An Australian group, as well as South African history lovers, joined with members of the community to follow the very interesting Skirmishes Route on June 1.

Toward the end of the Anglo Boer War (1899-1902) a series of skirmishes took place in the Zoutpansberg area. In these skirmishes, the Australian Bushveldt Carbineers (BVC), with famous (in Australia) or notorious (in South Africa) lieutenants Harry “Breaker’ Morant and Peter Hancock amongst others, played an important role.

After a quick visit to Fort Hendrina in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) the tour made a stop at the missionary house in Elim where the German Missionary, Rev Daniel Heese, possibly stayed. He was shot as a civilian in the Anglo Boer War. For Rev Heese’s grand-daughter, Prof Malie Smuts, and other members of the Heese family, a gap was filled when they saw the historical places their grandfather had been to.

The group drove past the Alexis Thomas Hydro Electric mill where electricity was generated for Elim hospital long before Louis Trichardt had electricity.

The drive to the house of Col. Adolf Schiel, formerly from the Prussian Infantry, at Rossbach passed by the national monument of Lemana College. The school was first located in the building at Rossbach and moved out in 1906. Part of the building could have been used as stables. Dr Craig Wilcox, military historian from Australia, pointed out that the oval window used in the building was commonly used in cavalry barracks in Europe.

At the historic home of the Schiel-family with its fortified veranda walls, the ‘shady’ character of Schiel came to life in the words of Charles Leach. The nooks for the canons could be seen. Dr Wilcox added that Rossbach was the name of a Prussian military victory (veldslag).

The tour group went on foot on a road winding through a forest on Poog Henning’s farm to see the monument in honour of the van Staden family.

“The father and both his sons – the younger, about 12-years-old and dying of malaria – were shot by a firing squad of the BVC. It is difficult to understand why Trooper Botha (a ‘Joiner’) actually requested permission to shoot the ailing youngster!” said Charles Leach. Dr Wilcox commended Leach on the fact that he did not conceal Australian ‘murderers’ nor a South African ‘murderer’ who committed evil deeds against the Van Staden family.

The original Sweetwaters Hotel of Charlie Bristow was a highlight of the tour, where enchanting stories were told. Tourists could imagine hearing Cmdt Beyers playing the piano when he was interrupted by an unexpected attack from the enemy. Leach said that the ‘notorious’ Captain ‘Bulala’ Taylor had also frequented the hotel. The Bristow descendants were later teased to disclose on whose side they were.

At the Fort Edward site was the base of A and B Squadrons of the BVC and also the place for a welcome lunch for the group. Four grave markers mark the graves of troopers, including Trooper van Buuren, who were originally buried there. The Fort Edward monument displays a map of the whole area indicating the historical sites. This monument was unveiled in 2001 by the Australian High Commissioner, HE Mr D M Connolly. Mr Ferdie Preller, who formed part of the group, was on the Limpopo committee for the commemorating of the Anglo Boer War. As Leach said “On this tour, there are more tour leaders than tour members.”

At the same site is the monument of Constable William Eagle, who died on 10 October, 1908, in Elim Hospital from wounds sustained in an encounter with a lion. He was the only North American Indian to serve in the old Transvaal police. Mr Cobus Holtzkampf from Louis Trichardt is also researching the fascinating story of William Eagle and new pieces of the puzzle will soon be known.

The last magnificent site was the Vliegenpan Battle site where Cmdt Beyers had his men well positioned and sent the British forces fleeing tail between legs.