A Video Report by Dr.Dirt:
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Saturday, December 18, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Trial & Execution
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After Scheepers recovered sufficiently he was taken to Noupoort and eventually to Graaff-Reinet.
Although, Scheepers was an officer of the Free State Artillery and therefore a prisoner of war, he was put on trial in Graaff-Reinet by a military court on charges of murder, arson and demolishing of trains. The arson charge was because he gave orders to burn down the farmsteads of two British sympathisers - a crime the British themselves were guilty of. In their Scorched Earth Policy they burnt down over 33 000 farmsteads in the Free State and the Transvaal, destroying all crops, orchards and livestock and in some cases even burning down village churches.
Scheepers admitted during his trial that he had committed acts of arson, but claimed that he had acted at all times on the orders of his superior officers.
He drew the court's attention to the dubious evidence laid against him by the witnesses and to the fact that he was denied the right to call his own witnesses. He also brought to notice the unfairness of the proceedings whereby all evidence heard against him was accepted as the truth, but his own testimony had been rejected, asking how he could be tried before such a prejudiced court.
He was found guilty and sentenced to death.
Promulgation of sentence on Scheepers (in white trousers, second from right in centre), 17 January 1902.
(Photo: William Roe Collection)
While waiting for his sentence to be carried out he wrote several letters to family and friends (most notably his mother) and filled his diary.
Commandant Gideon Scheepers was executed by a firing squad beside an open grave in the veld near Graaff-Reinet.
These dramatic photographs of Scheepers' execution were secretly taken by a British soldier. It later fell into the hands of MJ Leibbrandt and is the only indication of the location of Scheepers' grave. In the top photograph, he is being tied to his chair, and and in the bottom photograph, he is reeling back after the firing squad had hit their mark.
Photographs: Cape Archives
He was buried at the place of execution. However, that same night his body was apparently exhumed by British troops and reburied at an unknown spot. The grave was leveled off as you would when you bury a dog.
His execution caused an outcry in South Africa and abroad. Protests were made in the British Parliament and the United States of America, as he was not treated in accordance to the Geneva Convention. There was also a serious doubt as to whether a British military court was competent to pass a sentence of death on a prisoner of war while the war was still raging.
After the war Gideon Scheepers' mother tried desperately to get his last letters and diary, but the British refused. She wrote letters to the papers appealing to the Generals for help, as well as letters to the public prosecutor. Even though the war was over all her attempts were in vain.
Even more shameful was the British refusal to assist in the return of the body of her son who had always wanted to be buried on the family farm in Middelburg where he was born. All information were cruelly withheld and the location of Scheepers' grave is unknown to this day.
The execution has now generally been condemned by Boer and Briton as a disgraceful act. Scheepers' achievements in the war were adequate to ensure that his memory would endure, but the manner of his death elevated him to the rank of martyr.
The Gideon Scheepers Memorial near Graaff-Reinet:
A memorial to honour this Afrikaner hero was erected by the Graaff-Reinet Afrikaans Cultural Soceity. This memorial can be found approximatley 2km from the town on the Murraysburg road, on a site as near as possible to the place of execution.
The memorial comprises of three rocks from the vicinity supporting a stainless steel needle , symbolising the spirit of hope and faith in God. The largest rock represents the steadfastness of the then young Afrikaner nation. The two tilted boulders it supports symbolise this nation - suppressed but not fallen. A fourth boulder alongside bears the inscription.
There also is an Anglo-Boer War Memorial monument at the corner of Donkin and Somerset Streets in Graaff-Reinet:
It was erected "in memory of the fallen in the struggle for Freedom and Justice" - Anglo-Boer War 1899 - 1902.
The monument commemorates the eight Boers who were executed in Graaff-Reinet. The authorities refused to allow the erection of the memorial on public property. It was finally erected on private land donated by Jurie Laubscher. The design of the marble monument made in Italy, was reputedly based on photographs of Boer soldiers. It was unveiled on 2 December 1908 by General Grobler.
On 31 Mei 1999 another monument was unveiled in the Langkloof at the location of his last big battle.
An inscription at the monument quotes some of Gideon Scheepers' last words before his execution:
"Een troos het ek darem gehad, dat ek my regering tot op die laaste oomblik getrou gedien het en dat ek alles in my vermoë gedoen het om ons regverdige saak op die regte wyse te steun."
Another inscription reads:
In Middelburg se kerk staan duidelik in die doopregister sy geboorte aangemerk. En, soos waneer jy tussen vinger en die duim die wit son rol en skitter in 'n diamant, sou hy deur Vrystaat en Transvaal se leiblou ruim uit spieëls ons stryd laat blits en straal van rant tot rant. Maar hy moes sterf: Die Dood het self hom eers gejag deur kou riviere van die Kaap, dwarsoor Anysberg tot in die buitekamer op 'n plaas waar hy een nag in koue sweet moes lê. En na die skyn verhoor het hulle hom vertel... voor Graaf Reinet se sel. O Graaf Reinet se sel!
Hy was gewone kryger, Heer en geen rebel.
Uit: Gebed om die gebeente: DJ Opperman
Commandant Gideon Scheepers:
4 April 1878 - 18 January 1902
"He was an ordinary warrior, Lord and no rebel."
Sources: SA History; Antjieskraal or Blood River Station; Boer War Autographs; Karoopark; Innocent blood; Graaff Reinet
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After Scheepers recovered sufficiently he was taken to Noupoort and eventually to Graaff-Reinet.
Although, Scheepers was an officer of the Free State Artillery and therefore a prisoner of war, he was put on trial in Graaff-Reinet by a military court on charges of murder, arson and demolishing of trains. The arson charge was because he gave orders to burn down the farmsteads of two British sympathisers - a crime the British themselves were guilty of. In their Scorched Earth Policy they burnt down over 33 000 farmsteads in the Free State and the Transvaal, destroying all crops, orchards and livestock and in some cases even burning down village churches.
Scheepers admitted during his trial that he had committed acts of arson, but claimed that he had acted at all times on the orders of his superior officers.
He drew the court's attention to the dubious evidence laid against him by the witnesses and to the fact that he was denied the right to call his own witnesses. He also brought to notice the unfairness of the proceedings whereby all evidence heard against him was accepted as the truth, but his own testimony had been rejected, asking how he could be tried before such a prejudiced court.
He was found guilty and sentenced to death.
Promulgation of sentence on Scheepers (in white trousers, second from right in centre), 17 January 1902.
(Photo: William Roe Collection)
While waiting for his sentence to be carried out he wrote several letters to family and friends (most notably his mother) and filled his diary.
Commandant Gideon Scheepers was executed by a firing squad beside an open grave in the veld near Graaff-Reinet.
These dramatic photographs of Scheepers' execution were secretly taken by a British soldier. It later fell into the hands of MJ Leibbrandt and is the only indication of the location of Scheepers' grave. In the top photograph, he is being tied to his chair, and and in the bottom photograph, he is reeling back after the firing squad had hit their mark.
Photographs: Cape Archives
He was buried at the place of execution. However, that same night his body was apparently exhumed by British troops and reburied at an unknown spot. The grave was leveled off as you would when you bury a dog.
His execution caused an outcry in South Africa and abroad. Protests were made in the British Parliament and the United States of America, as he was not treated in accordance to the Geneva Convention. There was also a serious doubt as to whether a British military court was competent to pass a sentence of death on a prisoner of war while the war was still raging.
After the war Gideon Scheepers' mother tried desperately to get his last letters and diary, but the British refused. She wrote letters to the papers appealing to the Generals for help, as well as letters to the public prosecutor. Even though the war was over all her attempts were in vain.
Even more shameful was the British refusal to assist in the return of the body of her son who had always wanted to be buried on the family farm in Middelburg where he was born. All information were cruelly withheld and the location of Scheepers' grave is unknown to this day.
The execution has now generally been condemned by Boer and Briton as a disgraceful act. Scheepers' achievements in the war were adequate to ensure that his memory would endure, but the manner of his death elevated him to the rank of martyr.
The Gideon Scheepers Memorial near Graaff-Reinet:
A memorial to honour this Afrikaner hero was erected by the Graaff-Reinet Afrikaans Cultural Soceity. This memorial can be found approximatley 2km from the town on the Murraysburg road, on a site as near as possible to the place of execution.
The memorial comprises of three rocks from the vicinity supporting a stainless steel needle , symbolising the spirit of hope and faith in God. The largest rock represents the steadfastness of the then young Afrikaner nation. The two tilted boulders it supports symbolise this nation - suppressed but not fallen. A fourth boulder alongside bears the inscription.
There also is an Anglo-Boer War Memorial monument at the corner of Donkin and Somerset Streets in Graaff-Reinet:
It was erected "in memory of the fallen in the struggle for Freedom and Justice" - Anglo-Boer War 1899 - 1902.
The monument commemorates the eight Boers who were executed in Graaff-Reinet. The authorities refused to allow the erection of the memorial on public property. It was finally erected on private land donated by Jurie Laubscher. The design of the marble monument made in Italy, was reputedly based on photographs of Boer soldiers. It was unveiled on 2 December 1908 by General Grobler.
On 31 Mei 1999 another monument was unveiled in the Langkloof at the location of his last big battle.
An inscription at the monument quotes some of Gideon Scheepers' last words before his execution:
"Een troos het ek darem gehad, dat ek my regering tot op die laaste oomblik getrou gedien het en dat ek alles in my vermoë gedoen het om ons regverdige saak op die regte wyse te steun."
Another inscription reads:
In Middelburg se kerk staan duidelik in die doopregister sy geboorte aangemerk. En, soos waneer jy tussen vinger en die duim die wit son rol en skitter in 'n diamant, sou hy deur Vrystaat en Transvaal se leiblou ruim uit spieëls ons stryd laat blits en straal van rant tot rant. Maar hy moes sterf: Die Dood het self hom eers gejag deur kou riviere van die Kaap, dwarsoor Anysberg tot in die buitekamer op 'n plaas waar hy een nag in koue sweet moes lê. En na die skyn verhoor het hulle hom vertel... voor Graaf Reinet se sel. O Graaf Reinet se sel!
Hy was gewone kryger, Heer en geen rebel.
Uit: Gebed om die gebeente: DJ Opperman
Commandant Gideon Scheepers:
4 April 1878 - 18 January 1902
"He was an ordinary warrior, Lord and no rebel."
Sources: SA History; Antjieskraal or Blood River Station; Boer War Autographs; Karoopark; Innocent blood; Graaff Reinet
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Captured!
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A messenger was send to Prince Albert to inform the British about his whereabouts so he could receive proper medical care. On 11 October 1901 Scheepers surrendered to Captain Shearmann of the Hussars who arrived at Kopjeskraal.
Dr. J.H. Mearns was called out from Prince Albert to come examine Scheepers and when he was moved from the Kopjeskraal farmstead to Blood River Station Dr. Mearns accompanied his patient. At Blood River station they had to wait for the train for three hours, so the British commandeered the farmhouse on the nearby Antjieskraal so that Scheepers could occupy a bedroom.
Today Blood River staion is known as Antjieskraal Siding.
Antjieskraal siding can be reached from the N1 via a gravel road of about 4km. The turnoff is about 60km northeast of Laingsburg and 24 km southwest of Prince Albert Road. It is marked by an old fashioned road sign stating ‘Bloedrivier.’
The house in which Gideon Scheepres was held is situated on the farm Elim, which today belongs to Lucas and Jacoline Botes. Scheepers was held in the room on the left:
The house looks quite different today. It has been joined to the building next door. Scheepers' room's window is in the middle:
My planning for this section sucked as I arrived at the farm just before lunch, but the Botes family invited me in, showed me around, shared information about Gideon Scheepers I did not know yet and even invited me for lunch! Mrs. Botes has a whole scrap book about Scheepers and even some copies of his diary (written in Dutch).
I really respected the fact that these people did not merely live in this house, but studied the history and embraced it.
This is what the room Gideon Scheepers was held in looks like today:
According to Scheepers' diary English soldiers surrounded the house, shouting obscenities and making a racket to prevent him from resting.
Both the Blood River (Ketting) and Dwyka Blockhouses can be reached from this farm.
During the war Kitchener had built a series of Blockhouses to protect the railway lines and bridges (the railway line was the fastest means of communication). In the end there were over 8 000 blockhouses built during the war. Some 50 000 men were deployed to guard all these and the length of blockhouse lines covered 6 000 KM. The whole cost of erecting the blockhouses with all their entanglements, was over £1 000 000.
Blockhouses were at first put up at 2.5 Km intervals on the main railway lines but the large intervals between blockhouses did not stop Boer commandos from crossing the railway lines at night. As the war progressed the interval between blockhouses was reduced down to as low as 700 meters.
Apart from sentry duty there was nothing to do at these blockhouses. A Tommy Adkins (euphemism for an ordinary British soldier) became jumpy and ill tempered. Once in a summer night storm the tin cans connected to the trip wires was rattled. This caused the Tommy Adkins to fire a fusillade of shot into the darkness. When one of the automatic flares was tripped, all blockhouses that saw the signal began to fire even when nothing was visible in the dark. In one such occasion the firing spread up and down the line for about 160 Kilometres.
There are two blockhouses here at the Dwyka River and one at Blood River.
Blockhouses next to Dwyka:
The blockhouse at Blood River (Ketting siding) were the inspiration (with the ruined Blood River bridge) for Kipling's poem: "Bridge Guard in the Karoo"
The same block house from a different angle:
When the train came the English soldiers were still vying for Scheepers' blood, shouting "Chuck him out! Chuck him out!" as the train left.
From Blood River Station Scheepers was taken to Matjiesfontein and Beaufort West where he was treated while under strict military guard.
Photo from this site.
Colonel Scobell regularly visited Scheepers and they discussed their many skirmishes. Scobell held Scheepers in high esteem. He wrote in his diary: “He is evidently a very clever fellow. He told me I was called the Night Devil by his men.
Sources: Antjieskraal or Blood River Station; Boer War Autographs; The Great Boer War; Karoopark; Blockhouses of the Boer War
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Prins Albert
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A British garrison was established in Prins Albert under Capt. Dr. John Mearns. Their camp, Rooikamp, extended from the West side of Klip street to the Hill behind.
This is a photo of Prince Albert as it was after the Anglo-Boer War, circa 1909:
(Photo: Fransie Pienaar Museum)
During the war the local populace had to obtain a permit if they wished to move from one area to another. This is what the permits looked like:
(Anna Oosthuizen, 1902)
Twenty-five rebels from the Prince Albert area joined the Boer forces including four persons from Gamkaskloof (three from the family Cordier).
The church in Prince Albert was completed in 1865 and declared a national monument in 1988. During the war the British used the church as a fort. Sand bags were packed in front of the church and the tower was used as a lookout.
(Photo: Fransie Pienaar Museum)
The church today:
As reported earlier there were a few skirmishes between commando's and troops in the area. The Boers in the Cape Colony were clearly gaining the upper hand. The train wrecking and sabotage activities of Boer commandos deep behind English lines were an embarrassment and Kitchener had to do something. Never before had he taken such strong personal control of a campaign during the war.
In June he ordered Boers to be permanently banished from South Africa and he also ordered execution of Rebels, but in the second half of 1901 the British were still trying to catch the most successful Boer guerrillas on the run in the Southern Cape - Commandants Gideon Scheepers and Cornelius Lotter.
These two had long been a thorn in the side of the British. Scheepers had infested the southern districts for some months, and he had distinguished himself both by the activity of his movements and by the ruthless vigour of some of his actions.
The man detailed by General French to catch Lotter and Scheepers was Harry J. Scobell, a Colonel of the 5th Lancers.
Photo from this site.
Scobell was a distinguished officer who hunted the commandos of Scheepers and Lotter with vigor. More about Scobell in my Cornelius Lotter project.
9 October 1901: As usual the post was carried to Prince Albert Road by Jan Haak's post coach pulled by eight mules. After leaving the Hotel in Prince Albert he stopped at his halfway stop at Botterkraal where he suddenly was surrounded by Scheepers and his men. Everything of value was taken from the mail bags and the rest of the mail burned. Six of the eight mules were seized, leaving the post coach stranded.
10 October 1901: Scheepers' commando arrive at the farm Kopjeskraal about 20km from Botterkraal. The Commandant was seriously ill (probably appendicitis). He had fever, could no longer ride his horse and had to be helped into the house.
Having been pursued by the British for some time and to ill to travel any further Commandant Scheepers instructed his men too leave him behind on Kopjeskraal. His coloured groom, Hendrik, did not want to leave him. Another member of the commando, Karl Lehmkuhl (16 years old), broke down when they had to take leave of Scheepers.
Scheepers’ commando left the farmstead on 10 October 1901 in two groups, one under Hans Pypers and the other under Schalk Pypers.
The farm Kopjeskraal - This photo was taken by David Luttig around 1910:
(Photo: Fransie Pienaar Museum)
The house is in ruins today. It was destroyed in a flood.
The commando under Hans Pypers joined Comdt. van Deventer near Murraysburg. The other commando under Schalk Pypers joined Gen. Smuts at Willowmore.
Sources: Antjieskraal or Blood River Station; Boer War Autographs; The Great Boer War
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Scheepers in the Langkloof
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The Langkloof is the valley that lies between the Kamanasie and Kouga Mountains in the North and the Outeniqua, Langkloof, Kareedouw and Tsitsikamma Mountains in the South, with Herold (Just North of George) in the West and Humansdorp on the Eastern end.
In 1901 there were communities (with post offices) at Kareedouw, Twee Rivieren, Krakeelrivier, Misgund, Haarlem, Avontuur en Uniondale. Apart from the strong British Force at Uniondale, the British also had a camp on the bank of the Waboomsrivier where Joubertina is today.
Amazingly Joubertina, one of the biggest towns in the Langkloof today, did not exist yet in 1901.
Boer scouts came upon this camp and captured 7 members of the garrison (including one Boer spy). From here they moved to Krakeel (ironically "Krakeel" means "fighting" in Dutch) where they burned the Post Office.
According to the locals this is the old Post Office building:
It's a great pity it is not being maintained in it's original state.
On an interesting side note - some of the fruit farmers in the Langkloof are descendants of Matthijs Strijdom who had the original farm (1770) where Krakeel is today. One of the descendants was the father of J.G. Strijdom who became the Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa (1954 - 1958).
Another old building I spotted in Krakeel:
This house would look great with a thatched roof.
Next the Boer Commando moved further West down the Langkloof to Misgund where they burned the shop and liquor store of Stone. According to my research the Stately double story building is called the "Dry Hotel" to this day.
I searched and searched in Misgund and while I found some old buildings none were double story, until I found this building right next to the road. This has to be it as there are no alternatives. It's privately owned so I could not get close.
Moving further along the Langkloof you find the farm Ongelegen:
A British garrison once wanted to camp here and have their horses rest in the cow stables. The farmer flatly refused. They warned him that his name would be written in the law books with red ink, to which he replied that they can write it in chicken sh*t if they wanted, but they are not staying on his farm. The garrison then reluctantly continued to Uniondale.
19 August 1901: Gideon Scheepers, with a Commando that grew to 270 men, continued travelling West to Avontuur, but just before they reached it they were engaged by a British force that travelled over the mountain from Uniondale to intercept them.
This would be the last big battle Scheepers would take part in and there is an Anglo-Boer War monument commemorating the event.
As soon as the British attacked Scheepers' Commando they devided into three groups and returned fire. They drove the British forces back up the mountain where heavy fighting followed. The Boers had two wounded while the British had several casualties.
There was a funny incident when "Gesiggie", a boy (aged 11) who helped out on Commando, saw four British soldiers hiding behind a bush. He took them prisoner while he himself was not even armed!
After this Battle Scheepers moved up the Langkloof and as far as Calitzdorp without being engaged by any force of significance.
This photo of Commandant Scheepers and his commando was taken on 24 September 1901 at the Kango Hotel near Oudtshoorn.
(Photo: Fransie Pienaar Museum)
They then turned North towards Prins Albert where more Brittish soldiers were stationed.
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