He was born in Swellendam, the third son (of six) of Jacobus Johannes Uys (nicknamed Koos Bybel (Bible) because of his religious beliefs). In 1823 Piet Uys moved to a farm in the Humansdorp area near Uitenhage together with his father.
Uys married a cousin, Alida Maria Uys, in 1815. The couple had three sons. He was described as a "well-spoken, intelligent man" with a wide circle of friends, including the Governor of the Cape Colony, Sir Benjamin d'Urban and ColonelHarry Smith. His conduct during the Cape Frontier wars led him to assume a leadership role at the relatively young age of 37. As a result of this, Uys was chosen to lead the "Commission Trek" to Natal in 1834, where he visited Port Natal[3] and may also have met Dingane.
Pioneeredit
After this successful scouting expedition, the party returned to Uitenhage in February 1835. The subsequent favourable reports of the Commission Treks resulted in many farmers leaving their farms and trekking into the interior of Southern Africa, in what later became known as the Great Trek. Uys sold his own farm in December 1836 and left the Uitenhage area with his party of 100 Voortrekkers (as they became known) in April 1837.
On 29 June of the same year, the Uys Trek arrived at the combined Voortrekker laager at the Sand River where, unbeknownst to them, Piet Retief had been elected Governor and a constitution drafted. Uys refused to accept either and insisted that, once they had reached Natal, democratic elections should be held. He also proposed a constitution based on that of the United States of America.
Uys then received a request by Andries Potgieter to help him against the Matabeles and their leader, Mzilikazi, who had recently defeated him. A commando led by Uys responded, and their combined forces eventually drove the Matabeles into what is now the country of Zimbabwe, opening up the Highveld area for future settlement.
On their return to the laager, the men found that Retief had already left for Natal. Uys and Potgieter subsequently travelled with a scouting party to Natal to visit Retief, but left for what later became known as the Orange Free State after being made to feel unwelcome.
Warrioredit
However, after the massacare of Retief and his men by Dingane and the subsequent Zulu attacks on the Voortrekker laagers in Natal, commandos led by Uys and Potgieter rode to their aid. During the subsequent Battle of Italeni both Uys and his second son, Dirkie, were killed. The part of Uys' commando that remained behind (under the command of Field Cornet Potgieter), were surrounded and had to fight their way out. Due to the outcome of the battle, the Voortrekker forces involved in the fighting subsequently became known as the Vlugkommando(Flight Commando). Uys was to be the only Voortrekker leader to be killed in battle during the Great Trek. In retaliation the Voortrekkers formed the Vegkommando (Fight commando) which decisively defeated the Zulu in the Battle of Blood River.
^ abMeintjes, Johannes (1973). The Voortrekkers: The Story of the Great Trek and the Making of South Africa. Cassell. p. 19. ISBN978-0-304-29034-5.
^Andrews, Thomas Edmund; Ploeger, Jan (1989). Straat- en Plekname Van Ou-Pretoria (in Afrikaans). J.L. van Schaik. p. 50. ISBN978-0-627-01620-2.
^Bulpin, Thomas Victor (1976). The Great Trek. Bulpin (T. V.).
South African Military History Society
October 30, 2023
piet, south, african, rugby, union, player, rugby, union, petrus, lafras, more, commonly, known, 1797, 1838, voortrekker, leader, during, great, trek, dirkie, dying, battle, frieze, voortrekker, monumentborn, 1797, october, 1797, bapt, potberg, swellendam, dis. For the South African rugby union player see Piet Uys rugby union Petrus Lafras Uys more commonly known as Piet Uys 1 1797 1838 2 was a Voortrekker leader 1 during the Great Trek Piet UysPiet Uys and his son Dirkie dying in battle a frieze of the Voortrekker MonumentBorn 1797 10 23 October 23 1797 bapt Potberg Swellendam districtDiedApril 11 1838 1838 04 11 aged 40 Italeni UmGungundlovuResting placeUysdoorns Pietermaritzburgreburied Weltevrede UtrechtOccupationCommandantSuccessorJacobus Johannes Cobus Uys younger brotherSpouseAlida Maria UysChildren Kruppel Koos 1819 1886 Dirk Cornelis 1823 1838 Petrus Lafras Piet Hlobane 1827 1879 Parent s Jacobus Johannes Koos Bybel Uys 1770 1838 Susanna Margaretha Moolman Contents 1 Early life 2 Pioneer 3 Warrior 4 Legacy 5 ReferencesEarly life editHe was born in Swellendam the third son of six of Jacobus Johannes Uys nicknamed Koos Bybel Bible because of his religious beliefs In 1823 Piet Uys moved to a farm in the Humansdorp area near Uitenhage together with his father Uys married a cousin Alida Maria Uys in 1815 The couple had three sons He was described as a well spoken intelligent man with a wide circle of friends including the Governor of the Cape Colony Sir Benjamin d Urban and Colonel Harry Smith His conduct during the Cape Frontier wars led him to assume a leadership role at the relatively young age of 37 As a result of this Uys was chosen to lead the Commission Trek to Natal in 1834 where he visited Port Natal 3 and may also have met Dingane Pioneer editAfter this successful scouting expedition the party returned to Uitenhage in February 1835 The subsequent favourable reports of the Commission Treks resulted in many farmers leaving their farms and trekking into the interior of Southern Africa in what later became known as the Great Trek Uys sold his own farm in December 1836 and left the Uitenhage area with his party of 100 Voortrekkers as they became known in April 1837 On 29 June of the same year the Uys Trek arrived at the combined Voortrekker laager at the Sand River where unbeknownst to them Piet Retief had been elected Governor and a constitution drafted Uys refused to accept either and insisted that once they had reached Natal democratic elections should be held He also proposed a constitution based on that of the United States of America Uys then received a request by Andries Potgieter to help him against the Matabeles and their leader Mzilikazi who had recently defeated him A commando led by Uys responded and their combined forces eventually drove the Matabeles into what is now the country of Zimbabwe opening up the Highveld area for future settlement On their return to the laager the men found that Retief had already left for Natal Uys and Potgieter subsequently travelled with a scouting party to Natal to visit Retief but left for what later became known as the Orange Free State after being made to feel unwelcome Warrior editHowever after the massacare of Retief and his men by Dingane and the subsequent Zulu attacks on the Voortrekker laagers in Natal commandos led by Uys and Potgieter rode to their aid During the subsequent Battle of Italeni both Uys and his second son Dirkie were killed The part of Uys commando that remained behind under the command of Field Cornet Potgieter were surrounded and had to fight their way out Due to the outcome of the battle the Voortrekker forces involved in the fighting subsequently became known as the Vlugkommando Flight Commando Uys was to be the only Voortrekker leader to be killed in battle during the Great Trek In retaliation the Voortrekkers formed the Vegkommando Fight commando which decisively defeated the Zulu in the Battle of Blood River Legacy editUys and his son Dirkie are rendered in the marble friezes of the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria References edit a b Meintjes Johannes 1973 The Voortrekkers The Story of the Great Trek and the Making of South Africa Cassell p 19 ISBN 978 0 304 29034 5 Andrews Thomas Edmund Ploeger Jan 1989 Straat en Plekname Van Ou Pretoria in Afrikaans J L van Schaik p 50 ISBN 978 0 627 01620 2 Bulpin Thomas Victor 1976 The Great Trek Bulpin T V South African Military History Society Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Piet Uys amp oldid 1178709639, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
