Background information - Langverwacht
The South African War of 1899-1902, often called the Boer War, was the first
overseas conflict to involve New Zealand troops. On 23 February 1902 at
Langverwacht, near the Orange River, a Boer force broke through a British
cordon at a point on the line held by New Zealand’s 7th Contingent. They then
advanced up the hill, destroying a number of New Zealand-held posts. Ferocious
close-quarter fighting ensued. The New Zealand casualties were high: 23 killed
and 41 wounded, out of a total of 80 men. This was the single most costly
encounter of the war for New Zealand.
The 23 casualties were buried at the battle site, which was marked by a small
memorial; a rock cairn with an inset marble plaque listing their names. It is not
known who erected the memorial, which suggests it was placed there soon after
the engagement, most likely in 1903. Three oak trees were planted around the
cairn, but 100 years later part of the nearest tree fell crushing the monument and
breaking the marble tablet in two.
There are no longer any graves at the site. The remains of the fallen were
exhumed and reburied in the Garden of Remembrance in the Vrede Public
Cemetery, about 30 kilometres away, during a period of graves consolidation in
the 1960s. A central monument marks the burial place of the 23 New
Zealanders.
Langverwacht was a key battle in the conflict on both sides, and the site has
resonance with the local people; 14 Boers were killed and 20 wounded in the
engagement. The Ministry therefore agreed to fund the restoration of the
monument as a project which would reinforce good relationships between the
two countries. The New Zealand High Commission in Pretoria has been
overseeing the project, with the co-operation of the landowners, the Van Reenen
family.
The High Commission will be hosting a re-dedication ceremony at the site at 12
noon on Sunday, 22 February 2009, the day before the 107th anniversary of the
battle.