Kaalfontein (G 8)

Name: Kaalfontein

Two skirmishes took place in Kempton Park during the Anglo-Boer War, both in January1901. The first known as the Battle of Zuurfontein took place next to the ZuurfonteinStation in the morning The second, known as the Battle of Kaalfontein, took place in theafternoon at Kaalfontein Station. Gen Beyers commanded the Boers. CommandantDuvenage, who was wounded at the Battle of Kaalfontein, was involved with bothclashes.
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From: http://www.everitt-kemptonpark.co.za/property-in-kempton-park.shp

Exciting things were happening in the Transvaal. Gold prospecting had been on the go for some years and, in 1886, George Harrison made the first discovery of the gold reef at Langlaagte, some 50 kilometres west of Zuurfontein. Further gold finds were recorded and within months the whole reef to the south of Zuurfontein was alive with activity. This was the start of the Golden City, Johannesburg, and the beginnings of the Witwatersrand. The momentous discovery of gold in vast quantities became the first major event to influence the future development of Kempton Park. The railway line The next important and historic incident which was to have a permanent effect on the shaping of the town was the building of the railway line. It had long been a Voortrekker ideal to build a rail link between the Transvaal and the east coast and with the opening of the goldfields it became a vital priority. On 25th June 1890, the Z.A.R. government granted a concession to the Nederlandsche Zuid-Afrikaansche Spoorwegmaatskappij to build a railway line from Pretoria, bypassing Johannesburg on the east and directed to the Vaal river by the shortest route. It is interesting to note at this point that simply because of the desire to find the shortest geographical route to the sea, the railway line was designed to bypass Johannesburg completely.

A junction linking the Witwatersrand and Johannesburg to the main line was established at Germiston. Significantly, however, the main line passed directly over the farm Zuurfontein, thus forging another link in the destiny of the yet unborn township of Kempton Park. The route of the railway line, decided upon by the concession-holders and the government commissioner, resulted in the establishment of stations at Irene, Kaalfontein and Zuurfontein. This was to eventuate in Zuurfontein becoming a gathering place for the resident farmers in the area and thus local community life had its first origins.


The Kaalfontein/Zuurfontein blockhouse [G] was a hexagonal three-storeyed stone blockhouse, covered by a low-pitched 'umbrella' corrugated roof with a wide eaves projection over the walls. In the photograph, the first floor entrance and access ladder and the loopholes at all three levels are clearly visible, with two officers and four other ranks posing in front, but the exceptional feature of this blockhouse must be the three bell-shaped 'shields with projecting gun barrels' positioned on each visible wall face between the first and second floor loopholes. Were these designed to scare the enemy into believing that the blockhouse was protected by Maxim guns? The site was on the outskirts of present-day Kempton Park.

Summary
The British masonry blockhouses of the South African War are the swansong of a castle and fort-building tradition which stretches back over 1 000 years and embraces a large part of the world. No more stonework fortifications were to be built by the British after this war. In the context of the very sophisticated fortification technology current in Europe and the United States of America during the nineteenth century, these are small and simple structures, designed to counter an enemy armed with rifles and no artillery. They served their purpose and were successful in that, whilst 'the wrecking of the railways reached a maximum in November and December 1900',(19) it has been stated that not a single important railway bridge was demolished by the Boers during Kitchener's command.(20) Together with the more numerous lines of corrugated blockhouses, they were, in a large measure, responsible for restricting the movement of the commandos, which terminated the guerrilla phase of the war.

As examples of stonework construction, these blockhouses are well-built and are fine specimens of the stonemason's art. The use of local stone, often quarried close to the site, produces a wide array of colours in different parts of the country, and these buildings fit in with their surroundings. The survival of so many examples testifies to their solid construction and the considerable variation of design types highlights the ingenuity and the wide degree of latitude given to the Royal Engineer officers who planned these interesting structures. They are an important contribution to the built environment and to our historic heritage and remain a highly visible reminder of the war.

http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol106rt.html


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The varying terrain of Modderfontein's topography proved ideal for training in horsemanship, which was based largely on the best methods of cavalry training used in the British Army and the best methods of horse care and grooming. Instruction was also given in basic veterinary care and in coping with common equine ailments, especially South African horse sickness. Practical training included the shoeing of horses and training was given in gymkhana techniques such as 'tent pegging' with lances. Long distance route marches were undertaken to Dam III, Swanepoel's bridge over the Jukskei River on the road to Johannesburg, to Zourfontein Station (now Kempton Park), Halfway House and to Kaalfontein Station. Night riding was done to Dam III and back. All of this was done to form a bond between rider and mount.

http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol121kk.html

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