Battle of Amajuba
South Africa, Volksrust · 1981-02-27
Official first day cover (FDC) · South African philately
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front
This cover is postmarked on 27 February 1981 in Volksrust, marking the exact centenary of the battle fought on that mountain a hundred years earlier. The two stamps depict scenes from the fighting itself, close combat among the rocks on the 15c value and riflemen advancing under cover on the 5c. The battle turned on a night march rather than a set piece assault. General Colley led 579 men up Amajuba's steep southern slope in darkness, and by the time Boer forces stormed the summit the following afternoon the British position collapsed within hours. Colley himself was killed in the final stages, and the defeat led directly to the Pretoria Convention that restored Transvaal independence later that year.
Description of the Cachet
The cachet is built around a full colour reproduction of a period painting of Amajuba mountain, set within an ornate framed border with scrolled corner flourishes. Mounted officers and figures on horseback gather in the foreground while the battle unfolds up the slopes behind them, the mountain itself rising pale and hazy in the background. The date "1881-02-27" sits above the frame and the title runs beneath it in matching bilingual script, "Battle of · Slag by Amajuba". The two stamps sit apart in the top right, both marking the same centenary, one showing hand to hand combat among the rocks and the other a group of riflemen taking cover on the mountainside. A circular postmark cancels the stamps, reading "Slag by · Battle of Amajuba 1881-1981" around a Volksrust dateline.
Information Card
THE BATTLE OF AMAJUBA, SUNDAY 27 FEBRUARY 1881 After the annexation of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek by Sir Theophilus Shepstone in April 1877, the Transvaal burghers unceasingly negotiated with the British government in order to regain their independence. By the national convention at Paardekraal in December 1880 the Triumvirate (Paul Kruger, Piet Joubert and M.W. Pretorius) was designated as the leaders taken to restore the former republic, with the result that war broke out. The first shots of the Transvaal War of Independence were fired at Potchefstroom on 16 December 1880. Fighting occurred at several other places, inter alia at Bronkhorstspruit on 20 December. Comdt Gen Piet Joubert took up positions with a strong Boer force at Laingsnek at the foot of AMAJUBA in order to check the British advance from Natal under General Sir George Pomeroy Colley. On 28 January 1881 Colley tried to break through the Boer lines at Laingsnek, but the burghers' defence proved to be impenetrable and the British suffered severe losses. On 8 February the two forces again engaged in battle at Schuinshoogte, and once again Colley had to retreat. It is probable that these two defeats led to Colley's decision to occupy the strategically situated AMAJUBA Mountain during the night of 26 February 1881. His task force of 579 men from various regiments consisted of 18 officers, 3 military doctors, 4 medical orderlies and 554 riflemen. At 22h00 on Saturday evening 26 February the night-march to AMAJUBA started with a few Black guides at the head. On the way, a number of troops stayed behind to man two advanced posts. The rest started the ascent of the steep southern slope shortly after midnight. About 360 men reached the summit, the last soldier stumbling to the top by 06h00 on Sunday morning. At daybreak the Boers discovered that the British troops had occupied the flat summit of AMAJUBA. Joubert ordered Field General N.J. Smit to charge the enemy. Approximately 150 volunteers under the command of Commandant Joachim Ferreira and Assistant Field-Cornets Stephanus Roos and David Malan immediately started up the northern slope in three groups. The later famous Gen C.R. de Wet, at that time an assistant field-cornet, was one of the volunteers. More burghers followed and by noon about 200 had reached the summit. A sharp battle was raging. Colley tried to hold his positions and the troops fiercely resisted the Boer attack, but the burghers outflanked them. Colley was killed during the final stages of the battle. Absolute confusion developed amongst the troops, who were driven back to the very edge of the precipice whilst some hastily fled down the slopes. Three officers and 93 men were killed in action, 8 officers and 109 men were wounded and 7 officers and 49 men taken captive. One Boer was killed in action, two died from wounds later on and five were wounded. The battle of AMAJUBA (the Zulu word for doves) was decisive in the struggle for independence. Through the agency of Pres J.H. Brand of the Orange Free State the foundation for peace was established in the earthen floor cottage of O'Neill. Although certain restrictions were placed on the autonomy of their State, the Transvaal burghers regained their independence with the signing of the Pretoria Convention in August 1881 and thus the victory at AMAJUBA had run its course. DIE SLAG BY AMAJUBA, SONDAG 27 FEBRUARIE 1881 Na die anneksasie van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek deur Sir Theophilus Shepstone in April 1877, het die Transvaalse burgers onvermoeid met die Britse regering onderhandel ten einde hulle onafhanklikheid terug te kry. By die volksvergadering op Paardekraal in Desember 1880 is die Driemanskapregering (Paul Kruger, Piet Joubert en M.W. Pretorius) aangewys en is daar besluit om die eertydse republiek in ere te herstel. Dit het tot 'n oorlog gelei. Op 16 Desember 1880 val die eerste skote van die Transvaalse Vryheidsoorlog op Potchefstroom. Daarna is op verskeie ander plekke geveg, onder meer op Bronkhorstspruit op 20 Desember. Kmdt-genl Piet Joubert het met 'n sterk Boeremag stelling ingeneem by Laingsnek aan die voet van AMAJUBA om die Britse opmars uit Natal onder generaal sir George Pomeroy Colley te stuit. Op 28 Januarie 1881 probeer Colley by Laingsnek deurbreek, maar die Boere het die aanval suksesvol afgeweer en die Britte gevolglik swaar verliese toegedien. Op 8 Februarie raak die twee magte nog eens slaags by Schuinshoogte en weer moes Colley die aftog blaas. Dié twee neerlae het waarskynlik daartoe aanleiding gegee dat Colley besluit het om die strategies geleë AMAJUBA-berg die nag van 26 Februarie 1881 te besit. Sy taakmag van 579 man was saamgestel uit verskillende regimente en het bestaan uit 18 offisiere, 3 militêre dokters, 4 mediese ordonnanse en 554 manskappe. Om 22h00 op Saterdagaand 26 Februarie het die nagmars na AMAJUBA begin met 'n paar Swart gidse aan die spits. Onderweg is 'n aantal troepe by twee buiteposte agtergelaat. Die res het na middernag die steil suidelike berghang begin uitklim. Sowat 360 man het die kruin bereik. Die laaste soldaat het teen 06h00 Sondagoggend oor die kruinrand gestrompel. Met liggdag het die Boere agtergekom dat die Britse troepe die plat kruin van AMAJUBA beset het. Joubert het veggeneraal N.J. Smit opdrag gegee om die vyand daar af te haal. Ongeveer 150 vrywilligers onder kommandant Joachim Ferreira en assistent-veldkornette Stephanus Roos en David Malan het dadelik in drie groepe teen die noordelike hang uitgeklim. Die latere beroemde genl C.R. de Wet, toe maar 'n assistent-veldkornet, was een van die vrywilligers. Nog burgers het gevolg en teen 12h00 was daar al 'n stuk van 200 by die kruin. 'n Hewige geveg het toe al gewoed. Colley wou sy posisie nie prysgee nie en sy troepe het verbete teruggeveg, maar die burgers het die Britte egter met die geveg gesneuvel. Die burgers het na aan die rand van die afgrond teruggedryf en sommige het ylings die steilte afgevlug. Drie offisiere en 93 manskappe het gesneuvel, 8 offisiere en 109 manskappe is gewond en 7 offisiere en 49 manskappe gevange geneem. Aan Boerekant het een burger gesneuwel, twee het later aan hulle wonde beswyk en vyf is gewond. Die slag by AMAJUBA (die Zoeloewoord vir duiwe) was deurslaggewend in die onafhanklikheidstryd. Deur bemiddeling van pres. J.H. Brand van die Oranje-Vrystaat is in die grondvloerhuisie van O'Neill die basis vir vrede gelê. Met die ondertekening van die Pretoria-konvensie in Augustus 1881 het die Transvaalse burgers hulle onafhanklikheid teruggekry, alhoewel sekere beperkinge op hulle Staat se outonomie geplaas is. Dié vredeskikking het die oorwinning op AMAJUBA afgerond.
Theme: Military
Condition: FineGood condition. Minor wear or small imperfections, but overall well-presented.
Addressed: No
Signed: No
Stamp denomination: R0.2 (ZAR)
SG reference: 488-489
SAPO serial number: 3.27
Estimated value: ~US$0.06
This is a high-level, subjective estimate only, not a professional appraisal.
This first day cover (FDC) is part of Southern Covers, a private collection of 211 first day covers documenting the postal history and philately of South Africa and the homeland states. New to first day cover collecting? Read the guide to learn about cachets, postmarks, and stamp collecting terms, or browse the whole collection of Southern African FDCs.
