Britstown (C12)

Name:Britstown

Google count: 51,500 for Britstown
Date: 18 August 2008

Historic fact:

It was in the heady days of The Great Diamond rush in the year of 1877 that Britstown came into being. Fortune hunters paused here in their frenzied dash to the fabulous diamond fields, and a settlement mushroomed to provide fresh horses, fodder, refreshment and accommodation. Soon even a concertina virtuoso made music for happy dancers lubricated by the local brew. First the Fuller and Gibson coaches and then others stopped here. But by the time Britstown gained municipal status in January, 1889, a railway line already snaked across the Karoo plains to carry would-be diamond diggers through to Kimberley...
www.heritage.org.za/karoo/brits.htm


Other interesting info:
The last of the gentlemen's wars, the Anglo-Boer War, did not leave Britstown untouched. Shortly before the Battle of Paardeberg, Lord Roberts ordered General Settle, commander of the Orange River Station, to form three small columns and to check the course of the Rebellion. A three-pronged advance was planned. The 450-strong Western Column, under Colonel Charles Parsons, was to march on Carnarvon and Kenhardt from Victoria West. Colonel Adye was to concentrate the centre column, about 550 men, at Britstown, while General Settle, with 600 men, was to take the right flank and move due west from the Orange River Station. His objective was to clear the river, hold the drifts and cut off the advance of a Boer commando led by Commandant Liebenberg.

BRITISH REPULSED

But the action did not proceed as planned. On March 6, 1900, Colonel Adye and his men moved out of Britstown. About 20 miles from the village, as they neared a semi-circle of hills on the farm Houtwater, they were engaged by Commandant Liebenberg and his rebels. Despite his weaker force, Adye attacked, but without securing his flanks. Liebenberg was thus able to surround the British and force them into a hasty retreat. They were driven right back to Britstown with a loss of 21 men. Dr A E Ramsbottom and an ambulance were captured in the engagement.

KITCHENER TAKES COMMAND

Once Roberts heard that Adye had been repulsed, he took vigorous measures to suppress a rebellion. He immediately sent Kitchener to take command and sent reinforcements of about 3 000 men from Cape Town. Kitchener's plan was similar to Settle's. He aimed to prevent Boer forces under commandants Liebenberg and Steenkamp from crossing the river, so he moved a column from Britstown to Omdraaivlei. But the Boer leaders moved quickly and evaded capture by charging for Prieska and crossing the Orange River there.

MARTIAL LAW IMPOSED

Towards the end of December, 1900, Britstown was one of 14 districts in the Cape Colony to be placed under martial law. A Boer force under Hertzog, who had occupied Philipstown, tried to march on Britstown on December 16, 1900, but was forced to abandon the plan as Settle's columns were stationed nearby.

Troops again arrived in Britstown in February, 1901. On the 16th, Kitchener ordered Major-General Bruce Hamilton, from De Aar, and Bethune, from Richmond Road, to converge on Britstown. Henniker and Knox were also in the area pursuing forces led by commandants Kritzinger and Herzog. Commandant Brand and his men were also in Britstown. They had been sent there by Hertzog to collect provisions while he himself rode north to meet De Wet. Hamilton's forces arrived a few hours after Brand had left. He pursued the Boers to Houtwater, but lost contact with and Brand gained a clear lead.

More on:
www.heritage.org.za/karoo/brits.htm

Compiled by Wally Kriek for The Britstown Publicity Association

P O Box 130
Britstown
8782
Telephone No. 053 672 0003



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