Meet Oom Gideon

“	As ons gevra word waarom ʼn gedenksteen in 1978 opgerig moet word vir ʼn man wat in 1902 gesterf het is die antwoord eenvoudig. Die lewe en wese van hierdie man was van so ’n aard dat die geskiedenis hom in die heldesaal geplaas het en niks en niemand kan hom dit ontneem nie.	”
— Former Prime Minister, John Vorster

 

GideonScheepers was buried in an unknown grave about 3km outside of Graaff-Reinet.

During the Anglo Boer War, at the meager age of 22, Comdt Gideon Scheepers was promoted to leader of 150 men, known as the Witkoppen Commando – named for the white ribbens they wore on their hats. 

Today, a mere 3 km outside the Karoo town of Graaff-Reinet, one finds the interesting monument in honour of Gideon Scheepers.  The tar road leading to Murraysburg, has numerous travelers en-route to the Valley of Desolation, passing by this site.   

Comdt Gideon Scheepers was one of the Boer commando leaders during the Anglo Boer War.  He was sent to the Cape Midlands from Transvaal with his commando to try & hinder the transport of provisions sent from the UK.  The provisions were shipped to Algoa Bay (today Port Elizabeth) and then transported by train northwards.  Near the end of the war he fell ill (due to his appendix) & this resulted in him being captured.  He was executed on the 18th of January 1902 at 15:30pm on the Murraysburg road. He was too sick to stand during the execution & had to be tied to a chair. 

There is parking at the monument & the short walking route offers beautiful views of the Nqweba Dam.

Interesting to note – there is only an Afrikaans entry of Wikipedia available on him.