrop gasheer gespeel vir ‘n Anglo-Boere-oorlog/Zoeloe-oorlog herdenking, aangebied deur Fort Amiel Museum se bestuur.
Die herdenking het gefokus op Sir Henry Rider Haggard se rol in dié oorloë en tydens die verrigting het Louis Eksteen, kurator van Fort Amiel Museum, ‘n in-diepte praatjie aan gebied oor die geskiedenis van Haggard en die geskiedenis van Slag van Schuinshoogte.
Die Dundee Diehards het ook deel geneem aan die verrigtinge met ‘n skynoorlog en uitbeelding van die Slag van Schuinshoogte, van 1881.
Die Slag van Schuinshoogte was geveg op 8 Februarie 1881 tydens die Eerste Vryheidsoorlog. Britse manskappe, waaronder ambulanskoetse, ‘n poswa en ongeveer 273 bemanningslede het vroegoggend onder die bevel van Generaal George Pomeroy Colley vertrek vanaf Mount Prospect oppad na Newcastle.
Colley se plan was om alle inkomende en uitgaande konvooie te beskerm teen aanvalle van die Boere soldate wat in die omgewing gehuisves was.
Die Britte was egter in daardie tyd fyn dopgehou deur Boere troepe na afloop van die slag van Laing’s Nek, en gedurende hul uittog oor Schuinshoogte (in Ingogo) was hulle aangeval deur ongeveer 350 Boere.
Die Boere magte, onder leiding van Generaal Nicolaas Smit en Kommandant JD Weilbach, het met die Britte se aankoms oor die platoë van Schuinshoogte hul aanval begin. Colley het in reaksie sy troepe ontplooi aan weerskante van die pad waarna die Boere hul aanval versterk het.
Die skermutseling het die middag lank geduur in die bloedige hitte, voor ‘n skielike wolkbreek dit tot ‘n einde gebring het. Vier Britse offisiere en 63 troepe het omgekom en nog troepe is gevange geneem. Die Boere het slegs 8 oorledenes gehad en 6 troepe is gewond.
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