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Served: Staats Artillerie.

Field Promotion to Adjudant Onderofficier (Non-commissioned officer) awarded to Izaak Johannes Hendrik Greyling, who was the Wachmeester of the ZAR Staatsartillerie, it was authorized by General Louis Botha on 12 November 1901. The field promotion was written and signed by Kaptein Heinrich Sebastian Davel du Toit on 31 May 1902



Source: Anglo-Boer War Museum, Bloemfontein, South Africa (document archive)

Izaak Greyling. Annotated at the back: Berede Battery (Mobile Artillery)

Gruffyd, the document from the museum you showed is rather interesting as the promotion was made on the very last day of the war and as such entirely futile from a military command perspective. Captain du Toit acted on an authorization provided by Commandant General Louis Botha dated 12 November 1901. Given the date of Greyling’s promotion to Wachtmeester, it is safe to conclude that Botha’s authorization was of a general nature and did not specifically pertain to Greyling. As such the promotion on this late date could probably only be regarded as Du Toit’s expression of great appreciation for Greyling’s courageous war efforts and a letter of recommendation to be included in the latter’s CV.

Thank you EFV, I am fully aligned to your commentary. The document reflects positively on Kaptein du Toit in regard to his positive leadership of his men

Researching specific burgers can be challenging. You have to deal with a plethora of nicknames (Boet, Fanie, Klein/oud jan etc.), the fact that some are referred to by their second or third Christian name as well as highly creative ways of spelling surnames (e.g. Coetze, Kotze, Kotsé, Coetser for Coetzee). If that is not enough, quite a few burgers active in the war had exactly the same Christian and Family name. Back in the late 19th century families were large by modern standards and sons and daughters were often named after family members. You only have to look up Botha or van der Merwe in the databases to get an idea of what problems that can pose.

This problem also applies to Izaak J. Greyling. The Artillery man depicted in the posts above had a rather notable contemporary namesake in the form of Commandant Izaak J. Greyling of the famous Wakkerstroom Commando. This Greyling entered the war as common Burger and participated in the Battle of Dundee and Colenso. After Colenso Greyling was elected Kommandant by the Wakkerstroom burgers and in that capacity fought at Spioenkop, Platrand (Ceasar’s Camp/Wagon Hill) and Pietersstasie. During the guerilla phase of the war he participated in many battles and skirmishes a.o. the battle of Tafelkop. Kommandant Izaak Greyling stayed in the field for the entire duration of the war and surrendered his arms on June 12, 1902 almost two weeks after the Peace of Vereeniging was signed. (Source: Onze Krijgsofficieren, 1904)



An interesting veld letter mentioning Kommandant Greyling was sent by Piet Joubert (1831-1900) to the head of the Ambulance in January 1900. It was written just over a month after Joubert had been thrown off his horse, and 12 weeks before his death as indirect result thereof. At the time of writing Joubert was unwell and under great stress because of the deteriorating military situation and the growing irritation by the younger generation of Boer officers about his inability to act as an effective Commander in Chief. The letter -unusually blunt for the period- was written from Boer headquarters near Ladysmith and expresses a -clearly angry- Joubert’s frustration with reported shortcomings in medical care available to Boer troops in and around Modderspruit.



Hoofdlager (Central Military Command)
Ladysmith 4 Jan 1900

(In mix of high Dutch/Afrikaans)

To the right Hon (illegible name)
Head of Ambulance Modderspruit

Dear Sir!
I have received a letter from acting Commandant Izaac Greling [sic], Wakkerstroom, which contains complaints about the lack of medical assistance. …. the doctor who -as they allege- only wants to treat patients with pills, has gone home and the ambulance organization never comes to offer assistance. I would appreciate to learn from you asap the steps you will take to provide the required level of assistance, something that I expect to receive shortly. I wish to remind you of my repeated requests that I wish to receive decent reports and accounts about the entire ambulance and Hospital organization, including a list of names of every person associated therewith.

I request your immediate attention to this matter.

Yours,
P.J. Joubert
Commandant General