Andries Hendrik Steenkamp

Included in the list of children in the death notice of his mother, Hester Martha Aletta Steenkamp (born Dreyer). Oral testimony of his surviving father, Jan Harm Steenkamp.

See: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS92-Z31F-F?i=759&cat=...

For his own death notice, see: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS92-89NW-5?i=303&cat=...

And also: https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS92-Z73C-9?i=180&cat=...

He was part of the P Retief commando and surrendered to Gen. Knott's troops (possibly Major William Knott 1859-1924 or his brother Henry Knott) on 15 June 1901 at Bushman's Kop (farm belonging to his brother-in-law Casper Labuschagne) adjoining his own farm of Mooihoek. On 16 June 1901 Knott's troops raided / destroyed Mooihoek.

His brothers Thomas, Rudolf (or Roelof), Jan, Hermanus and Lukas were part of the Vryheid commando, apparently all final surrenderers.

Andries Hendrik was interred in the Volksrust camp in June 1901, then transferred to Jacob's Siding on 16 February 1902.

Information from his claim for compensation dated 1903 ref. 195 (TAB).

Andries Hendrik died in Jacobs Siding concentration camp: From British Concentration Camps of the South African War 1900-1902 http://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Person/19115/Andries_Hendrik_Ste...

Name: Mr Andries Hendrik Steenkamp

• Born in camp? No
• Place of death: Jacobs RC
• Age died: 43 years
• Died in camp? Yes
• Cause of death: ziekte
• Gender: male
• Race: white
• Nationality: Transvaal
• Unique ID: 19115

Camp History

• Name: Jacobs Siding RC

Farm History

• Name: Mooihoek
• District: Piet Retief

Sources

• Title: RS 27 Transvaal DL
• Type: Death lists
• Location: National Archives, Pretoria
• Reference No.: RS 27
• Notes: p.390

He had obviously lost his farm Mooihoek, in the Piet Retief district, and his death notice notes that his will was lost or destroyed in the war.

He was survived by his wife Anna Franscina (born Labuschagne) who filed his death notice in July 1903.

The Jacobs camp was erected approximately three kilometres north of Merebank during February 1902.

Jacobs was the final Natal concentration camp to close during February 1903 when the last inhabitant, Heila de Beer, aged 15, passed away. During its existence 47 people died and were buried in the Jacobs concentration camp cemetery.

The Wentworth concentration camp opened during March 1902, about 1 kilometre from the Jacobs camp. This camp was one of the first camps to close down during September 1902. Only 17 inhabitants died in the Wentworth camp.

Each of these two camps housed 3,000 people. The Jacobs and Wentworth concentration camps were the closest to the ideal concentration camps for the British authorities and reflected all the lessons learned from the camps in the Transvaal and Free State.

They were preplanned in totality as small towns with decent housing, schools, hospitals as well as enough equipment and supplies and competent superintendents. This kind of planning made life more bearable for the inhabitants and easier for administration.

http://www.natal-accommodation.co.za/battlefields/battlefields_pow_...