REG. 126-240 NPO

INHOUD/CONTENT Witpoort Water Mill Booking form & Programme for Pilgrims Heritage weekend Facebook correspondence on statues and monuments in Mpumalanga

Regular Newsletter/Gereelde Nuusbrief

No. 164 10.04.2015

www.routesmp.co.za Click: Follow the history/Click: Mpumalanga Historical Interest

NOTE: That this is not an edited publication but merely a compilation of the contributions and comments as received from members and participants

A regular edited annual will be available shortly

Pilgrim’s Rest Heritage weekend

Pilgrim’s Rest Erfenis naweek

Please note that all possible changes to this programme will be published in

future newsletter.

Let wel dat alle moontlik veranderinge aan die program hier in die nuusbrief

aangekondig sal word

Pilgrim’s Rest Heritage Weekend

Booking Form

E-mail to: linda@klcbt.co.za Tel: 013 755

1988

SPACE IS LIMITED – PLEASE BOOK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE !

Name

E-mail address

Contact telephone no

Which town are you from?

Are you a MHIG member?

If not, would you like to join?

Where did you hear about this

event?

Please indicate which of the nights’ accommodation you wish to book and / or

which activities

you wish to join, by placing the number of people attending with your group in

each of the

blocks below: (All activities leave from the Royal Hotel)

DATE

TIME

EVENT

RATE

NUMBER

OF

PEOPLE

TO

BOOK

Friday, 24

April

17h30 Ghost tour & cemetery visit

Own transport required

R150 per

person

From

18h00

Pub crawling – visit 5

pubs!

Meet at Royal Hotel

At own cost

Accommodation

Royal Hotel

R390 per

person

sharing, B&B

Saturday,

25th

At

leisure

Fly Fishing

At

leisure

Golf

At

leisure

Day visit to Mount Sheba

resort

14 km from Pilgrim’s Rest

09h00

Half day

4 x 4 Trip and walk to

Jubilee Power station, own

4x4 needed

10h00 Gold panning

demonstration

11h30 Museum Visit & Guided

Town Tour

14h00 Tour of Alanglade House

19h00 Diggers Ball at the Royal

Hotel – Fancy dress!

R150 per

person

Accommodation

Royal Hotel

R390 per

person

sharing, B&B

Sunday,

26th

At

leisure

Fly Fishing

At

leisure

Golf

At

leisure

Day Visit to Mount Sheba

Resort

14 km from Pilgrim’s Rest

10h00 Church Service at

Methodist Church

11h30 Museum Visit & Guided

Town Tour

14h00 Visit & talk at Masonic

lodge

Women also allowed

17h30 Ghost tour & cemetery visit

Own transport required

R150 per

person

From

18h00

Farewell drinks – various

pubs

At own cost

Accommodation

Various establishments

Various rates

–

To be advised

Monday,

27th

08h00 Walk to Diggers Fort

10h00 Gold Panning

Demonstration

11h00 Tour of Alanglade House

Witpoort water mill Jamie van Zyl, Owner Valley of the Rainbow Wilderness Retreat writes:

I will appreciate comments on the history of the Witpoort Water Mill. I have posted a short history of the mill and Koni sites on our webpage www.rainbowvalley.co.za (see read more under Discover tag on historic water mill and Koni sites). However not sure if history on mill is correct. Members are welcome to visit the property or for a weekend to see the mill and Koni sites on the property. Our number is 083 257 4231. According to the publication Mills of Southern Africa by Chester O. Staples just the following: Towards the end of the 19th Century, Willem Jacobus Volschenk built a beautiful little watermill on his farm Witpoort. This mill was to play a small but vital role in the Anglo-Boer War. Martial rumblings erupted in 1899 and. As war fever gripped the country Jan Smuts was moved to write in a memorandum to the Transvaal Executive: "South Africa stands on the eve of a dreadful bloodbath." Sadly he was right. General Ben Viljoen, member for Johannesburg on the Transvaal Volksraad not only led the Johannesburg Commando, but led the Boers in skirmish after skirmish around Lydenburg. As fighting raged in the area, the Witpoort Watermill proved a vital asset for the Boers. With its three sieves, ranging in texture from very fine for human consumption to less fine for chickens and courser for cattle, the mill kept the Boers fed. Colonel Bindin Blood, leader of the attacking British forces which finally located the mill, ordered the mill dynamited but fortunately, only the coarse grinder was destroyed. Another was promptly sourced from a mill nearby and the mill continued to produce meal for the Boers and surrounding population until the war was over. Having survived the war relatively intact, Witpoort Mill received new machinery from Ipswich, England. The mill prospered and as many as 70 donkey carts at a time could be seen waiting their turn to get their owners' maize ground. The process was slow, as with water power, it took 15 minutes to grind a 70 kg bag of meal and it took three people to operate the mill. A drought in 1963 changed this as tractor power had to be used, which reduced milling time to eight minutes a bag. In 1986 the mill was electrified which speeded up the process even more. In 1980, it cost R3.10 to grind one bag of meal. When the mill ceased operating in 1994, this cost had shot

up to R10. Koos Sonakhosa Mahlangu is a living link to the mill’s martial days. His father was the original miller during the Anglo-Boer War. Koos, from the age of four, followed in his father's footsteps. Permanently dusted with the fine meal kicked up by the heavy millstones, he continued to work the Witpoort Watermill until it ceased operation. Today, the attractive red-roofed mill house with its steel overshot wheel is a fascinating historic addition to what is now a privately owned estate and nature reserve know as Valley of the Rainbow. Note: Willem Jacobus Volschenk, the man who built the mill more than 100 years ago, died in 1924. His son, also Willem Jacobus Volschenk, was born in 1887 and survived the war, only to die in 1946 as a result of being hit on the head with a shovel during a dispute over water rights with a neighbour. His grave is in the graveyard on the property. To order Mills of Southern Africa contact Umdaus Press. E-mail: umdaus@succulents.net. From the Desk: Sometime somewhere in a book on the region, I once saw an old photograph of the original mill. Maybe someone can give us some guidance in this regard.

FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE/MEER KORRESPONDENSIE

Facebook discussion on Mpumalanga statues and monuments The following discussion took place on Mpumalanga Historical Interest Group: Jack, Dr. Jack Swanepoel Are there any statues in Mpumalanga that we need to worry about? Marius Bakkes Come to think of it we are quite a statueless province. On the Highveld some pre and post-apartheid though. Hier en daar n marble burgher monument often with a rifle barrel broken.. The jock statue at Mac Mac is also long gone.... Neville Sproule The statue at Kruger Gate Flicka Goslett What about the Voortrekker monument on the N4 around Middleburg. You go off the road David Pienaar Monuments in Middelburg that I know of: Boer war concentration camp graves in Fontein Street, Voortrekker monument opposite white church, Hendri Sleghtkamp's grave in old cemetery.... Andries Olivier Not really statues that I can think of but quite a few memorials such as Berg en Dal and various others commemorating ABW and even WW I and II Martinaglia Andre What about ''Adams Calendar'', and the big footprint? David Pienaar Boer war monument in Carolina Andries Olivier Adam's calendar and the footprint will most likely not be seen as part of colonial or white history. Michael Waugh Jock of the Bushveld Willem Botha Bergendal Monument between Machadodorp and Belfast Ian McDonald Oom Paul at Kruger Gate is a serious target! Leon C Van Zyl Old Joe on N4 not seen as a statue? Marius Bakkes Old Joe is so used to being painted, sometimes even abused by paint that he actually should be held up as a good example to the others!

Tom Vorster There are three graves for struggle heroes in that "forgotten" cemetery off the Heidel Valley Road next to the unofficial rubbish tip. Obviously built at great expense by someone and not vandalized but simply abandoned and unmaintained after the politician had said his bit at the graveside. Just saying - even memorials to non-colonial heroes are not exactly a priority. Neville Sproule There are the war graves just past Witbank on the N4 about 20 km out Neville Sproule Balmoral Robby Martins Just make sure Old Joe isn't painted white and he'll be fine. Peter Blake Collingwood Borradaile Jock of the Bushveld, damn colonialist dog!! Alexis Lyons hahahaha Peter Phillip Fischer Berg en dal? A few years ago the mayor of Standerton had the Groot Trek memorial (cement slab over which a wagon was driven to commemorate the Groot Trek) destroyed. She was ordered by the courts to fix it but it’s never been the same. Also some old can...See More Kate Hulett Long Tom cannon? Marius Bakkes Long Tom. Most possibly. Though I think it is more the humanlike structures that fire this mindless drive to destroy. Steve Schormann The monument at the Legislature. ....although there is nothing there to desecrate! Marius Bakkes Talking of a fairly statueless province one should not forget this beautiful bronze statue of the Ndebele warrior Nyebele at Mapoch’s caves near Roossenekal. Correct me if I am wrong but this was financed by the people of the Nzundsa Ndebele clan themselves in the 1970. The removal of this statue some time ago created quite a stir but that was only to have it fixed after someone shot at it with a heavy caliber rifle.

Carte Blanche to focus on the neglected ruins

of the Eastern Escarpment Paul Yates writes:

Just as a matter of interest, I met some people who were from Carte Blanche

yesterday. They were filming the Blaauwboschkraal ruins, & were then going

to Velorenkloof, to do more. They informed me that they would be doing a

feature about the ruins, & lack of government interest in them sometime in

April/May this year.

Historic Colonial building in Maputo to be restored

Kobus Claassen Moz Forum face book group writes: Great news, Southern Sun Maputo has just bought Villa Algarve one of the most infamous colonial buildings in Maputo. Watch out for news on our new boutique hotel development coming up in 2016.

Verskuiwing van die familiegrafte by Bosmanspruit Corine de Jonge skryf op Hendrina 100 jaar oud facebook groep: Die Bosmans van Bosmanspruit se hoekpale om die begraafplaas was ou ossewa asse. Hier is Lodewyk de Jager (voorheen van Kafferstadt) by een van die hoekpale.

Corine de Jonge: Dogter van Jacob en Johanna Bosman. Moeder van Johanna Booijse. Vrou van Nicolaas Johannes Booijse.

Corine de Jonge Al hierdie grafte is op Bosmansspruit en gaan binnekort verskuif/vernietig word deur die myn.

Corine de Jonge: Nog twee van Jacob Bosman se dogters is met twee Van Eeden seuns getroud. Aldrie was seuns van Jozua van Eeden. Hulle was nefies en niggies. Almal was kleinkinders van Jozua Rossouw - die Bosmans en die Van Eedens.

Nog ‘n ou Wildtuingids ontdek Dawid Combrinck Kruger National Park History Facebook

Hi aan al die History kenners. Ek het 'n baie interessante ding ontdek uit 'n erfporsie. dis 'n boek met die naam Ons Suid Afrikaanse Nasionale Wildtuine in Afrikaans en Engels parallel. Dateer uit 1940 en 1941 met 100 fotokaarte wat blykbaar in sigaret pakkies uitgegee is (United tobacco Co) wat in die album geplak is. Die album het 'n voorwoord en is geredigeer deur Col Stevenson-Hamilton in 1940. Paar kaarte ongelukkig verlore. Die album het ok skade opgedoen en was nooit beskerm maar gebruik deur ons familie as kinders. Ek weet nie of dir historiese waarde het nie. Dit beskryf grootliks Kruger se gskiedenis maar dan ook een hoofstuk met ander wildtuine. Praat van die Kalahari wildtuin, Addo National Park, Bredasdorp Bontebok Park en dan kort verwysings na Natalwildtuine. Ek sluit foto in. Dalk is daar beter onbeskadigde weergawes iewers. Iemand wat wil gesels oor die boek laat weet my. Dawid in die Kaap

Bert Oosthuizen skryf: Ek wens ons kon die uitstappie na Pelgrims bygewoon het. Maar ons was die afgelope

naweek daar. My seun het die Long Tom Marathon gehardloop. Ons is verskriklik bly York

het die marathon weer op die been gebring.

Maar terug by Pelgrims Rus. Ons was geskok gewees om te sien hoe stil dit daar is. Daar was

ten tyde van ons besoek Saterdag net een toer bus gewees. Die strate was verlate gewees. Ons

was bly om te sien dat The Vines se deure nog oop was en het n heerlike Hamburger daar

genuttig. Maar daar is verskriklike baie winkels wat leeg staan. Dis n jammerte!

Ek hoop net dat die museum se eiendom behoue gebly het. Ek het op n stadium gesoek na ou

kaarte van die Long Tom Pas en het die museum gekontak. Ek was mee gedeel dat dit erens

gebêre was omdat die argief se dak in mekaar gestort het.

Maar geniet die uitstappie. Hoop daardie stukkie van ons geskiednis bly op een of ander

manier behoue.

UPCOMING EVENTS/VOLGENDE BYEENKOMSTE 25 to 27 April 2015 – Pilgrims Rest Weekend

9 May 2015 – Visit to Botshabelo at Middelburg

23 May - Annual Val Boer & Brit Dag, Beer & Boerewors tasting - contact Rita at 082 550 5540 13 June – Graskop branch line photo excursion

FROM OUR PHOTO COLLECTION/UIT ONS FOTOALBUMS

The old Planter’s Club on the Yaverland Road. Built in 1921 it was an exclusive club for members. It seems that only English-speaking farmers were welcomed. It consisted of a sitting room, furnished with wicker chairs and bridge tables, a well-stocked library, cloakrooms and a ballroom with wooden dance floor. A long veranda faced three tennis courts and weekend tennis was a great social occasion. The Club building was eventually sold to Colin MacLeod, at the end of 1973, which he converted into a private dwelling. This is another picture from the new Photo Album of White River compiled by Hans Lombard and now. To order or obtain and copy phone 082 706 4385 or mail to

pioneer@soft.co.za

ON BOOKS/OOR BOEKE: NEW/FOR SALE/FROM MY COLLECTION/IN SEARCH OF: NUUT/TE KOOP/UIT MY VERSAMELING/OP SOEK NA:

New Titles from 30Degree South

Order from: info@30degreessouth.co.za or find it at your nearest book store

Enduring Valour South Africa’s Cross of Honour Ian Uys ISBN: 978-1-928211-67-9 R250.00 + shipping Paperback / 310 pages 290 b/w photos, 3 maps Military History / Border War / African Studies The Honoris Crux (Cross of Honour) was South Africa’s premier gallantry decoration awarded to members of the SA Defence Force between 1952 and 2003. The stories behind over 300 of these awards and other medals for bravery are graphically told—ranging from outstanding valour in all types of warfare to exceptional heroism displayed in saving lives. For these soldiers, sailors and airmen the common denominator was courage. One reads of a SAAF helicopter pilot who noticed that a friend’s gunship was under heavy fire, so switched on his lights to attract fire away from his comrade. The same pilot was later to land in an enemy camp to rescue the crew of a downed helicopter who were being chased by a patrol. A jet pilot whose Buccaneer was out of ammunition dive-bombed enemy tanks to keep them from overrunning his forces. The heroism of the Special Forces, or Recces, became legendary. We read the unbelievable but true stories of two-man teams who crept into enemy camps, sometimes hundreds of kilometres from their bases, to gather vital information. If discovered they had to extricate themselves from impossible situations, such as the frogman team which attacked an enemy bridge then fought their way out—against small-arms fire and hand grenades, as well as crocodiles. The naval heroes range from the seaman who remained inside the sinking SAS President Kruger to rescue friends, to the frogmen who went inside the sinking MV Oceanos to ensure that no one was left behind. The author has interviewed many of the medal recipients and invariably found them to be modest about their heroic exploits. He has included some of the events in which the SA Police were involved, acting as part of the country’s security forces in combating terrorism. In many cases he has recorded the subsequent lives of the medal recipients. The awards were made irrespective of race, colour or creed, despite most of the events taking place during the

apartheid years. Men from diverse backgrounds learned to live and fight together, especially among the Special Forces, where their lives often depended on each other. The award of the HC Gold to a black Recce attests to that. During a period of five months on five occasions he approached the enemy on his own and fought to the death, thereby displaying total disregard for his own safety. This new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated, to include not only new information but additional photographs, too. Author biog: Ian Uys inherited his love of military history from his father, Jack (1910–59). He volunteered for and served in the SAAF Gymnasium in 1960, then attended UCT and graduated B Commerce. After marrying Barbara Bowers, a Londoner, he qualified as a chartered accountant then lived in England where he did further VC research. In 1973 he wrote and published For Valour, the history of Southern Africa’s Victoria Cross Heroes. It has a natural successor in Cross of Honour as it updates the records of valour by South Africans. He served in the Heidelberg Commando in the seventies. In 1977 he was a platoon commander in the operational area and was awarded the De Wet Decoration. In 1989 he ran for parliament as a Democratic Party candidate for Germiston District. Uys is a practising auditor in Knysna and has three children and four grandchildren. He is a former chairman of the SA Military History Society, has completed ten Comrades’ Marathons and was a private pilot for many years. He has developed his family’s Bushman Valley Resort near Prince Albert and is a keen nature conservationist.

HISTORY BOOKS FOR SALE Bradlow, Edna & Frank – Here comes the Alabama. The career of a Confederate Raider (1958/good condition) R250.00

General Staff, Defense Headquarters, Pretoria - The Union of South Africa and the Great War 1914 – 1918. Official History (1924/x2 Books available/Good condition) R500.00 each

Dierick, Alfons – Van Eyck, The Mystic Lamb (1972/soft cover/full colour gloss/good condition) R100.00

Dray, William H - Philosophy of History (soft cover) R200.00

Hugo, Maria – Causaliteit in die geskiedwetenskap, ‘n metodologiese benadering . Voorwoord deur Prof. Jan Romein (1951/soft cover/excellent condition) R200.00

King, Charles, Genl. – The Iron Brigade – the story of the Army of Potomac (1902/fair condition) R200.00

Lowith, Karl - Meaning in History, A critical analysis of historical thought (1949/good condition) R200.00

McNeil, Michael - This Africa (1958/good condition) R100.00

O’Connor, PS – The Russian Revolution and its aftermath (1969/soft cover saddle stitch) R100.00

Sachs, Joseph – Irma Stern and the spirit of Africa (1942/good condition) R300.00

B Strydom, Lauritz – Rivonia Masker af! (1964/good condition) R300.00

Van Jaarsveld, FA – Omsingelde Afrikanerdom (1978/excellent condition) R100.00

Van Oordt, JF – Paul Kruger en de opkomsts van de Zuid Afrikaanse Republiek (1898/good condition) R850.00

Venter, Al J – Terroris, ‘n ooggetuieverslag (19 71/fair condition) R100.00