General De Wet

Display Hall: General De Wet

The tile tableaux displayed in the De Wet Hall depicts famous Anglo-Boer War battles scenes and heroes. They originally formed part of the decorations of the foyer of the Transvalia Theatre, in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. When the theatre was demolished in the 1970’s the tiles were brought to South Africa and donated to the War Museum. The tiles were designed by the painter, Cornelius de Bruin of the De Distel factory.

The tile tableaux

With the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War in 1899, Europe had a lot of sympathy for the struggle of the two Republics against the mighty British Empire. Although European politicians on the continent of Europe morally supported the Republics there was no official military support from any of these countries. The British Empire and its powerful fleet were simply too much of a formidable adversary. This did not however stop the general public and institutions from expressing their sympathy and support for the Boer cause. This emotional “explosion” not only found expression in the media and pro-Boer publications, but also through artworks, monuments and statues that were created in honour of the Boers. The heroic struggle of the two Boer Republics led to several buildings, street names and parks which were named after Boer leaders. Images of the Boer generals were distributed as far as Siberia.

The Transvalia Theatre

In the light of this euphoria and the initial Boer military successes in Natal and on the Western Front, Cornelis de Bruin created these tile tableaux’s in 1900 by order of a Mr Hultskamp, owner and manufacturer of Hultskamp-gin, for the Transvalia Theatre in Rotterdam which belonged to Mr CNA Loos.

The theatre was designed by the firm Moerman & Oprel. On the gable of the building four busts of Presidents Steyn and Kruger adorned the building. The sympathy with the Boer cause was also seen in the furniture pieces and drinking glasses on which the coat-of-arms of the two republics appeared. These tableaux were meant for the lobby of the newly completed theatre. Cornelis de Bruin, was assisted by William of Norde who created ceramic tiles. In 1907 the theatre was turned into the Bioskoop Teater Transvalia (bioscope) , one of the first in Rotterdam. In 1935 further extensions and changes to the building took place and the name was changed to, ironically, the Victoria-theatre. During renovations in 1969, seven tableaux were found behind wallpaper and after investigation some more in the buildings cellar.

The Nederlands Zuid-Afrikaanse Vereniging (Dutch South African Society) brought this find to the attention of the Simon van der Stel Foundation, a South African heritage organization. They purchased the tiles which were then restored by experts. Since then they have been on display at the War Museum of the Boer Republics. It seems that of the 20 tableaux, those of Generals Christiaan de Wet, Koos de la Rey, Piet Joubert, Piet Cronje and the British General Penn-Symons, were among those lost during the renovation of the building in 1935.

Although Cornelis de Bruin never came to South Africa, he made use of illustrations from various sources such as De Zuid-Afrikaansche Oorlog (the South African War Journal) by GL Kepper. De Bruin even made use of British illustrations such as that of R Caton Woodville, war artist of the Illustrated London News of the battles of Colenso and Magersfontein. Some other interesting examples that appear on the tableaux are the oxen in the Reddersburg tableau with harnesses (as used in the Netherlands) instead of yokes. The oxen are also portrayed as long-haired European oxen and not short-haired Afrikaner oxen. The brims of the hats of the Boers appear also be much wider than was really the case. Each tableau, in the German Jugendstil style, is bordered by a frame in the Art Nouveau style that was very popular in 1900.

Cornelis de Bruin (1870 - 1940)

Cornelis de Bruin was born on 7 April 1870 in Utrecht. During 1893 – 1894 he received his art training in fine arts at the Rijksakademie (Rijks Academy) of Amsterdam. As part of The Hague school he was exposed to the Dutch Impressionism and this is strongly embodied in his works. He was a versatile artist who not only excelled in fine art, but also in painting. His love for the Netherlands was expressed in his numerous depictions of cityscapes of Amsterdam; scenes of fishermen, nomads and the Dutch countryside. He worked as a painter and designer at De Distel tile factory in Amsterdam (1894 – 1903), the Dordtsche Kunspotterij (1903-1906), the tile factory at Delft and Villeroy & Bosh in Luxemburg. Although Cornelis was never good at depicting horses and hands, he is rated amongst the Netherland’s best impressionistic ceramic artists. He died on 27 August in 1940 and is buried in Soest.

De Distel (the thistle) factory

The De Distel factory, founded in 1895 by Jac M Lob, specialized in colourful pottery and tiles for commemorative events. They were famous for their wares in the Rozenburg style which contributed to the fact that they won twelve international awards between 1900-1913. Their wares are well known for their geometric Celtic motives, especially after the incorporation of the Lotus of Nienhuis factory in 1901. In 1910 the De Amstelhoek factory became part of De Distel. In 1925 De Distel was bought by the Koninklijke Goedewaagen factory because of stagnation after the First World War.

THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH
30 OCTOBER 1899

With the declaration of war, the Boer forces under Gen. P.J. Joubert and Chief Commander M. Prinsloo invaded Natal compelling the British troops under General Sir George White to withdraw to Ladysmith where they were eventually entrapped. In an attempt to lift the siege, White occupied Nicholson’s Nek with a force of 1100 men during the night of 29 October. The next morning a large-scale attack by his main force on the Boer positions was unsuccessful. The Boers, however, gained two brilliant victories at Nicholson’s Nek and Modderspruit compelling the British force to fall back on Ladysmith where the Boer forces laid siege to the town. The British losses at Nicholson’s Nek and Modderspruit on “Mournful Monday”, as 30 October 1899 was called in memory of the British defeat, amounted to approximately 63 dead, 257 wounded and 968 missing and prisoners-of-war. On Boer side the losses came to 16 dead and 75 wounded. Ladysmith was only relieved 118 days later after the British break through on the lower Tugela on 27 February 1900.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting the Siege of Ladysmith, 30 October 1899

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 2,17 x 1,56 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00003

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

THE BATTLE OF MODDER RIVER
28 NOVEMBER 1899

After the declaration of war, the Free State forces crossed into the Cape Colony on 14 October 1899 effectively cutting off the British troops in Kimberley. Lt.-Gen. Lord Methuen consequently advanced from the Orange River Station on 21 November to Kimberley to dislodge the Boers and to restore communication with the town. He managed to chase the Boers from their positions at Belmont (23 November 1899) and Graspan (25 November 1899) and on the morning of 28 November 1899 attacked the combined forces of Gens. P.A. Cronje, Jacobus Prinsloo and J.H. de la Rey near Modder River Station. They were entrenched on the bank of the Riet River to the east and west of the confluence of the Modder and Riet Rivers and managed to pin down the large British force for hours under the blazing sun with well-placed artillery and Mauser fire. A section of the British force, however, managed to cross the Riet River near Rosmead and attack the right flank of the Boers which resulted in the Boers deciding that their position was becoming untenable and thus withdrawing from their positions during the night. The British losses during the battle, which became known as the battle of Two Rivers, amounted to approximately 71 dead and 389 wounded whilst it is estimated that some 50 burghers were killed and wounded.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting the Battle of Modder River, 28 November 1899

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 2,17 x 1,56 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00007

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

THE BATTLE AT STORMBERG
10 DECEMBER 1899

During the night of 9 December, Lieut.-Gen. Sir W.F. Gatacre accompanied by a force of some 2 600 men departed from Molteno en route to Stormberg with orders to execute a surprise attack at dawn on the Boer forces gathered there. The Boer forces under Chief Commandant J.H. Olivier amounted to 1 050 men who guarded the hills to the south and southwest of Stormberg station. Gatacre who had no knowledge of the terrain and of the Boer positions, suddenly found himself in the midst of Olivier’s southwestern positions which immediately resulted in a heavy engagement. Chief Commandant E.R. Grobler with 400 burghers, positioned a few miles to the west of Olivier’s force, heard the shots and immediately attacked from the rear. Gatacre was compelled to withdraw to Molteno to prevent his force from falling into Boer hands. The Boers lost 5 men while 16 were wounded. The British losses amounted to 25 dead, 110 wounded and 672 prisoners-of-war.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting the Battle of Stormberg, 10 December 1899

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 2,17 x 1,56 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00002

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

THE BATTLE AT MAGERSFONTEIN
11 DECEMBER 1899

After the battle of Modder River (28.11.1899) Gen. P.G. Cronjé entrenched his force at Magersfontein to check Lord Methuen’s march to Kimberley. The Boers, however, did not occupy the high ground as usual but took up position in excellently prepared trenches at the foot of Magersfontein and surrounding hills on 10 December. Lord Methuen assumed that the Boers had taken up position at the high ground as usual and acting on his presumption promptly subjected Magersfontein Hill to heavy artillery fire. During the night of 10 December, he ordered a strong force under Maj.-Gen. A.G. Wauchope to Magersfontein with orders to attack at dawn. In the chaos resulting from this unexpected encounter hundreds of British troops fled in disorder while the rest were pinned down by the barrage from the Mausers. Methuen repeatedly and unsuccessfully tried to breach the Boer lines and eventually during the following afternoon decided to retreat to Modder River. The British casualties which included Gen. Wauchope, amounted to more than 200 men while 700 were missing. The Boer losses came to about 87 dead and 168 wounded.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting the Battle at Magersfontein, 11 December 1899

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 2,17 x 1,70 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00004

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

THE BATTLE OF COLENSO
15 DECEMBER 1899

At the beginning of December 1899, the British Commander-in-chief in South-Africa, General Sir Redvers Buller, gathered a force of almost 21 000 men near Frere under his personal command in order to breach the Boer lines and lift the siege of Ladysmith. Consequently, he launched a frontal attack on Colenso on 15 December where a Boer force of approximately 3 000 men under General Louis Botha awaited him in well-prepared positions. Botha had also prepared fake trenches on the high ground on the other side of the Tugela River in order to draw the British artillery fire. Near the river at the foot of the hills he had prepared excellently camouflaged trenches. Buller, who had subjected the hills beyond Colenso to heavy artillery fire on 13 and 14 December, launched an attack from three directions at dawn on the fifteenth and immediately came under heavy cross-fire from the nearly invisible Boer positions. All three attacks failed miserably and Buller had to withdraw during the afternoon suffering heavy casualties as well as the loss of ten guns. The British losses amounted to approximately 148 dead, 756 wounded and 240 missing (including 38 captured by the Boers) while 7 burghers died on Boer side, 30 were wounded and one drowned in the Tugela.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting the Battle of Colenso, 15 December 1899

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 2,17 x 1,56 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00005

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

THE BATTLE OF SPIOENKOP
24 JANUARY 1900

After the failure of the attack at Colenso (15.12.1899) Gen. Buller advanced on the Upper-Tugela region with a force of 4 000 troops to try and lift the siege at Ladysmith. On the recommendation of Sir Charles Warren, he occupied Spioenkop with a force of 2 000 men under the command of Maj.-Gen. Sir E.R.P. Woodgate in order to cover his advance on Ladysmith. Woodgate surprised the Boer picket and ousted them from their position. In the thick mist the British force prepared their trenches 80 – 200 yards from the actual northern perimeter and thus inhibiting their firing range. The following morning Comdt. H.F. Prinsloo (Carolina-Commando) and Comdt. “Rooi” Daniël Opperman (Pretoria Commando) headed the attack of 400 men on the British position as ordered by Gen. Louis Botha, while accurate gun and Mauser fire from the adjacent hills lent the necessary cover. The British force was rendered helpless under the deadly cross-fire and decided to evacuate Spioenkop under cover of darkness whereupon the Boers occupied Spioenkop the following morning. The British losses amounted to 322 dead, 563 wounded, (including Gen. Woodgate with a fatal head wound) and approximately 300 missing including 187 prisoners-of-war. On Boer side 58 fell while 140 were wounded.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting the Battle of Spioenkop, 24 January 1900

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 2,17 x 1,70 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00006

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

THE BATTLE OF PAARDEBERG
18 FEBRUARY 1900

With Lt.-Gen. J.P.D. French’s breakthrough to Kimberley on 15 February 1900, Gen. P.A. Cronjé vacated his position at Magersfontein and trekked in an easterly direction. A British force under Maj.-Gen. H.H. Kitchener, however, cut off Cronjé’s retreat on 18 February at Paardeberg on the northern bank of the Modder River. Cronjé was not prepared to abandon his convoy of approximately 400 wagons and 40-80 women and children and consequently took up defensive positions with his force of 4 000 men. Kitchener launched an attack from three directions with 15 000 troops at his disposal under cover of heavy artillery fire but was forced back with the loss of 303 dead, 906 wounded and 61 prisoners of war. The British force which eventually consisted of 20 000 men and 100 guns under the personal command of Lord Roberts, proceeded to lay siege to Cronjé’s position and subjected the laager to a daily bombardment. General de Wet who had already arrived at Paardeberg on 18 February, attempted to free Cronjé but this proved to be unsuccessful and he was powerless to prevent Cronjé’s surrender to Lord Roberts on Majuba Day, 27 February 1900.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting the Battle of Paardeberg, 27 February 1900

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 2,17 x 1,70 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00001

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

THE BATTLE OF REDDERSBURG
3 - 4 APRIL 1900

After the British occupation of Bloemfontein (13 March 1900) the Boer leaders decided on 20 March 1900 at Kroonstad to implement guerrilla tactics. Their aim was to paralyse the British offensive by disrupting their lines of communication and to attack them repeatedly and unexpectedly with small mobile commandos and to cause as much damage as possible. Gen. C.R. de Wet achieved the first success of the guerrilla war on 31 March 1900 with his brilliant surprise attack on a British force at Sannaspos. On 3 April he surprised Captain W.J. McWhinnie with a force of 600 men of the Royal Irish Rifles and Northumberland Fusiliers en route from Dewetsdorp to Reddersburg at Mostertshoek, 6 km north-east of Reddersburg. The British soldiers who had entrenched themselves in a rocky ridge managed to maintain their position until the evening. At dawn De Wet, who had received reinforcements during the night and who now had approximately 800-1000 men and 3 guns at his disposal, rejoined battle. The British force, who did not have any guns, and who were completely surrounded by the Boers, surrendered at 11h00. The British losses amounted to 10 dead, 35 wounded and 546 prisoners-of-war. On Boer side one burgher was killed and six were wounded.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting the Battle of Reddersburg, 3-4 April 1900

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 2,17 x 1,70 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00008

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

LOUIS BOTHA
27 SEPTEMBER 1862 - 27 AUGUST 1919

At the outbreak of hostilities in 1899 Louis Botha left for the Natal front as an ordinary burgher of the Vryheid commando but was soon promoted to the rank of general because of his exceptional insight into the art of warfare. On 15 December 1899 he gained one of the Boers’ most celebrated victories at Colenso where General Sir Redvers Buller suffered a crushing defeat at his hands. Soon afterwards his success was crowned with another brilliant victory at Spioenkop on 24 January 1900. After General Joubert’s death (28 March 1900) Botha was eventually appointed as Commandant General of the Transvaal forces. He rejected Lord Kitchener’s peace proposals in March 1901 during a meeting in Middelburg (Transvaal) and continued with the struggle in Transvaal. In March 1902 he realized that the struggle was proving to be futile and he strived for an honourable peace settlement. After the war Botha accompanied Gens. De Wet and De la Rey to Europe to raise money for the widows, orphans and impoverished families. In 1907 he became Prime Minister of the Transvaal Colony and after the establishment of the Union on 31 May 1910 he became the first Prime Minister of South-Africa. His decision to enter the First World War on the side of Britain led to the Rebellion of 1914/15 and as a result he lost the support of a large section of the Afrikaner nation, a burden that he had to bear until his death in 1919.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting General Louis Botha

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 1,38 x 0,62 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00012

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

HERMANUS JACOB COSTER
30 JUNE 1865 - 21 OCTOBER 1899

Dr H.J. Coster was born at Alkmaar in the Netherlands on 30 June 1865. Before moving to Pretoria in 1890 he studied law at the University of Leiden. In 1891 he became a member of the Bar in Pretoria and was appointed attorney-general of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (Z.A.R.) in 1895. He distinguished himself in 1896 as prosecutor during the trial of the Uitlanders from Johannesburg for their role in the Jameson Raid. In 1896 he became a citizen of the Z.A.R. and in 1897 resigned as attorney-general to return to his law practice. He was one of the founders of the Dutch corps and on 11 October 1899 he was sworn in as lieutenant of this corps. Ten days later, on 21 October 1899, he was killed during the battle at Elandslaagte and was buried on the spot. His mortal remains were reinterred in the old cemetery near the Heroes’ Acre in Pretoria where a memorial to his honour was unveiled in 1968.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting Dr H.J. Coster

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 1,38 x 0,62 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00015

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

JOHANNES HERMANUS MICHIEL KOCK
11 MARCH 1835 - 31 OCTOBER 1899

Johannes M. Kock, born at Graaff-Reinet on 11 March 1835, had taken part in the battles of Swartkoppies (30.4.1845) and Boomplaats (29.8.1848) in the company of his father. On 20 July 1892 he became a member of the Executive Council of the Zuid- Afrikaansche Republiek and in 1895 recording secretary of his council. With the outbreak he was sent as field general to the Natal Border. During the action at Talana he was ordered by the Council of War to occupy Biggar’s Pass in order to disrupt the railway connection between Dundee and Ladysmith as well as to establish contact with the Free State commandos. Kock, however, did not keep to his orders and on 19 October 1899 he occupied the very vulnerable station at Elandslaagte where his commando suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of Gen. Sir George White. Kock was severely wounded and died on 31 October as a prisoner-of-war in Ladysmith. His mortal remains, however, were handed over to the Boers by Gen. White and he was buried with full military honours in Pretoria on 2 November 1899.

Title: Tile tableau

Description: Tile tableau panel depicting J.H.M. Kock

Medium: Painted and glazed porcelain tiles

Measurements: 1,38 x 0,62 m

Date: c. 1899-1902

Style: Art Nouveau

Accession number: 05472/00013

Date received: January 1980

Donor: Department of Defence

GEORGES HENRI ANNE-MARIE VICTOR DE VILLEBOIS-MAREUIL
22 MARCH 1847 - 5 APRIL 1900

Georges de Villebois-Mareuil, born to the French nobility at Nantes and an erstwhile colonel in the French army and a veteran of Franco-Prussian War, arrived in Pretoria on 25 November 1899 to join the Boer forces as a volunteer. He was appointed military adviser to Comdt.-Gen. P. Joubert and saw active service on the Natal, southern and western fronts. On 10 March 1900 he led a French volunteer corps during the action at Abrahamskraal and on the same day he was appointed to the rank of field general by Joubert with the commission to unite all foreign volunteers in an international legion. The appointment was confirmed by both the Boer presidents during a council of war on 17 March 1900. De Villebois-Mareuil marched to Kimberley on 24 March with orders to attack the British defence lines. He was accompanied by about 100 men, amongst others Frenchmen, Dutchmen and a small Boer detachment. He was intercepted and surrounded by Lord Methuen’s troops on 5 April near Boshof, where he put up a gallant fight for four hours before being killed during an artillery bombardment. He was buried on the following day with full military honours by the British forces at Boshof, but his mortal remains were reinterred at Magersfontein on 14 August 1971.

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General De Wet

Display Hall: General De Wet

The tile tableaux

The Transvalia Theatre

Cornelis de Bruin (1870 - 1940)

De Distel (the thistle) factory

THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH 30 OCTOBER 1899

THE BATTLE OF MODDER RIVER 28 NOVEMBER 1899

THE BATTLE AT STORMBERG 10 DECEMBER 1899

THE BATTLE AT MAGERSFONTEIN 11 DECEMBER 1899

THE BATTLE OF COLENSO 15 DECEMBER 1899

THE BATTLE OF SPIOENKOP 24 JANUARY 1900

THE BATTLE OF PAARDEBERG 18 FEBRUARY 1900

THE BATTLE OF REDDERSBURG 3 - 4 APRIL 1900

LOUIS BOTHA 27 SEPTEMBER 1862 - 27 AUGUST 1919

HERMANUS JACOB COSTER 30 JUNE 1865 - 21 OCTOBER 1899

JOHANNES HERMANUS MICHIEL KOCK 11 MARCH 1835 - 31 OCTOBER 1899

GEORGES HENRI ANNE-MARIE VICTOR DE VILLEBOIS-MAREUIL 22 MARCH 1847 - 5 APRIL 1900

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THE SIEGE OF LADYSMITH
30 OCTOBER 1899

THE BATTLE OF MODDER RIVER
28 NOVEMBER 1899

THE BATTLE AT STORMBERG
10 DECEMBER 1899

THE BATTLE AT MAGERSFONTEIN
11 DECEMBER 1899

THE BATTLE OF COLENSO
15 DECEMBER 1899

THE BATTLE OF SPIOENKOP
24 JANUARY 1900

THE BATTLE OF PAARDEBERG
18 FEBRUARY 1900

THE BATTLE OF REDDERSBURG
3 - 4 APRIL 1900

LOUIS BOTHA
27 SEPTEMBER 1862 - 27 AUGUST 1919

HERMANUS JACOB COSTER
30 JUNE 1865 - 21 OCTOBER 1899

JOHANNES HERMANUS MICHIEL KOCK
11 MARCH 1835 - 31 OCTOBER 1899

GEORGES HENRI ANNE-MARIE VICTOR DE VILLEBOIS-MAREUIL
22 MARCH 1847 - 5 APRIL 1900