Barnabas Gerhard Brecher

BRECHER, Barnabas Gerhard, Born 17 January 1851 at Steinkop, Cape Colony, son of the Reverand F. Brecher, Rhenish Society Mission, Steinkop. Educated at the South African College, Cape Town. Went from Namaqualand to Transvaal via the Kalahari desert in 1876. After the end of the Anglo-Zulu War served with the Swazi Contingent against Sekukuni. Married 30 November 1880 to Catherine Elizabeth, daughter of the late Jakobus Fredrik Potgieger, five children. Served in the Transvaal War 1880-81 being present at Amajuba. Represented Vryheid in the second Volkstaad in Pretoria for ten years and was also the Deputy Chairman of the Vryheid Local Board. Served with the Boer Commando in the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902, being wounded in action at Talana. Member of Piet Retief's Special Court and appointed Landdrost of Vryheid in 1901. Taken prisoner by the British in 1902 and incarcerated at Umbilo's Camp. Released at the end of the conflict and started his owen Auctioneer's business. Was born in Namaqualand ; was educated at the S.A. Coll., and went to the S.A.R. in 1875, trekking through the Kalahari, Kimberley and the Free States, and settling in Utrecht Dist. He served in the Zulu War " for money," and in the Transvaal War for his adopted country. In 1884 he joined the filibusters who founded the New Republic, after- wards incorporated with the Transvaal, and recently tacked on to Natal. He was elected for Vryheid in the Transvaal Second Volksraad was balloted out of the Raad in 1891, but was afterwards re-elected by a large majority."