TOPIC:

Gruisfontein is a featureless place in the wide and empty expanses east of Lichtenburg. It was the location for a short but violent battle that took place early morning on February 5, 1902, just a few months before the Peace Treaty was agreed at Vereeniging. During the battle British troops routed a lager where Kommandant Sarel Francois Alberts and some 150 burgers from the Krugersdorp commando were bivouacked for the night. The battle was a resounding success for the British, possibly the reason why van Zyl in “Die Helde Album” all but ignored it and tersely condensed it to a single sentence: “On the 5th of February, and after offering heroic resistance, Kommandant Sarel Alberts with almost his entire commando of about one hundred men was taken prisoner at Gruisfontein in the Lichtenburg District”

In contrast, for the British “Gruisfontein” was a major event as it provided some relief from the frustrating news about reverses that DelaRey’s and De Wet’s actions occasioned in a war that the British thought they had already won many months before. The butcher’s bill for the battle on the Boer side was relatively heavy with 8 killed (the British lost two men killed) 11 wounded and about 125 captured to be shipped off to St. Helena and other places of limited touristic interest.

The reason for digging up this for Boers rather sad and forgettable incident, is a handwritten report to Lord Kitchener by the very man who was in charge of the British troops; Major H.P. Leader, 1 Scottish horse attached from 6th Dragoon Guards. Leader penned the 4 pages directly after the battle and as such it is the probably the most accurate account of the affair. (also refer History of the War in South Africa, page 408)



Major Leader’s report of which the first page is shown above reads as follows:

Sir,
I have the honor to report that I left here under orders to capture DelaRey who was reported to be at ROODEPAN (76), having with me about 600 mounted men and 1 pom pom. I left camp at 7 P.M. on the 4th inst. About 5 miles to N.E. of camp a Boer patrol was heard on our right, but the men I sent out were unable to come in touch with them.
[In margin: Detail of Troops: Col Kekewich 365, Col Hickie 269 and 1 pom pom]
Before reaching TWEE BUFFELS GESCHEIT (34) ( [sic] at about 1 A.M. a native informed us that a Boer outpost of 4 or 5 men was posted in that farm. I sent Lt. Lawless with my scouts, who captured 5 men and 5 horses. We were delayed here for some time owing to one of the scouts being severely wounded; and it was then evident that we could not reach ROODEPAN (76) by dawn. The intelligence officer (Carlisle) having information that some of Kemp’s men were at GRUISFONTEIN (114) I decided to abandon the idea of going to Roodepan and to attempt to surround and capture these men by a wide sweeping movement.
When we had got well north of GRUISFONTEIN (114) we turned south, arriving within ¾ of a mile of that place just before dawn. When daylight appeared the main body of the enemy were discovered to be laagered in a group of kraals on GRUISFONTEIN (114) with a few men in some other kraals 500 yards East. Below, and about 150 yards of these kraals, ran a marshy spruit from W to E, beyond which the ground to the south rose gently for about a mile and a half. The kraals gave excellent cover from rifle fire. I disposed my troops as follows: - Scouts of the 1st Sctt. Under Lt. Lawless in the center: 2 Squadrons 1st Sctt. About 95 strong in all on the right under Capt. MacKenzie : 2 squadrons 1st Sctt under Capt. Jardine (?) about 110 strong in all on the left: the remainder of the force with pom pom being in support.
As we proceeded south, the first thing we saw were a few loose horses close to the kraals mentioned above; from then we realized the laager could not be far off. Thereupon I sent to the flanks to push round quickly and ordered the scouts to gallop for the kraals.
We were now so close to the laager that this movement must have roused them, for, as we approached, a heavy fire was opened from the kraals on the right front; this the scouts immediately turned towards and galloped into the midst of the laager. In the meantime, the right flank had worked well round, and, on hearing the fire, turned towards the kraal. When the leading men were about 30 yards from it, a heavy fire was opened on them, killing several horses and momentarily checked the advance. Captain and Adjutant Lord George Murray, whom I had sent with orders to this flank, dismounted some of the men in a sruit about 50 yards from the kraals, until Captain MacKenzie was able to pick the ground for making another rush on the laager. In this 2nd rush Captain MacKenzie and Lt. Tanner were both wounded and had their horses shot. Lt Jamieson (?), the other officer of this squadron also had his horse shot and received more injuries from the fall. Captain MacKenzie directed Sergt. Janson (?) to take over command of the squadron and directed him how to dispose of his men so to cut off all retreat to S. & S.W. The other squadron on this flank under Lt. Fall pursued and captured 17 Boers, some horses, cattle etc. who were trying to escape to the west in the dark.
On the left, Capt. Jardine sent Lt. Wallace with 7 men to another kraal where he saw, pursued and captured 27 prisoners, shooting down with his revolver a Boer who was galloping off to the main laager to give the alarm. Capt. Jardine with the remainder of the 2 squadrons pushed round the flank, so as to cut off any retreat to the E. & S.E.
In the laager itself, after some minutes very close fighting, Commandant Sarel Alberts surrendered with all his men to Lt. Lawless; 7 of his men being killed, and 12 wounded. Our casualties were: (1 Sc Horse)
4 Officers and men wounded
28 horses killed
During the action, Major Houghton (commanding Col Hickie’s 2nd troops) who was in support, disposed the squadron under his command to cover the flanks and guard against any chance of reprisals as it became light. The pom pom which was with the supports under Lt. Alston, was able to open fire with a few minutes of the first shot being fired, and did some useful work.
The attack to be a complete success had to be made practically in the dark, their exact position and strength being unknown.
I cannot speak too highly of the gallantry of all ranks under my command.
The following officers, NC officers and men did especially well and I hope that their services may be recognized:
Captain and Adjutant Lord George Stewart Murray
For the prompt way in which he came to the assistance of Capt. MacKenzie and by his action, in placing some men in a good position from which they could direct a good fire, made it possible for Capt. MacKenzie to make a second attack on the laager. I consider this action accounted in a great measure for the slight casualties sustained by this squadron.
Luit. W.T. Lawless, commanding Scouts 1st Sctt and Luit H. Selby with the scouts most gallantly charged into the laager the moment the from the Boers betrayed their position. They had 3 men severely wounded and 8 horses killed in getting there and remained fighting hand to hand until the Boers surrendered. This is not the first occasion that both these officers have shown conspicuous gallantry in action and I venture to hope that their services may be brought to the notice of the C. in C.
Luit. J.C. Wallace with 7 men charged a kraal capturing 27 prisoners, shooting with his revolver one of their number who tried to give the alarm.”
The final paragraphs are missing from the document.

Henry Peregrine Leader, CB (8 January 1865 – 22 September 1934)
Born in Michigan in the USA of British parents, Leader grew up in Canada and followed in his father’s military footsteps. He joined the Suffolk Regiment in 1885 and switched over to the 6th Dragoon Guards in 1896. Seconded to the general staff from April 1899 he served in the Cavalry Division with Major General Sir John French. Promoted to the rank of Major, he returned as CO to the 6th Dragoons. At the time of the battle at Gruisfontein (for which he was mentioned in dispatches, see below) he had just been appointed CO of the 1st Scottish Horse with the local rank of lieutenant colonel.

Leader remained in uniform and acted in various capacities in South Africa, India and in France during WW1. He retired from the service as a Major General in 1920. As a poignant coincidence, Major General Leader died in 1934, in exactly the same way (drowning) as the man he addressed his Gruisfontein report to.


Lord Kitchener sung Major Leader’s praises in his dispatch three days after the battle:

"During Major Leader's advance he came upon and captured a Boer picket, from which he ascertained that General Delarey had already moved his camp, but that Commandant Sarel Albert's laager was for that night at Gruisfontein, which he reached just before daybreak. Our men charged the enemy's laager with great dash, the Scottish Horse taking the main share of the attack, and as most of the Boer horses had been stampeded by the fire of Major Leader's pompom, the gallantry of the attacking force was rewarded by an unusually large measure of success; 7 Boers were killed, 132 prisoners taken, 11 of whom were wounded, together with 130 rifles, 2800 rounds of ammunition, and a large number of horses, mules, cattle, and waggons were taken. Our casualties were 2 officers (Captain Ian R McKenzie and Lieutenant W Tanner) and 6 men wounded, all belonging to the Scottish Horse".


Kommandant S.F.Alberts (1872 -1954)

Sarel Francois Alberts was born on May 6, 1872 on the farm Hartebeesfontein, Hekpoort in Krugersdorp District. Alberts saw his first military action in 1896 at Doornkop during the Jameson Raid where his horse was shot. In1898 he fought with the Krugersdorp Commando against Magoto at Zoutpansberg. At the beginning of the Boer War Alberts became Adjutant to Kommandant F.J. Potgieter and participated in the battle of Talana and every other battle the Krugersdorp commando was involved. Just before the battle of Pietershoogte (Tugela Heights) Alberts was elected Assistant Field Cornet for Ward 3 of the Krugersdorp commando and a few months later General S.F. Oosthuizen appointed him to Field Cornet. The burgers of the Krugersdorp commando elected Albert as their Kommandant in June 1901, a position he retained until his capture at Gruisfontein on February 5, 1902 together with approximately 127 men of his ward. Alberts was sent as POW to St. Helena from which he returned to South Africa in August of that year. Alberts acted a Member of Parliament (Senator) for Witwatersberg from 1921 to 1924 and later (1929 to1938) for Magaliesberg. Sarel Alberts was married to Hester Potgieter (1869-1944) with whom he had 12 children. He died in Sterkfontein aged 83 on June 10, 1954 and was buried in the family cemetery at Hartebeesfontein, Hekpoort, Krugersdorp District.

Alberts signature on a page whilst interned on St. Helena

Burgers (all memembers of the Krugersdorp Commando) killed at Gruisfontein on February 5, 1902

Pieter Cornelis BONTHUIZEN, age 40, of the farm Holfontein
Cornelius Johannes Andries A CRONJE, age 19, of Hekpoort, buried at Gruisfontein
Hendrik Baltus KLOPPERS, age 43, of Kameeldrift, Rustenburg, buried at Gruisfontein
Gert Johannes. (W Zoon) KRUGER, age 28, of Hekpoort buried at Gruisfontein
Pieter P. VAN DEN BERG, age 18, of Koesterfontein
? VAN DER SCHYFF, age 28, of Hartebeestfontein
Johannes J (G) VAN STADEN, age unknown, buried at Gruisfontein
Andries Cornelis VAN VUUREN, age 67 of Roodepoort, buried at Gruisfontein

NB: According to the Government Gazette, Bonthuizen and van Vuuren died at Leeuwfontein


Situation Map with relevant places indicated.