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Anglo Boer Oorlog POW Laager Komdt

Anglo Boer Oorlog Medal, Laager Kommandant Alwyn Jacobus Petrus Rautenbach, Waterberg Kommando, 57 year old serving with his 15 year old son, taken Prisoners of War at Poerseplaat. His son later killed at Delville Wood

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SKU: J6866 Category:
Origin: United Kingdom
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Anglo Boer Oorlog Medal, Laager Kommandant Alwyn Jacobus Petrus Rautenbach, Waterberg Kommando, 57 year old serving with his 15 year old son, both taken Prisoners of War at Poerseplaat.

 

Alwyn Jacobus Petrus Rautenbach was born during 1843 in Winterburg, Eastern Cape. His family was originally from Germany but had come to the Dutch Cape Colony in the early 1700s.

 

When the war broke out with the English, he was probably one of the oldest men to sign up to fight for their homes. As he was a lot older and more experienced, he took up the role of Laager Kommandant, it is possible he had previously fought back against the British in the 1st Boer War of 1881, where he would have been in his 30s.

 

He joined the Waterburg Kommando, under General Beyers, and served as their Laager Kommandant until his capture.
He served along side his teenage son, who was only 15 years old.

 

Every Commando unit had a Laager Commandant, assisted by a Corporal they would make the plans and organise the entire “Laager” when the units set up camp. They were typically experienced and knew exactly when and where to set up camp, with the perfect placement of the wagons to form an effective laager to operate from.

 

Whilst a Laager Commandant did not lead his men into battle, he did not shy away from the action when needed, he fought at Nooitgedacht on 13th December 1900 and at Zandrivierspoort on 25th June 1901.

 

Eventually on 21st October 1901, he was taken as a Prisoner of Warm following a successful series of raids led by Colonel Dawkins, which are notee in the book After Pretoria: The Guerllia War:

 

“Colonel Dawkins about the same time was busy carrying out a series of raids on the Boer Laagers, clearing the country immediately to the west of the railway and near Nylstroom.

 

On his expeditions in the space of a fortnight he secured 97 prisoners and 237 rifles. Among the prisoners were 3 Field Cornets, A Boer Captain, an Adjutant and the former Landdrost of Pretoria. He returned to Nylstroom on October 25.”

 

A genealogical site for C. E. Schutte, the Landdrost who was captured, it adds that:

 

“He was captured as Poerseplaat on 21st October 1901 with 55 Boers who were fleeing from the British with their cattle.”

 

Alwyn and his 15 year old son Willem Diederick Rautenbach, were captured and taken as Prisoners, being posted to India on 2nd November 1901, remaining there until the end of the war in 1902.

 

He returned back home to Vredesdorp and lived there until his death during 1925, at the age of 82.

 

Unfortunately he would outlive his young son, naturally Willem has enlisted with the South African Infantry Force during the First World War, he served in France with the 3rd Battalion S.A.I., and like many South African fell in action fighting during the Battle of Delville Wood.

 

He went missing in action and was declared dead on 1st August 1916, amongst the over 2,500 dead South Africans, about 80% of the force during the battle.

 

He also appears to be mentioned in the book: “Life on Commando during the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902” by Fransjohan Pretorious:

 

“During the British advance on Paardeberg in Mid February of 1900, Alwyn Rautenbach of the Winburg Commando was so overawed by the masses of troops that he told his companions that he never knew England owned the entire world.”