ANGLO-BOER WAR INVOLVEMENT OF
VAN RENSBURG'S

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VAN RENSBURG WITH JACK HINDON
In the book by Jacques Malan "Die Boere Officiere 1899 - 1902" there was b1c3d5e5f10g4 Lieutenant Gert Hendrik van Rensburg * Bloemfontein 22 May 1874, and he was in Captain Jack Hindon Korps. He got married 23 May 1905 to Sarah Gertruida Cornelia Louw she was born 6 Dec 1884. Captain Jack Hindon (Hinton) was a notorious Boer train sabotage gang leader. He derailed a train on 10 August 1901 between Pretoria and Naboomspruit.

Alta Roux rroux@yebo.co.za wie 'n kleinkind was van die broer van Gert Hendrik van Rensburg het die volgende inligting verskaf:

Gert van Rensburg en sy vrou Sera, met hulle oudste kind
(Foto c1907 verskaf deur Alta Roux)

Theunis Meyer Janse van Rensburg *11.7.1842 Buffelskraal Albertinia ~25.12.1842 Riversdal +23.8.1917 en begrawe Schoongezicht Kendal. Boer, het agv hartprobleme nie aan ABO deelgeneem nie. X Anna Margaretha Rautenbach *10.7.1848 Jakhalsvlei, Herbertsvlei ~24.9.1848 Langetou, Herbertsvlei + 13.4.1920 en begrawe Schoongezicht Kendal. Vroedvrou.

Hulle het 17 kinders gehad. Die vierde kind was Gert Hendrik Rautenbach Janse van Rensburg *22 Mei 1874 distr Bloemfontein.
Hy is in 'n wa gebore omdat sy ouers op trek was vanaf die kolonie na die Vrystaat. ~ 4 Okt 1874 Bloemfontein. Sy ouers vestig hulle in die Hoopstad distrik (op Libertas) en hier word Gert groot. Sy ouers 'boer uit' op Libertas en hulle trek na die Bothaville distrik. (Vierfontein, volgens my tannie, maar dit kon ek nog nie bevestig nie.) Voor die ABO trek hulle na die huidige Mpumalanga. Volgens my eie aantekeninge, maar sonder 'n bronverwysing (!) het die familie op die plaas Klippoort, noord van Witbank gewoon tydens die ABO, en die ma en jonger kinders was in die Middelburg konsentrasiekamp. Oom Gert en oupa Alwyn was skynbaar twee avontuurlustige jong manne, en nie een was getroud nie. Weier om oor te gee en word Bittereinders - tog word my oupa nie in die boek genoem nie. Oom Gert is gewond in die oorlog - in die maag - en het tot en met sy dood las gehad van die wond. Hy trou soos genoem met Sarah Gertruida Cornelia Louw *6 Des 1884 Wakkerstroom distr, dv Jacobus Johannes Louw en Jacoba Aletta Margaretha du Buson. (my oupa du Buson se suster)
Hulle het 8 kinders gehad. Na die oorlog boer oom Gert - ook met perde. Hy boer jare lank op die plaas Leeufontein, Kendal, waar hy sterf, maar wanneer hy op Leeufontein gevestig het, weet ek nie.
Oom Gert sterf 18 Jan 1952 op Leeufontein, waar hy ook begrawe is. Sêra, sy vrou, sterf op 8 Mei 1958 en word ook op Leeufontein begrawe.

Oupa en oom Gert was baie geheg aan mekaar - net 'n staaltjie uit my register: Alwyn was 'n onnutsige man. Hy het met perde geboer, en eendag het hy perde wat hy aan sy broer Gert verkoop het, gaan aflewer. Hy het die perde afgegee, Gert by die stal gelaat en gery. By die plaashek het hy 'n moeë perdesmous teëgekom, en die man aangesê om huis toe te ry, sy perde voer en water te gaan gee en dan huis toe te gaan, en te vra om kos en koffie. "Moet jou nie aan my broer steur nie. Hy is daar by die stalle, maar hy is mal. Maak of jy hom nie sien nie. My vrou is by die huis, gaan vra vir haar kos en koffie." So is Alwyn daar weg, die smous het sy perde voor Gert se verbaasde oë uitgespan en gevoer, en is toe sonder om hom aan die werklike eienaar van die plaas te steur, na Gert se eie huis toe, waar hy vir Sêra, Gert se vrou, om kos gevra het, met Gert wat boos wou weet wat aan die gang is, dat die smous so ongeskik is...

Volgens een van sy dogters was oom Gert in die maag gewond, en sy sê hy het eenkeer toe hulle Pretoria toe gery het, naby Bronkhorstspruit beduie waar hulle geveg het.

In Slegtkamp van Spioenkop, word nie duidelik gesê wie by Theron oorgeneem het nie, net dat Hindon in sy voetspore sou volg.
Op bl 137 staan daar egter: Wie kon dit (die opvolger van Theron) wees? Daar was drie kandidate van wie een gekies moes word: dit was die luitenante Jan Theron, Pretorius en Enslin. Die meerderheid van stemme was ten gunste van lt Jan Theron.
Maar die verbrokkelling het gou begin. Slegtkamp wou saam met Hindon en nog enige maats na Middelburg toe gaan, maar nie vir goed nie. Daar was sake wat hulle nog wou reël...... (en verder.)

Treine Opgeblaas:
Op bl 160 van Slegtkamp van Spioenkop word vertel hoe Slegtkamp aan dinamiet gedink het, hoe hy gehoor het van Carl Cremer se patent van die slot van 'n poenageweer waarvan die kolf en voorste gedeelte van die tromp afgesaag was, en die geweer dan met loskruit gelaai is. Toe is hy na Cremer toe om te hoor of hy die affere al uitgetoets het. Tussen Doringkop en Botshabelo het hulle die toestel vir die eerste keer op 'n spoor beproef en gevind dat dit werk.
Dan gee Rosalie Grobler in haar boek Middelburg "Nazareth", 2de druk 2002 (self-gepubliseer) die volgende kronologiese inligting:
Sept 1900 -Danie Theron sterf.
24 Des 1900: Jack Hindon en sy manne is oppad na Uitkykstasie om die Korps se eerste trein buite aksie te stel. Ongelukkig word die Boere se planne in die wiele gery toe 'n patrollie van die 18de Hussare op die burgers afkom, Na 'n hewige skermutseling gee die Hussare oor, ene Grove is oor Boere-kant gewond. Hindon moes die wyk neem.
26 Des 1900: Hindon, kapt Karel Trichardt en veldkt Piet Minnaar besluit om by Panstasie, naby die afgebrande woning van Jan Coetzee 'n tweede poging aan te wend om 'n trein te vernietig. 'n Skermutseling volg en Karel Boshoff sterf. Die trein was gelaai met Kersfeesversnaperinge, sjampanje, posstukke en dokumente.
9 Feb 1901: Henri Slegtkamp ontspoor 'n goedertrein oos van Balmoralstasie.
13 Feb 1901: Trichardt en Slegtkamp lê beslag op 'n trein vol lekkers en lekkernye - hulle doop dit die Suikertrein.
Feb 1901: Die spoorlyne word meer as 30 keer in Februarie ontwrig.
29 Maart 1901: Genl Ben Viljoen en sy kommando wag naby Belfast op 'n aankomende trein, wat die plofstof moet aftrap. Die lading gaan af, maar 'n gepantserde trein daag op en brand los op die Boere.
7 April 1901: 'n Klompie burgers het oos van Middelburg 'n lading dinamiet onder die spoorlyn geplaas en die lokomotief en 'n klomp waens bly in die slag.
13 April 1901: Nog 'n trein word by Machadodorp verwoes.
27 Junie 1901: Genl ben Viljoen gee opdrag dat Hindon die spoor by Uitkyk, 'n paar kilometer vanaf Middelburg moet opblaas, sodat sy waens die spoor kan oorsteek.
1 Julie 1901: By Brugspruit naby balmoral steek genl Chris Muller die treinspoor oor en blaas 'n totale trein die lug in.
9 Aug 1901: By Naboomspruitstasie wag Hindon op 'n trein oppad na Pretoria. Die plan loop skeef en Carl Cremer, baasbrein agter die dinamietplan, wil oorgee; staan met sy hande in die lug langs die trein, maar word summier doodgeskiet.
31 Aug 1901: Hindon en sy manne verwoes 'n trein tussen Waterval en Hammanskraal. Kol CFS Vandeleur sneuwel aan Britse kant.

In 'n boek "Slegtkamp van Spioenkop: Oorlogsherinneringe van Kaptein Slegtkamp. Saamgestel uit sy dagboek deur Dirk Mostert" Uitgegee deur Nasionale Pers Bpk, 1945.

Volgended inligting verskaf deur Hester Marx geelhoutboom@intekom.co.za word die volgende gesê oor 'n luitenant van Rensburg

Bladsy 220 (opblaas van trein)
'Die posisies was baie mooi gekies. Slegtkamp het met dertig man in 'n sloot gaan lê, reg teenoor die punt waar die skoot gelaai was. Cremer en Jordaan het dus vlakvoor hulle gelê met hul koperdraad, wat met grond toegegooi was om nie dalk gesien te word nie. Aan die linkerkant het Jack Hindon met 'n klompie mense posisie ingeneem, terwyl luitenant Van Rensburg met 'n klein klompie kêrels onder 'n klein koldertjie sou gaan wegkruip onder die spoor. Die posisie van laasgenoemdes sou veral nutttig wees as die trein dalk goed bewapen was en die soldate aan die anderkant van die spoor posisie sou inneem. Dan kon die manne onder die spoor uitspring aan die Engelse se kant en 'n skerp vuur op hul flank open.
Die naaste stasie was Hammanskraal. Hulle het nou gelê en wag dat die dag moes breek. ..'

Bladsy 290 -295 Lede van Jack Hindon se Korps
'Hierdie lys bevat die name van gewese Lede van die Verkennerskorps van Jack Hindon. Dis bekend dat die Korps ontstaan het op Middelburg onder kaptein Danie Theron; maar na sy dood was die ou korps feitlik tot niet. Hulle het 'n nuwe aanvoerder gekies. Slegtkamp en Hindon het hul eie Korps georganiseer. Hindon se korps was onder verskillende benaminge bekend. Die amptelike naam was "Transvaalse Vrywilligerskorps." Sekere besonderhede word in enkele gevalle gegee, sover vandag nog bekend. Ek glo nie dat daar name weggelaat is nie, maar as daar name of ander gegewens ontbreek, dan is dit te wyte aan die feilbaarheid van die geheue en ander bronne van inligting, en beslis nie aan veronagsaming nie.'

1. Oliver John Hindon ("Jack"), Kaptein, afgetree 16 Mei 1902
2. Henri Frederik Slegtkamp, Kaptein. Gewond Julie 1900 by Lindley. Bittereinder.
3. G. van Rensburg, luitenant
4 - 46 ....
47. O. van Rensburg
48 - 59....
60. Egbert Weeber, gevang, Doringkamp, 8 Januarie 1902
61. O. Weeber, gewond 10 Augustus 1901, Naboomspruit
62 - 122.

Dudley Aitken, Oliver `Jack' Hindon, Boer hero and train wrecker, The Military History Journal, Vol 12, No 1
G Preller, Kaptein Hindon: Oorlogsavonture van 'n Baas Verkenner, (J.L. van Schaik, Pretoria, 1916)

Jack Hindon

Captain Oliver John (Jack) HINDON, (1874-1919) http://www.bowlerhat.com.au/sawvl/bio_boermil.html
Boer scout. Born in England, he joined the British Army as a drummer boy and at the age of 14 went to South Africa when his regiment was transferred to Zululand. Because of ill-treatment by his sergeant-major, he and some other boys deserted. In 1888 he moved to the Transvaal and settled at Wakkerstroom as a mason, where he soon became an accomplished builder. He identified himself with the Boers of the Transvaal Republic and served voluntarily in the campaign against Jameson in 1895, after which he obtained full Transvaal citizenship. He joined the Middleburg commando soon after and took service with the Z.A.R.P. (Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek Politie) as a member of the Rijdende Politie.

When the South African War broke out in October 1899, he went to Natal with the Z.A.R.P. Hindon took part in Talana (20 October 1899) and was present at the skirmishes at Bulwana (30 October 1899) and Chieveley (15 November 1899). Two days later, when the war council decided to besiege Weenen, it was Hindon who cut the telegraph line to Estcourt and demanded the surrender of the town from the magistrate. The Boer forces did not follow this up, but at the end of November, Hindon undertook entirely on his own the task of reconnoitring the British forts on Devonshire Hill, situated between Lombardskop and Ladysmith. However, it was on 20 January 1900, shortly before the battle of Spioenkop (24 January 1900) that Hindon distinguished himself, when together with H.F. Slegtkamp, H. de Roos and a handful of men, he occupied a hill in the Tabanyama Mountains. They resisted murderous British artillery and small-arms fire for several hours. Hindon also did valuable reconnaissance work at Pietershoogte, during the night of 25 February 1900, on the day before the final battle and during the Boer retreat to Biggarsberg.

In June 1900 he joined Danie Theron's scout corps and found himself in the Orange Free State, where he was to take part in an attack on a British convoy between Kroonstad and Lindley on 18 June 1900. However, the failure of Gen. P.D. de Wet to arrive at the appointed time ruined this undertaking. On 26 and 27 June Hindon was involved in fighting near Lindley, before moving to the vicinity of Bethlehem. A new phase of Hindon's participation in the war followed, when he was appointed head of a corps intended to disrupt the British lines of communication. He also plundered British trains in the Free State and south-western Transvaal during July and August. In September he again did reconnaissance work and among other things, carried reports from Gen. C.R. de Wet to Gen. Louis Botha. Above all, he devoted himself to derailing trains in this period. In October he was promoted captain with instructions to call up a corps of fifty men, and he soon became a great hindrance to the British along the eastern railway. One of the trains he derailed in January 1901 was carrying Lord Kitchener from Pretoria to Middelburg and on 22 February 1901 he severed Colonel W.P. Campbell's telegraph communication with Middelburg, so as to make possible an attack by Botha the following day. During July and August Hindon was engaged along the northern railway, and on 9 August he was involved in a fierce fight near Naboomspruit station. Eighteen days later he received orders from Gen. C. Muller to plunder a British train in order to obtain ammunition, and he managed to succeed in doing so. On 31 August 1901 he again derailed a train between Waterval and Hammanskraal and looted a large quantity of British provisions. On this occasion Lt-Col C.F.S. Vandeleur was killed after a short skirmish with Boer forces. Lord Kitchener's threat to place Boer women and children at the head of trains and the erection of blockhouses along the railways made Hindon decide that he would devote himself to punitive raids on Africans who allegedly molested [sic] Boer families. Among those he attacked were a number of Africans at Botsabelo Mission.

From the beginning of 1902 until the conclusion of peace, Hindon's corps was involved in a number of skirmishes on the Highveld whilst being mercilessly hunted by the enemy between the lines of blockhouses. Hindon's part in the war came to an end when he contracted fever. On 23 February 1903 he married an Afrikaans woman, Martha Pauline Coetzee. They had no children. After spending several years with his wife in the U.S.A. and Holland Hindon eventually became paralysed; unable to walk during the last five years of his life, he finally died in poverty, in the house and arms of "Gerrie" Wassenaar (the wife of John Wassenaar, with whom Hindon fought during the War).

Fact about the War from the Boer side
There were:
Bittereinders 21 000
Taken prisoner or banished 27 000
Number killed between 4000 and 7000
Joiners and Hensoppers 10 000

The Hensoppers were the ones who stopped fighting and went and hid in the towns or accross the border. The Joiners were those who joined the British. All of the "National Guard" must not be seen as joiners since many of them were of the Colony and thus they were British subjects.

Military Units in Boer War http://www.icon.co.za/~dup42/bregimnt.htm

Some webpages on Boer War http://www.pinetreeweb.com/

Book: "Oorlogsavonture van Genl. Wynand Malan" deur H.J.C. Pieterse, gedruk deur Nasionale pers in 1941

Depot TAB
Source IOP
Vol No 8
Ref IOMG915/01
Part 1
Description HP Janse van Rensburg, Chairman Burgher Peace Committee Enclose Copy of letter forwarded to Genl. Louis Botha by committee.
Starting 19010204
Ending 19010204

Depot TAB
Source MHG
Vol No 0
Ref 9458
Part 1
Description Janse van Rensburg, Hendrik Petrus Francois.
Strating 1906
Ending 1906
Remarks Surviving spouse Emerentia Wilhemina Maria Janse van Rensburg (Born Koen).

Depot TAB
SR/SN 000/00
Source PMO
Type Leer
Vol No 8
System 01
Ref PM614/00
Part 1
Description correspondence re surrendered prisoner Jantzee van Rensburg who gave the English useful information on the movements of the Boers.

Depot TAB
Source CJC
Type Leer
Vol No 670
System 01
Ref 128
Part 1
Description claims for compensation. Protected Burghers. Vrede. Martinus JJ van Rensburg.
Starting 1903
Ending 1904

Refer to following two articles for background:
Lionel Wulfsohn, "Hensoppers of the Rustenburg Commando", Military History Journal - Vol 8, No 6, http://rapidttp.co.za/milhist/vol086lw.html
V.E. Solomon, "The Hands-Uppers", Military History Journal - Vol 3, No 1, http://rapidttp.co.za/milhist/vol031vs.html

Depot TAB
SR/SN 000/00
Source PMO
Type LEER
Vol No 1
System 01
Ref PM33/00
Part 1
Description 3854 BURGHERS TOOK OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
Starting 1900
Ending 1900

Depot TAB
SR/SN 000/00
Source PMO
Type LEER
Vol No 1
System 01
Ref PM41/00
Part 1
Description REGISTER OF BURGHERS WHO SURRENDERED AND TOOK THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE AT RUSTENBURG, WAS HANDED OVER TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL LUSHINGTON.
Starting 1900
Ending 1900

Depot TAB
SR/SN 000/00
Source PMO
Type LEER
Vol No 70
System 01
Ref P19/00
Part 1
Description NAMES OF PERSONS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE OATH OF NEUTRALITY AT THE MARKET
PASS OFFICE.
Starting 1900
Ending 1900

Depot TAB
Source AMPT PUBS
Type TKP
Vol No 154
System 01
Part 1
Description TRANSVAAL BLUE BOOKS UNNUMBERED. ANGLO-BOER WAR. LIST OF BURGHERS OF THE ORANGE FREE STATE WHO HAVE TAKEN THE "OATH" TO THE TRANSVAAL GOVERNMENT.
Starting 1900
Ending 1900
Remarks COMPILED BY INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT.

Depot VAB
Source MG
Type ANDER ARGIEWE
Vol No 9
System 00
Ref 0
Part 1
Description MILITARY GOVERNOR, ORANGE RIVER COLONY. PRINTED MATTER: FREE STATE BURGHERS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE OATH.
Starting 19000900
Ending 19000900

Depot VAB
Source APM
Type ANDER ARGIEWE
Vol No 16
System 00
Ref 0
Part 1
Description ASSISTANT PROVOST-MARSHAL. NUMERICAL REGISTER OF PERSONS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE OATH OF NEUTRALITY.
Starting 1900
Ending 1900

Depot VAB
Source APM
Type ANDER ARGIEWE
Vol No 17
System 00
Ref 0
Part 1
Description ASSISTANT PROVOST-MARSHAL. REGISTER OF PERSONS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE OATH OF NEUTRALITY IN THE BOSHOF DISTRICT.
Starting 1900
Ending 1900

Landmeter J van Rensburg
Voor sonsondergang het die Boere hul bes gedoen om hul eie makkers, sowel as Engelse gewondes, van die slagveld te verwyder. Veral J van Rensburg, landmeter van Winburg, het baie gedoen om sommige van die gewonde Britse soldate van 'n gewisse vuurdood te red. JN Brink, adjudant van Ladybrand kommando, het sy ammunisiewa gebruik om die gewondes na die plaaswoning van Mnr Erasmus te vervoer. Esias Meyer, broer van veldkornet Meyer, het as Rooikruis-beampte opgetree om die Engelse gewondes te help vervoer. http://www.biddulphsberg.com/afrikaans/slag.html

HENDSOPPERS
Op 27 Desember 1900 het 'n sentrale vredeskomitee in Pretoria tot stand gekom. Die sentrale komitee het bestaan uit genl. Andries PJ Cronjé van Potchefstroom, D Kriel, landdros van Carolina, WJ Steyn, voormalige lid van die Eerste Volksraad vir Standerton, LC de Gier van Pretoria wat as sekretaris opgetree het, Karel Rood en HPFJ van Rensburg. Die doel was om 'n landswye eenheidsfront te vorm van wapenneerlêers wat hulle vir die beëindiging van die oorlog sou beywer (AM Grundlingh, Die "hendsoppers" en "joiners")

Ander Hensopper leiers: NJ Breytenbach, SP Grobler, P de Wet, Andries Cronje

National Scouts and Orange River-Volunteers
During the Anglo Boer war, the British Empire recruited burghers from the two Boer Republic to join their forces. According to E Lee, To the Bitter End, p 172 they were promised preferential treatment in settlement of land once the war was over. At first they were payed nothing apart from the booty they took of other boer farms. Later they were paid the same as the Cape Colony fighters, 5 shillings a day and up to 15 shillings for officers. In the ZAR the recruits were formed into the National Scouts. In the Orange River, they were formed into the Orange River-volunteers. They mainly did scouting work, on 2 February 1902 the National Scouts captured fieldcornets Joubert, du Toit and de Jager withj 164 burghers. By February 1902 there were 1,500 Transvalers who joined the National Scouts and 480 Freestaters who joined the Orange River-volunteers. When the Boers captured them some of them were shot, according to Lieutenant H Shipley 12 were castrated by the Boers.

KAB
Source: AG Collection
Type: Photo
Ref: AG4101
Description: River Intelligence Scouts, Aliwal North. (1) Whiteford, (2) Bailie, (3) Bowley, (4) Gilfillan, (5) Wyllie, (6) Hampton, (7) Forster, (8) Nash, (9) Pinnick, (10) Popkiss, (11) Morley, (12) Retief, (13) Fowler, (14) White, (15) Shone, (16) Alexander, (17) Lynch, (18) Thackwray, (19) Heathcote, (20) Slater, (21) Milne, (22) Du Plessis, (23) Peters, (24) Farnham, (25) Quinn, (26) Stouffer, (27) Van Rensburg, (28) Wiggett, (29) Stewart, (30) Ainslie, (31) Lt. Norval, (32) Capt. Dickson, (33) Agent J. Rose Innes, (34) Whiteford, (35) Spolander, (36) Dick, (37) Wilson, (38) Butcher, (39) Penny, (40) Ferguson, (41) Jenkins, (42) Bartholomew, (43) De Villiers, (44) Hind, (45) Boganlee, (46) Stennett, (47) Logan, (48) Hettel, (49) Richards, (50) Talyaard.

A Van Rensburg served as a Scout in the infantry 1900 as part of Byngs Scouts

Eeufees gedenkboek van Jamestown 1874-1974 saamgestel deur Wagenaar, E
"Dan was daar nog die jong Gert van Rensburg was as rebel die hele oorlog deurgeveg het en eers aan die einde gevang is toe sy perd onder hom doodgeskiet is. Hy het tot by Mafeking saam met genl. Fouche geveg, die generaal van wie die manskappe gesing het:
"Fouche eet nie brood
Maar hy skiet die Kakies dood."
Na sy gevangneming is Gert van Rensburg drie dae lank in Nouwpoort se tronk gevange gehou waar hy sonder komberse op 'n sementvloer moes slaap. Na die oorlog is hy per trein Dordrecht toe gestuur vanwaar hy te voet, deur die kapok Jamestown toe geloop het.

Eindelik het die vrede van Mei 1902 gekom en almal sou weer die lewe hervat: die rebelle verslae, en teneergedruk: die lojaliste triomanterlik en juigend. In hierdie dae skryf Kidwell aan 'n vriend: "I think nearly all the strugglers about here have surrendered. It was nuts to me to watch the downcast faces of those rebels who drome me along on that memorable 2nd of Jne 1901. Of course they were not able to look me in the face, but hung their head ... It was a little price of direct revenge to compare their positions with the 2nd June. Well they are beaten and that is enough. We Englishmen are conquerors, and can once more hold our heads high. Thank God for that."

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