Genl. Frederick Albertus Grobler

Sterfkennis

FA Grobler fought in the first war of independence in the 1880's, and also in the 1890's against Makhado, Makgoba, Malebogo and Mphephu. In 1891 he was the veldkornet of Swagershoek, district of Waterberg. In October 1899 he served as assistant general for Waterberg and Soutpansberg. While there he also had to take care of the northern and north western border of ZAR. The first place where he made his presence felt was at Rhodesdrif, by blowing up the railway line to Bulawayo. His burghers refused to go and fight on the other side of the border. When Grobler was ordered to go to Colesberg in January 1900, he went under protest. Though he was second in command, he was not a particlular good assistant to General Lemmer.

After Bloemfontein fell he returned with Lemmer via the Eastern Free State to the ZAR, where in May 1900 he fought against lord Roberts at Kliprivier near Johannesburg and also at Tabaksberg. When Pretoria fell in June 1900, he returned to the north and acted as liaison between Generals Louis Botha and Koos de la Rey.