ONVERWACHT—THE BATTLE
AN UNEXPECTED EVENT
YESTERDAY & TODAY 100 YEARS ON
Synopsis of Presentation delivered by Lt Col Miles W Farmer OAM (retd)
At the Anglo Boer War Study Group of Australia Conference
19 & 20 May 2007, Box Hill RSL, Victoria
[The story of the Battle is told and illustrated in the article by Robin Smith, published in October 2004 in “Spur”, the Australian Light Horse Magazine; copies of this, and a letter, with sketch map of the battle, from Pte David Priest were distributed at the Conference. They should be read, preferably before reading this synopsis.]
“Onverwacht” is from the old high Dutch meaning “unexpected”, which it was for the 5th Queensland Imperial Bushmen [5QIB] on the 4th January 1902.
The speaker told how it was something of “serendipity” which led him from the memorial erected in the AnglicanCemetery, Sherwood, Brisbane, commemorating Sgt Robert Berry, and Cpl John MacFarlane, who were killed in the battle, to the hills at Onverwacht, East of Ermelo in the Eastern Transvaal, where an imposing memorial was dedicated 100 years after the battle.
In January 2000, Japie and Gretchen Celliers, who farmed the land on which the battle had been fought, showed a party of Queenslanders the various features, and the site where the men killed in the battle had been first buried. In the 1960s the bodies were re-interred elsewhere. Japie’s grandfather and great-uncle had been in the Commandos that had ambushed the British Force. The speaker, accompanied by Captain Lancelot Lawlor, both members of the earlier party, visited the Celliers and the site again in August 2000.
The interest, thus created on both sides of the Indian Ocean, led to a very symbolic memorial being constructed on the site of the battle. This was the initiative of Mrs Gretchen Celliers, with support from the local farmers, and the students of the ErmeloHigh School. It was dedicated on 4 February 2002.
Later the speaker was introduced by e-mail to Mr Robin Smith, an historian in South Africa, who was studying the battle. A copy of Private David Priest’s sketch map was supplied to Robin. This proved to be a key to his understanding of the battle, when visiting the site. The speaker then gave an overview of Robin’s account of the battle, in a style aimed at creating the atmosphere of what it might have been like on that fateful afternoon. The fog of battle is so often overlooked when examining battles with the benefit of hindsight, and in the comfort of one’s armchair.
The scene was set with an explanation of the tactics used by Lord Kitchener to cause the Boer Forces to surrender. The scorched earth policy, restriction of movement by the blockhouse lines, and the raids at dawn, would have brought lesser opponents to their knees. The commandos were down but not out, and the “bitter-enders” continued to cause him trouble.
The two types of blockhouses were examined briefly. It was easy to see that the prefabricated Rice pattern was both cheaper and quicker to erect than the stone, or block version. The stone/block type was generally seen guarding bridges.
The structure, and size of the British Forces in the Eastern Transvaal, under command of Major General Bruce Hamilton, was shown; in particular the Columns of Brigadier General Plumer, and Colonel Pulteny whose troops took part in the battle. The significant operational service of Brigadier General Plumer, Majors Vallentin, and Toll was explained. They were no novices when it came to fighting the Boers.
The Boer forces were discussed in a similar manner—all commandants and burghers were experienced and determined fighters. The extra responsibilities of Commandant General Louis Botha were explained. He saw the bigger picture, and knew that a peace settlement was necessary if the Afrikaner Nation was to survive.
The difficulty in verifying facts when researching military history and how errors are easily repeated was illustrated. In many writings it is stated that Plumer and Pulteney’s Columns set out on their advance heading East from Ermelo. Max Chamberlain’s research, published in his Map History, shows them heading NorthWest from the area of Standerton, where they had been operating. This is confirmed in Alan Fogg’s History of 5QIB. In this instance it did not really affect the story of the battle.
In the two days preceding the battle there had been a number of clashes with Boer Commandos that were assembling in the area. The British, including the Australian and New Zealanders, were generally bested. But, despite their losses Plumer gained invaluable intelligence, and so was able to make his plans for the 4th January 1902, in which he intended to trap Botha’s forces.
Another interesting aspect was the proximity in which the opposing forces often spent the night. Two nights before the battle, when the British columns were camped at the farm Maviristad, the Boer Commandos were nearby at the farm Windhoek.
However, on the eve of the battle the Boers camped at the farm Schimmelhoek, just North of the Ermelo to Amsterdam road.
The morning of the advance arrives. At this stage of the war the Boers were clearly not in good shape after more than two years fighting. They were short of most things, and tired. The men of 5QIB had been campaigning for almost a year. They were by now very experienced, but also tired after days in the saddle, food and water shortages, and always losing horses to battle, disease, and starvation. The Boer horses were not in good shape either.
The Boer Commandos left their overnight camp and made contact with the British Advance Guard, constantly sniping at them and causing them to halt and deal with them. Botha soon learnt that a large Force was approaching, which caused him to call General Coen Brits and recommend that they retire. Brits disagreed, saying “General, the English must be put in their place. We shall never get free by flight. We must fight for our freedom.”
General Chris Botha and Opperman were summoned, and, in time honoured Boer custom the issue was discussed, and they voted with Brits. [It was pointed out that many of the bitter-enders were encouraged by reports from Europe of continued support for their cause. Also London newspapers indicated that the British people were tiring of the war—costly in terms of money and lives, with no end in sight—what is new!]Brits was appointed field commander, and set up a large-scale ambush, in the hills and valleys on the farm Onverwacht.
At midday, Major Vallentin called a halt for the Advance Guard to have a welcome rest and lunch. The men clearly would have been glad of the respite, having travelled hard all morning from pre dawn. Major Toll wrote: “The country being very difficult, mountainous, and rough, and a slight resistance being offered by the enemy, it was very severe work.” Another soldier wrote: “The Boers were leading us on all day, and no sooner had we chased them off one hill then they would appear on another.”
While at the halt, Vallentin’s advance patrol saw some 50 cattle with a few Boers herding them. Some historians say there were some cattle with 50 Boers guarding them. If this had been the case, it is hardly likely that an experienced officer like Vallentin would have rushed to capture them. He would have made a more deliberate plan. In the event, he went after them, and then the Boers sprung the ambush. The reader is directed to Robin Smith’s account of the battle.
The duration of the battle is not clear. One Boer report says it was but twenty minutes. What is certain is, that it was fast and furious. To meet a horde of mounted Boers firing as they charged must have been a frightening experience. CG Stolp, a Boer veteran of Onverwacht, living in Ermelo in 1948 wrote: “It was a violent struggle, and for me unforgettable, since to see 500 armed Boer riders charge in their fashion on the enemy, makes your hair stand on end, and a thrill go through your body.”
The men of the Advance Guard fought bravely in the face of overwhelming odds, and many lost their lives. Many acts of heroism took place, particularly in the attempts to save the pom-pom gun, but the only bravery award, the DCM, went to Sergeant Major Frank Knyvett, 5QIB.
The sound of the battle was heard by Pulteny’s Column, which was further to the East, and their guns were brought to bear. This caused the Boers to begin retiring, but not before the 5th Victorian Mounted Rifles came charging in. They helped secure the pom-pom gun, and then under the leadership of the intrepid Harry Vialls, (old biltong) gave chase.
The scene of desolation after the battle would have been very disturbing for all ranks, seeing so many of their friends, in some cases brothers, lying dead or wounded, amidst many dead horses. It appears that some explosive bullets were used, and so many of the wounds were horrific. The dead were buried in five graves on site the following morning—one for Major Vallentin; one for the eleven Queenslanders; one for the six men of the Hampshires; one for the four men of the Imperial Yeomanry, and one for the five Boers, including general Opperman.
Major Toll’s summary of 5QIB losses attached to his report is very interesting, particularly the number of rounds expended—8,545?? 78 horses were killed or captured, and 78 sets of saddles and bridles were taken, which means that the Boers had stripped the dead horses. There is no mention of boots having been taken, which is unusual.
Given the number of rounds expended by the Queenslanders, it is hard to believe that only five Boers were killed. Certainly that was the number of Boers, including General Opperman, that were buried the following morning. It is known that young Mosie Van Buren, who had been looking after Louis Botha’s young son, was shot in the stomach, and died later that evening. He was buried on the nearby farm Mooiplaas. How many more Boers died of their wounds? The real figure may never be known. The Celliers are adamant that there were only five killed in the battle. Japie, who is something of a game hunter, and marksman, suggests that, perhaps in the heat of battle the Queenslanders had not adjusted their sights correctly, and may have fired high. They were also firing at moving targets. Shades of the Turks facing the charging Light Horsemen at Beersheba in 1917.
A question, which is sometimes asked, is why was major Vallentin surprised by the Boers. One soldier is quoted as asking that question, and answering it: “ Why our troops blunderd into a trap laid by the Boers? Well the fact is that when the enemy is retiring there are two courses open—to follow him and chance capturing him or getting a knock, or to stand fast and let him run. If the latter course was followed we should get very few prisoners.”
COMMEMORATIONS
This section covers the next hundred years following the battle and is not covered in Robin Smith’s account of the battle. Commemorating the Fallen, is the reason why many study military history. It enables the deeds of our forefathers to be explained to the younger generation. The words of Max Chamberlain, and Albert Swater say it so well. Max is the well know Australian expert on the Anglo Boer War, and Albert was the History Teacher at the ErmeloHigh School, and was the master of Ceremomies at the Dedication on 4 February 2002.
“I write in the hope that the names on the memorials may mean something to young Australians, so that they may respect these brave men as do we who remember them.”
Max Chamberlain, Melbourne, 1999.
“It is therefore extremely important that we commemorate such events as the battle of Onverwacht, in the first place because we have to learn the lessons of the past.
In the second place we must never allow the sacrifices made by ancestors 100 years ago on this battlefield to sink into oblivion.” Albert Swater, Onverwacht, 4 February 2002.
The first commemoration began when the original British graves were identified with metal grave markers bearing the words “For King and Empire.”
The family of Major Vallentin erected a memorial over his grave a few years after the battle. Then in 1962, when the bodies were re-interred in the War Graves section of the Ermelo Cemetery his memorial was placed there. A single memorial carries the names of all the soldiers buried in that place. The names of the Queenslanders killed at Onverwacht appear on this memorial. The bodies of the Boers were re-interred at this time, but with the exception of General Opperman the locations are not known. He lies at Vryheid. There is a handsome memorial commemorating all the Boer forces in a beautiful garden setting in Ermelo.
In Sherwood, Queensland, friends of Sergeant Robert berry, and Corporal John MacFarlane, who had been killed in the battle, erected a handsome memorial in the AnglicanCemetery. It was dedicated on 21 June 1902, just six months after the battle.
The two men had gone to the war as members of the Cycle Company attached to 5QIB, and they were subsequently mounted on horses from 4QIB.
Community interest in this particular memorial was awakened in June 2001, when a very large Centenary of Federation Service was held in the Cemetery. The story of Onverwacht was told at this service.
Across the Indian Ocean in South Africa erection of a memorial on the site of the battle of Onverwacht was proceeding. The five stone columns representing the five graves had been posts used in fencing of kraals and barns in the area. The pentagonal base, lined by local stones, is representative of the Castle of Good hope in Cape Town. This is also symbolic of the badge of the former SA Defence Force, and also the South African WWI Memorial at Delville Wood in France.
A bronze plaque, carrying the names of the thirteen men of 5QIB who were killed in the battle, or died of their wounds, was dedicated at a service at the Sherwood Memorial on 4 January 2002, the centenary of the battle. The plaque was taken to South Africa and placed on the memorial at Onverwacht at its dedication on 4 February 2002, during a memorable ceremony.
The Sherwood Indooroopilly RSL Sub Branch, on 4 February each year, hosts a service, which attracts the relatives of many Boer War Veterans. Cadets from the local Air Training Corps provide flag orderlies, and mount a catafalque guard.
Students from the local CorindaStateHigh School take part, and generally exchange messages with students of the ErmeloHigh School, with whom they have a linkage.
To foster this linkage and encourage commemoration of the battle, the RSL Sub Branch introduced an Essay Competition two years ago. The winner in each school receives a medallion, and a cash prize. The medallion bears the image of general Opperman on one side and that of major Toll on the other. Unfortunately the ErmeloHigh School faces many difficulties in the new South Africa, and their response is not always as hoped for.
Commemoration of the Fallen remains a commitment to many people in Australia, and South Africa. LEST WE FORGET
REFERENCES & ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Books
The Australians at the Boer War—RL Wallace
Forward—the History of the 2/14 LHR (QMI)—Sweeney and Starr
The War With Johnny Boer—Chamberlain and Drooglever
The Australians in the South African War 1899-1902—Max Chamberlain
The Boer War Generals—Peter Trew
The Hall Handbook of the Anglo Boer War—Darrell Hall
Australia’s Boer War—Craig Wilcox
Gen’s Louis Botha & Coen Brits—Robbertze; Chps 20,21,22 translated by R Smith
Official Records Australian Contingents to the Boer War—LtColMurray
The 5th Contingent Qld Imperial Bushmen; a history—Alan Fogg
Letters From The Veldt—Len Harvey
Associations & Units
Australian Light Horse Association: RAAC Association (Qld Branch)
Sherwood Indooroopilly RSL Sub Branch; Kedron Wavell RSL Sub Branch
2nd/14th Light Horse Regt (Qld Mtd Infantry); 218 Sqn AAFC
Individuals
Japie and Gretchen Celliers; Robin Smith; Major Paul Naish
Capt Lancelot Lawlor ED; Midge Carter; Martin Darke
MW Farmer 20 July 2007
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