John Alexander Baxter

John Alexander Baxter (b. 1879) was the eldest of his brothers and fought for the Boers in the Boer War of 1899-1902. When the war had started, the eldest sons asked their father what they should do, and he told them to fight for the country in which they were born. John was captured by the British wearing Khaki and was executed by firing squad in October 1901.

The families of men fighting against the British were interred in concentration camps, so meanwhile Edward, Martha and the rest of the family ended up in Volksrust Camp.

In the cemetery of Aberdeen you will find the grave of John Alexander Baxter. The inscription on the stone reads, in Afrikaans, ‘Judged by a military court of law’ and ‘Executed on the farm Goewermentsvlei’.

John Alexander Baxter was born in Newcastle, Natal and named after his grandfather the Reverend John Baxter, who came from England.

By the end 1901 the British ‘scorched earth’ policy had reduced Boer forces to small groups on the run and constantly looking for food, clothing and shelter. British khaki uniforms were much in demand – but, unknown to the Boers, a decree had been issued that any burger captured wearing a British uniform would immediately be executed.

John joined the commando of General Liebenberg. Early one morning, the young Baxter was returning to his commando after standing watch during the night on the farm Goevermentsvlei in the Aberdeen district. He never got back to his camp. On the way he stopped and enquired of a shepherd as to the whereabouts of his camp. Thinking he was British, the shepherd directed him towards the British columns. Baxter walked straight into the enemy’s camp, and was court-marshalled the same day and sentenced to death by firing squad.

Before his execution Baxter asked for a pipe and a pinch of tobacco. He also enjoyed a glass of whisky with Scobell. After he was granted time to write to his father he knelt down in prayer. In one of his letters he thanked his commandant, Ben Bouwer, and his fellow commando members for their loyalty.

Dear Parents,

I was captured as a prisoner of war this morning and sentenced to death for wearing khaki clothes. Do not be filled with grief, my dear parents, because it is the will of the Lord and I will enter into death with the knowledge that I will be with Him from now and to eternity. I left my Will with HS Esquire in Klerksdorp. God bless you all.

Greetings from your loved one.

JA Baxter

Sourced/extracts from:

• [[http://www.aberdeen-sa.co.za/abd-att-cemetery.htm#top]%28http://www.aberdeen-sa.co.za/abd-att-cemetery.htm#top%29 http://www.aberdeen-sa.co.za/abd-att-cemetery.htm#top](http://www.aberdeen-sa.co.za/abd-att-cemetery.htm#top)]
• [[http://www.saforums.co.za/rlt/index.php?topic=8500.0;wap2]%28http://www.saforums.co.za/rlt/index.php?topic=8500.0%3Bwap2%29 http://www.saforums.co.za/rlt/index.php?topic=8500.0;wap2](http://www.saforums.co.za/rlt/index.php?topic=8500.0%3Bwap2)]