10 Jun The Battle of Holkrans – 6 May 1902
The Battle of Holkrans took place on 6 May 1902 during the Anglo Boer War.
The site of the battle is to the west of Vryheid on the slope of a mountain. A Commando of Boers led by Veldkornet Jan Potgieter and Zulu Impi led by Sikhobobho , of the Abaqulusi tribe clashed when the Boers were surprised by the Zulus.
The Zulus were encouraged by the British to attack the Boers as they had been raiding the Zulu’s cattle for supplies. The Peace Treaty of Vereeniging was in progress at the time so the encouragement of the British to attack the Boers at this late stage led to further long lasting bitterness.
The Boers lost 52 men out of a total of 73 and the Zulus a total of 52 out of about 320 men.
The site has a monument commemorating the Boer men murdered in this attack and there is monument at the Klipkerk in Vryheid. The remains of the men are interred there.
Amongst the men is Johann Wilhelm (Willie) Bland, the grandson of my great great grandfather, Josiah Benjamin Adam Bland and his wife Cecelia Frederika (nee Du Plessis). His father was Daniel and Anna.
Hugh Bland pointing to Willie Bland’s name on the monument.
