Jump to content

File:Private Jenkins prevously "unknown British Soldier" Monument sponsored by David Scholtz.jpg

Page contents not supported in other languages.
This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Original file (4,000 × 3,000 pixels, file size: 4.2 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg)

Summary

Description
English: Possible grave of Angus Jenkins at Farm "Paardefontein" R547, near Val, Mpumalanga.

My grandfather told me the story of an incident during the Boer War: The Boers were guarding a drift in the Waterval River, while the British camp was about 5 km downstream. One day the Boers "got bored" with no action, and decided to create some. About 7 of them rode downstream, gave a few pot shots at the British camp, and rushed back. The British were under the impression that they had been attacked by a large commando and pursued their attackers, whereby they allowed themselves to be led into an ambush. One soldier was killed, but his comrades did not return to claim his body. He was buried in the nearby cattle kraal. After peace was declared, he was re-interred in the family graveyard. My grandfather pointed out the spot in the family graveyard where "die Engelsman" was buried. Many years later, research was done on the event, and the possible identity of the "previously unknown British Soldier" was revealed. In 2013 David Scholtz, member of the Military History Society, sponsored a monument to Trooper Angus Jenkins of Strathcona's Horse.


Diary of Trooper George Alexander Bowers of "C" Squadron in Lord Strathcona's Corps however records Jenkins's passing thus: July 1st, 1900 "Dominion Day" Marched at 9.30. Firing commenced on our right flank about noon. We ran up two guns and opened on the enemy who could be seen running in all directions when the shells burst near where they were lying. Trooper Angus Jenkins was killed and Captain Howard and Trooper Hudson were taken prisoners by the enemy at this fight. After firing had ceased we again moved forward and made camp at Washort Spruit about 4 miles further on. As we came into camp, there was some sharp firing on our left flank but no one was hurt. Had to go on outlying piquet tonight. Short of grub and very cold and tired. Buried Jenkins in garden here.[1]


Tony Maxwell, in Searching for the Queen's Cowboys: Travels in South Africa likewise records another grave in the Garden of Remembrance in Standerton. That head stone would read: In memory of Trooper Angus Jenkins, Strathcona's Horse, Killed at Watervaal (i.e. Waterval, or current Val) on Canada Day, July 1, 1900. The Regiment's first battle casualty. Maxwell records that Jenkins was from Red Deer, Alberta, and died in a skirmish at Smith's Store, Waterval.
Date
Source Own work
Author Valhotel
Other versions

Licensing

I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license:
w:en:Creative Commons
attribution share alike
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.
You are free:
  • to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work
  • to remix – to adapt the work
Under the following conditions:
  • attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  • share alike – If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same or compatible license as the original.


Captions

Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents

Items portrayed in this file

depicts

19 April 2014

0.0015625 second

5.2 millimetre

image/jpeg

File history

Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.

Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment
current12:05, 24 September 2015Thumbnail for version as of 12:05, 24 September 20154,000 × 3,000 (4.2 MB)ValhotelUser created page with UploadWizard

Metadata