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 Anglican Cemetery, 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 Ermelo
High 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.
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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
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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.
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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 Ermelo High 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.
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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
Anglican Cemetery. 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 Corinda State High School take part, and generally exchange
messages with students of the Ermelo High 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 Ermelo
High 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—Lt Col Murray
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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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