The Brandwater Basin is the drainage basin of the Brandwater River (Afrikaans: Brandwaterrivier), a tributary of the Grootspruit River in the south-east of Orange Free State, South Africa, north of Lesotho.[1] The basin is situated south of Bethlehem and south-east of Senekal, between the Witteberg (White Mountains) to the west and north, the Rooiberge (Red Mountains) to the east, and the Drakensberg over the Caledon River to the south. It is also northwest of the Slaapkrans Basin (Afrikaans: Slaapkransbekken) and the Maloti Mountains on the northern border of Lesotho.[1] Towns in the Brandwater Basin are Fouriesburg, founded in 1892,[2] and Clarens, established in 1912.[3]
Map of the historical Orange Free State (orange), with the Brandwater Basin bottom center to the north east of Basutoland (Lesotho, grey).The Brandwater Basin in Orange Free State, South Africa, 1900. The position of the blocking British troops before the surrender of Prinsloo is shown.Marthinus Prinsloo (1838 - 1903)
The main entry and exit points of the Brandwater Basin south of Bethlehem are a number of mountain passes, in clockwise order from the north: Retief's Nek,[4] Naauwpoort's Nek (Noupoortsnek),[5]Golden Gate east of Clarens, Kommando Nek (Commando Nek) north east of Ficksburg,[6] and Slabbert's Nek south east of Senekal. Minor passes are Witnek,[7] Nelspoort, and Bamboeshoek.
1900 Boer surrender by Prinsloo in the Brandwater Basinedit
Prinsloo's Commando in the mountains retreating to the Brandwater Basin below after the lost fight at Retief's Nek on 23–24 July 1900.
Prinsloo's Boer forces surrender en masse handing over their Mauser Model 1895 rifles near Surrender Hill, starting 30 July 1900. Drawing around 1902.
Sandkol, hot sandy hill near Surrender Hill, on the R711 road, Slaapkrans, Orange Free State. Photo 2015.
Surrender Hill monument in Brandwater Basin, beside the Clarens-Fouriesburg road. Photo 2011.
The Brandwater Basin was the scene of a massive surrender of Boer troops under the command of General Marthinus Prinsloo in the Anglo-Boer War on 30 July 1900. After British troops had taken both the Boer state capitals of Bloemfontein (13 March 1900) and Pretoria (5 June 1900), Prinsloo and his men guarded the mountain passes of the Drakensberg at the Brandwater Basin.[8] Generals Christiaan de Wet, Paul Roux and Jonathan Crowther would each retreat from the Brandwater Basin with their troops northwards and eastwards.[9] De Wet indeed escaped escorting president Steyn, while the remainder of the Boer army instead failed to defend the pass Slabbert's Nek on 15 July 1900 and gave up Retief's Nek after a fight on 23–24 July 1900.
The British surrounded Prinsloo by also blocking the passes of Witnek, Kommandonek, Noupoortsnek (Nauwpoortsnek) and finally the Golden Gate pass to the east on the Little Caledon River, so that Prinsloo felt forced to surrender with his army to general Archibald Hunter on 30 July1900. Boer general Piet Fourie[10] or general Jan Hendrik Olivier[11] had got away with 1500 men and several commanders in the east over the Golden Gate pass in time.
Some 4300 of his troops including Prinsloo, Roux and Crowther were taken prisoner of war near Fouriesburg, most of them at Surrender Hill. This was the largest number of Boers captured in the war so far, even more than the 4000 at the surrender of general Piet Cronjé at Paardeberg on 27 February 1900. While most of the prisoners from Prinsloo's army were sent to Ceylon, Prinsloo himself was held captive at Simon's Town.[9][12][13] Prinsloo's surrender in 1900 was viewed by some of his compatriots as a treasonous act. Christiaan de Wet called it a “a horrible murder of government, country and people” (Afrikaans: ’n gruwelike moord op regering, land en volk).[12][14]
Literatureedit
M. P. Bossenbroek, Yvette Rosenberg (Translator), The Boer War, Seven Stories Press, New York, NY, 2018. ISBN9781609807474, 1609807472. Pages 284–285.
^ abde Beer, Tina (April 16, 2018). "Clarens History. (Extract from an Article written by Tina de Beer for Open Africa)". clarensnews.co.za. Clarens Guide. Retrieved 23 March 2023. ..Brandwater Basin, an area situated between the town of Fouriesburg and the well-known landmark of Golden Gate. The Brandwater Basin gets its name from the Brandwater River, a tributary of the Caledon River that runs along the foothills of the Maluti Mountains.
^"Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. p. 166.
^"Dictionary of Southern African Place Names (Public Domain)". Human Science Research Council. pp. 116–117.
^Roberts, Trygve (2020). "Retiefs Nek (R26). The Free State". mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za. MOUNTAIN PASSES OF SOUTH AFRICA. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
^Roberts, Trygve (2020). "Noupoortsnek (R712). The Free State". mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za. MOUNTAIN PASSES OF SOUTH AFRICA. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
^Roberts, Trygve (2020). "Kommandonek (R26). The Free State". mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za. MOUNTAIN PASSES OF SOUTH AFRICA. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
^Roberts, Trygve (2020). "Witnek (S162). The Free State". mountainpassessouthafrica.co.za. MOUNTAIN PASSES OF SOUTH AFRICA. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
^ ab. afrikanergeskiedenis.co.za (in Afrikaans). Afrikanergeskiedenis. 3 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 November 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2023.. The text overlaps with the Afrikaans wikipedia article w:af:Geskiedenis van die Boererepublieke.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brandwater Basin.
External linksedit
Ash, Chris. "On this day in 1900… Boer surrender at the Brandwater Basin". chrisash.co.za. Chris Ash. Retrieved 23 March 2023. By early July 1900, the Boer invasions of British territory had been thrown back in disarray, the capitals of both republics had been captured, and Lord Roberts had all but won the conventional war. In the north east of the OFS, Imperial troops drove the remnants of the Orange Free State commandos out of Bethlehem, prompting them to retreat southwards towards the border with Basutoland, and into an area known as the 'Brandwater Basin'.
Kinsey, H. W. (October 1999). "The Brandwater Basin and Golden Gate surrenders, 1900. Military History Journal Vol 11 No 3/4 - October 1999". samilitaryhistory.org. The South African Military History Society / Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging. Retrieved 23 March 2023. In view of the advance of General Hunter southwards towards Bethlehem mentioned below, General C R de Wet had decided to abandon that town and to fall back on the mountain strongholds surrounding the Brandwater Basin, whither the bulk of the burgher forces of the Orange Free State had already retired.
December 15, 2023
brandwater, basin, drainage, basin, brandwater, river, afrikaans, brandwaterrivier, tributary, grootspruit, river, south, east, orange, free, state, south, africa, north, lesotho, basin, situated, south, bethlehem, south, east, senekal, between, witteberg, whi. The Brandwater Basin is the drainage basin of the Brandwater River Afrikaans Brandwaterrivier a tributary of the Grootspruit River in the south east of Orange Free State South Africa north of Lesotho 1 The basin is situated south of Bethlehem and south east of Senekal between the Witteberg White Mountains to the west and north the Rooiberge Red Mountains to the east and the Drakensberg over the Caledon River to the south It is also northwest of the Slaapkrans Basin Afrikaans Slaapkransbekken and the Maloti Mountains on the northern border of Lesotho 1 Towns in the Brandwater Basin are Fouriesburg founded in 1892 2 and Clarens established in 1912 3 Map of the historical Orange Free State orange with the Brandwater Basin bottom center to the north east of Basutoland Lesotho grey The Brandwater Basin in Orange Free State South Africa 1900 The position of the blocking British troops before the surrender of Prinsloo is shown Marthinus Prinsloo 1838 1903 Contents 1 Mountain passes 2 1900 Boer surrender by Prinsloo in the Brandwater Basin 3 Literature 4 References 5 External linksMountain passes editThe main entry and exit points of the Brandwater Basin south of Bethlehem are a number of mountain passes in clockwise order from the north Retief s Nek 4 Naauwpoort s Nek Noupoortsnek 5 Golden Gate east of Clarens Kommando Nek Commando Nek north east of Ficksburg 6 and Slabbert s Nek south east of Senekal Minor passes are Witnek 7 Nelspoort and Bamboeshoek 1900 Boer surrender by Prinsloo in the Brandwater Basin edit nbsp Prinsloo s Commando in the mountains retreating to the Brandwater Basin below after the lost fight at Retief s Nek on 23 24 July 1900 nbsp Prinsloo s Boer forces surrender en masse handing over their Mauser Model 1895 rifles near Surrender Hill starting 30 July 1900 Drawing around 1902 nbsp Sandkol hot sandy hill near Surrender Hill on the R711 road Slaapkrans Orange Free State Photo 2015 nbsp Surrender Hill monument in Brandwater Basin beside the Clarens Fouriesburg road Photo 2011 The Brandwater Basin was the scene of a massive surrender of Boer troops under the command of General Marthinus Prinsloo in the Anglo Boer War on 30 July 1900 After British troops had taken both the Boer state capitals of Bloemfontein 13 March 1900 and Pretoria 5 June 1900 Prinsloo and his men guarded the mountain passes of the Drakensberg at the Brandwater Basin 8 Generals Christiaan de Wet Paul Roux and Jonathan Crowther would each retreat from the Brandwater Basin with their troops northwards and eastwards 9 De Wet indeed escaped escorting president Steyn while the remainder of the Boer army instead failed to defend the pass Slabbert s Nek on 15 July 1900 and gave up Retief s Nek after a fight on 23 24 July 1900 The British surrounded Prinsloo by also blocking the passes of Witnek Kommandonek Noupoortsnek Nauwpoortsnek and finally the Golden Gate pass to the east on the Little Caledon River so that Prinsloo felt forced to surrender with his army to general Archibald Hunter on 30 July 1900 Boer general Piet Fourie 10 or general Jan Hendrik Olivier 11 had got away with 1500 men and several commanders in the east over the Golden Gate pass in time Some 4300 of his troops including Prinsloo Roux and Crowther were taken prisoner of war near Fouriesburg most of them at Surrender Hill This was the largest number of Boers captured in the war so far even more than the 4000 at the surrender of general Piet Cronje at Paardeberg on 27 February 1900 While most of the prisoners from Prinsloo s army were sent to Ceylon Prinsloo himself was held captive at Simon s Town 9 12 13 Prinsloo s surrender in 1900 was viewed by some of his compatriots as a treasonous act Christiaan de Wet called it a a horrible murder of government country and people Afrikaans n gruwelike moord op regering land en volk 12 14 Literature editM P Bossenbroek Yvette Rosenberg Translator The Boer War Seven Stories Press New York NY 2018 ISBN 9781609807474 1609807472 Pages 284 285 Thomas Pakenham The Boer War George Weidenfeld amp Nicolson London 1979 Abacus 1992 ISBN 0 349 10466 2 Pages 438 441 445 References edit a b de Beer Tina April 16 2018 Clarens History Extract from an Article written by Tina de Beer for Open Africa clarensnews co za Clarens Guide Retrieved 23 March 2023 Brandwater Basin an area situated between the town of Fouriesburg and the well known landmark of Golden Gate The Brandwater Basin gets its name from the Brandwater River a tributary of the Caledon River that runs along the foothills of the Maluti Mountains Dictionary of Southern African Place Names Public Domain Human Science Research Council p 166 Dictionary of Southern African Place Names Public Domain Human Science Research Council pp 116 117 Roberts Trygve 2020 Retiefs Nek R26 The Free State mountainpassessouthafrica co za MOUNTAIN PASSES OF SOUTH AFRICA Retrieved 23 March 2023 Roberts Trygve 2020 Noupoortsnek R712 The Free State mountainpassessouthafrica co za MOUNTAIN PASSES OF SOUTH AFRICA Retrieved 23 March 2023 Roberts Trygve 2020 Kommandonek R26 The Free State mountainpassessouthafrica co za MOUNTAIN PASSES OF SOUTH AFRICA Retrieved 23 March 2023 Roberts Trygve 2020 Witnek S162 The Free State mountainpassessouthafrica co za MOUNTAIN PASSES OF SOUTH AFRICA Retrieved 23 March 2023 Kinsey 1999 a b Bossenbroek 2018 p 284 285 Bossenbroek 2018 p 285 Pakenham 1992 p 444 a b Presidente 1845 1902 Biografiese profiele Marthinus Prinsloo 1838 1903 afrikanergeskiedenis co za in Afrikaans Afrikanergeskiedenis 3 May 2022 Archived from the original on 10 November 2022 Retrieved 23 March 2023 The text overlaps with the Afrikaans wikipedia article w af Geskiedenis van die Boererepublieke Pakenham 1992 p 440 445 Pakenham 1992 p 445 nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brandwater Basin External links editAsh Chris On this day in 1900 Boer surrender at the Brandwater Basin chrisash co za Chris Ash Retrieved 23 March 2023 By early July 1900 the Boer invasions of British territory had been thrown back in disarray the capitals of both republics had been captured and Lord Roberts had all but won the conventional war In the north east of the OFS Imperial troops drove the remnants of the Orange Free State commandos out of Bethlehem prompting them to retreat southwards towards the border with Basutoland and into an area known as the Brandwater Basin Kinsey H W October 1999 The Brandwater Basin and Golden Gate surrenders 1900 Military History Journal Vol 11 No 3 4 October 1999 samilitaryhistory org The South African Military History Society Die Suid Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging Retrieved 23 March 2023 In view of the advance of General Hunter southwards towards Bethlehem mentioned below General C R de Wet had decided to abandon that town and to fall back on the mountain strongholds surrounding the Brandwater Basin whither the bulk of the burgher forces of the Orange Free State had already retired Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Brandwater Basin amp oldid 1181625895, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
