Anglo-Boere Oorlog/Boer War (1899-1902) Battle of Moordpoortjie / Slag van Moordpoortjie

About 7 kilometres outside of Frankfort lies Aanleg Guest Farm, where I stumbled across a superb guide to the area. Although a busy farmer, Bertie de Jager took the time and trouble to share his knowledge generously with me. Close to his farm, on 11 October 1900, there occurred a sharp little encounter which epitomises the sadness and savagery of the war as effectively as much greater and better-known battles like Spioenkop or Magersfontein. A small Boer force of about 54 men, keeping an eye on the garrison at Frankfort, took up a position in an isolated port concealed from the Vrede-Frankfort road. They posted a couple of vedettes - one at Jakkalslaagte on Aanleg Farm - and erected two large round tents for their comfort in the port.

In an unusual move for that time, the British sent out a force towards evening. Next morning, before daybreak, they were in position within spitting distance of the Boer camp. Surprise was complete. Christiaan Beyers, who got up early to see to the horses, suddenly found himself in the crossfire of the British ambush. Danie Cronje, from Vrede, was deaf so he was not woken by the opening shots; he died instantly when a bullet took him in his sleep. The shooting lasted no more than five minutes. By the time the Boers surrendered they had lost 11, including Veldkornet de Wet and two pairs of fathers and sons. The wounded and the captured were taken to Frankfort, and most were ultimately sent to St. Helena.

The skirmish is not mentioned in the Times History of the war and the site can be found only by someone with intimate local knowledge. Only a small plaque marks the general area, but when the wind blows through the grass in the poort, it moves the imagination to try to cope with the idea of fathers and sons perishing together and a man dying without ever hearing the shot that killed him.

It was believed that the Boers’ position was betrayed by a black servant called Stuurman, so that the deaths were seen as murder. Not recorded on maps, the site is known as Moordpoortjie.

taken from Battles of South Africa by Tim Couzens

Ongeveer 7 kilometer buite Frankfort lê Aanleg Gasteplaas, waar ek 'n uitstekende gids vir die omgewing raakgeloop het. Alhoewel hy 'n besige boer was, het Bertie de Jager die moeite gedoen om sy kennis mildelik met my te deel. Naby sy plaas, op 11 Oktober 1900, het daar 'n skerp ontmoeting plaasgevind wat die hartseer en wreedheid van die oorlog vertoon, tot dieselfde mate as soveel groter en meer bekende veldslae soos Spioenkop of Magersfontein. 'n Klein Boeremag van ongeveer 54 man, wat die garnisoen in Frankfort dopgehou het, het 'n posisie in 'n geïsoleerde poort wat van die Vrede-Frankfort-weg versteek was, ingeneem. Hulle het 'n paar vedette gepos - een by Jakkalslaagte op Aanleg Plaas - en twee groot ronde tente opgerig vir hul gemak in die poort.

In 'n ongewone weise vir daardie tyd het die Britte teen die aand 'n mag uitgestuur. Volgende oggend, voor dagbreek, was hulle binne spoegafstand van die Boerekamp in posisie. Die verrassing was volledig. Christiaan Beyers, wat vroeg opstaan ​​om na die perde te kyk, bevind hom skielik in die kruisvuur van die Britse lokval. Danie Cronje, van Vrede, was doof, sodat hy nie deur die aanvangskote wakker gemaak is nie; hy sterf onmiddellik toe 'n koeël hom in sy slaap neem. Die skietery het nie langer as vyf minute geduur nie. Teen die tyd dat die Boere oorgegee het, het hulle 11 verloor, waaronder Veldkornet de Wet en twee vaders en seuns. Die gewondes en gevangenes is na Frankfort geneem, en die meeste is uiteindelik na St. Helena verban.

Die skermutseling word nie in die Times History of the war genoem nie, en die webwerf kan slegs deur iemand met intieme plaaslike kennis gevind word. Slegs 'n klein gedenkplaatjie merk die algemene area, maar as die wind deur die gras in die poort waai, beweeg dit die verbeelding om die idee te probeer hanteer dat vaders en seuns hier saam vergaan het, en dat 'n man gesterf het sonder om ooit die skoot te hoor wat hom doodgemaak het.

Daar is geglo dat die Boere se posisie verraai is deur 'n swart dienaar genaamd Stuurman, sodat die sterftes as moord gesien is. Die ligging word nie op kaarte aangeteken nie, maar staan ​​bekend as Moordpoortjie.

vertaal uit Battles of South Africa deur Tim Couzens

Present At The Battle Of Moordpoortjie: / Teenwoording By Die Slag Van Moordpoortjie:

A

B

• 15660 Jan Jurgens Badenhorst Rebel
  • 35 Boomplaats Vrede Frankfort captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900.
• 15689 Sarel Francois van Biljon
  • 31 Damascus Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena
• 15690 Petrus Jacobus van Biljon
  • 34 Blydschap Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena
• 15704 Wilhelm Adrian Bosch
  • 54 Groenplaats Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena

C

D

E

F

G

• 15858 Jan Herman Gilliomee
  • 33 Villiers Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.
• 15859 Jurie Johannes Gilliomee
  • 26 Villiers Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.

H

I

• 15927 Johan Diederick Ingever
  • 46 Naauwpoort Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.

J

K

• 15976 Gerhardus Johannes Koen
  • 42 Wilge Riversdraai Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.
• 15977 Petrus Gerhardus Lourens Koen
  • 38 Wilge Riversdraai Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.
• 15978 Matthys Johannes Koen 1878 - 1939
  • 22 Wilge Riversdraai Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.

L

• 16028 Petrus Cornelis Lourens 1852 -
  • 47 Schurvepoort Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.

M

• 16070 Hendrik Cornelis Meyer To Be Confirmed
  • 50 Rietspruit Winburg Lower Wittebergen captured at Rietspruit 11 October 1900, received 20 December 1900.
• 16082 Cornelius Theodorus Mostert
  • 17 Damascus Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.

N

• 16093 Jan Lodewikus Naude To Be Confirmed
  • 30 Wellington Heilbron Kromellenboog captured Vrede 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.

O

P

• 16142 Hendrik Petrus Peters To Be Confirmed
  • 31 Wellington Heilbron Vechtkop captured Groenplaats 11 November 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.
• 16183 Dirk Potgieter
  • 14 Blydschap Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.

Q

R

• 16238 Gert Thomas van Rooyen To Be Confirmed
  • 59 Stoompomp Winburg Lower Wittebergen captured Stoompomp 11 October 1900, received 20 December 1900.

S

T

U

V

W

• 16464 Daniel Rudolf de Wet 1883 - 1965
  • 17 Groenplaats Vrede Wilge River captured Groenplaats 11 October 1900, received 7 December 1900. St. Helena.

X

Y

Z

Boer Killed In Action At Moordpoortjie: / Burghers Gensneuwel By DIe Slag Van Moordpoortjie:

A

B

• M. de Beer
• Jurie Johannes Cornelis Blom 1856 - 1900

C

• G.J.D. Crause
• Daniel Christiaan "Danie" Cronje 1865 - 1900

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

• N.J.G. de Jager

K

L

• Frans Jacobus Lotz 1852 - 1900
• Pieter Marthinus Lourens Lotz 1883 - 1900
• Petrus Jacobus "Piet" Lourens 1882 - 1900

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

• Gert Diederick Victor 1853 - 1900
• Gert Diederick Victor 1874 - 1900

W

• Jacobus Ignatius "Koos" de Wet 1855 - 1900

X

Y

Z

British Killed in Action At Moordpoortjie: / Britse Soldate Gesneuwel By Die Slag Van Moordpoortjie:

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

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