Having spoken to historians and military men about the Luka Jantje incident, my jigsaw puzzle is starting to come together (Some pieces are missing and some are in the wrong place, no doubt. Perhaps pieces from other puzzles have inadvertently been included)
Some background first though.
THE MACRO LEVEL
Pieced together from various sources on the internet. Apologies if any copyright has been infringed.
Luka Jantje was of the Tlhaping Tswana (a western branch of the Sotho), and was bitterly opposed to the Whites. Together with Galeshewe and Toto, Jantje rebelled against British rule and after some initial defeats; most of the surviving rebels under Jantje retreated into the Langeberg Hills. There they withstood a five-month siege*, before being defeated. The attack on Gamasep took place on 30 July 1897, and the Langeberg Rebellion ended on 3 August. Following the death of over 1,500 men, Batlhaping positions were overrun (by about 2,000 colonial troops), and the surviving rebel leaders were arrested or executed.
Jantje was beheaded, and Galeshewe and Toto were imprisoned on Robben Island. Jantje’s death marked the collapse of the Tswana resistance. About 4,000 Tswana men, women and children were taken captive and sent to the Western Cape to work as unpaid labourers for local white farmers.
*Firearms had been exported to the Tswana by white entrepreneurs since the 1860’s, to stimulate the Kalahari hunting industry – indicating that Jantje et al had had access to weapons for some time.
THE MICRO LEVEL
A pot-pourri of facts, assumptions and speculation. All and any corrections are welcome.
Temple Smythe (or is it Temple-Smythe?) was part of the Cape Medical Staff Corps (which was attached to the Kaffrarian Rifles), so his presence at Gamasep was as a non-combatant. Smythe discovered Jantje hiding in a cave on Gamasep Kopje, and Jantje opened fire on Smythe. Apparently Jantje’s gun misfired, giving Smythe the chance to retaliate, shooting Jantje in the head with a revolver. Shortly after Jantje was buried, Captain Searle exhumed Jantje, and cut off his head, reasoning that he wanted to give the skull to a museum in Cape Town. Several of the soldiers then played soccer with Jantje’s head. My grandfather, Private James Joseph Cooke, came across this ‘game’ and stopped it.
An officer discovered Searle’s plan to take the skull to Cape Town when he enquired what was being boiled in a pot in the kitchen, as it smelt dreadful. He peered into the pot and saw the skull.
Private JH Kuhlmann (Smythe’s batman) reported Searle to the authorities. After a court of enquiry which ended inconclusively, Searle was asked to resign from the Cape Town Highlanders.
Cooke took possession of the skull, and kept it in a drawer in his study, to my grandmother’s disgust. Every year, on the anniversary of the battle, several of those present at Gamasep would gather at my grandfather’s home and recount the events. The skull would be taken out of the drawer for the occasion. One year, my father (then still a child), walked into the study during one of these reunions. The skull was brandished at him, and he was told, “Get out, this is men’s business!” This was the final straw for my grandmother, who then insisted that my grandfather get rid of the skull. So he buried it in the rose garden.
So far, we have established that the property is still in the same condition as it was at that time, and it appears that the rose garden has not been covered by a building. Now we need to establish who the current owners are, and get the necessary permissions to dig up said garden. And if a skull is found in the garden, I think it would be reasonable to assume that it is the skull of Luka Jantje.
(Please note: These pictures remain the property of Dusty Muffin, and may not be reproduced in any form without permission)
Dusty, you have, once again, out-done yourself. Your highly professional account of events does your literary reputaion proud. Now all that remains(!!) is for the authorities to take up the challange, verify the facts as you present them, and get moving. I can’t wait to see what transpires. With evidence like this, if they don’t do something about it soon, we should get out or shovels and gumboots and get digging!! Congratulations, Dusty, job well done.
Dear Dusty I am really impressed with your work. I have in my possession, care of the van Riebeeck series, several letters between Members of Parliament, lawyers and the secretary of parliament relating to the issue and the commission of enquiry which ended inconclusively. In 1906 the Bambatha Rebellion in KZN was stopped and Bamabatha’s head was also removed. Many of the same British soldiers also appeared regarding that incident.
Where to from here? I can, with your permission, communicate directly with the secretary to the Executive Council and the MEC for Arts and Culture in the Northern Cape to recover the head. Where was the rest of Jantje’s remains buried?
I think your grandmother was a wonderful woman. You obviously take after her.
Hi David, yes, Dusty certainly is all that and more…don’t get a big head now Dusty! I have 1st hand experience of her methodical and unrelenting nature. She is a force to deal with!! Sufice to say that when we get our tails up (so to speak), not much stops us from finding that which others think was lost. You go, girl!! I’m off on yet another quest…more on that as I progress.
Yes I am very excited by her findings and determination. And she claims not to be a historian.
Ag man, thanks you two…
*blushes, looks down, left foot makes small circles on ground*
David: Are the van Riebeeck letters available on the internet, or do you have to subscribe? It would be great if we could attach more names to faces in the photos – and those documents might help.
I believe that Bambatha’s skull was put on a mantlepiece and used as an ashtray.
Where to from here? I would like Garth to take this forward, as he started making enquiries with my father 13 years ago. I have made contact with him, and he will be in Cape Town some time in the next few months. We will meet then and work out a plan of action. Until then, I must just be patient…but would dearly like to join Nossie with gumboots and a shovel!
David: Regarding LJ’s remains, the Olympic Games Opening Speech, 1 August 2004, (see my post on 10/6), seems to imply that Galeshewe, Jantje and Toto are buried at Gladstone Cemetery, Transvaal Road and Alexandersfontein. This could be a reference to other casualties though – the language is not too clear.
I wonder if anything has been done in the three years since that speech? It seems not though, as the Northern Cape Province Budget Statement 2007/8 (quoted in the same post on 10/6) mentions that ‘archeological research will be done’. Perhaps you could do some digging *groan* in that area?
Dusty, One hopes it’s a case of the wheels turning slowly at first, then gaining momentum…but I wonder…once Garth has made your findings known to the correct people and nothing happens for a while (let’s get real) maybe another avenue should be followed…like Carte Blanche or such like? You can make your TV debut, Dusty..
Hi David, another day, another battle – literally. How much do you know about WW1? One of my (and the one and only!) decorated war hero ancestors was killed in action on the Western front in France in 1917. He was in the 2nd Regiment, South African Infantry. He is buried in Athies. I have a copy of the Commonwealth war Grave Certificate. I would like to know more…any clues?
Good luck on your quest Dusty. Sounds all very exciting. Great post thanks.
Thanks Flutts. Nice to see you popping in! At the moment this whole project feels like ‘Hurry Up and Wait’
Hang in there Dusty. I think your families will find a much needed closure.
When my brother was still at school, he traced our family tree back to four generations and it was amazing – all those old documents and photos.
It is a very special thing you’re doing.
Dear Dusty, the garden and Alexanderfontein it is then. Should the heritage authorities be involved then? I also think that a novel from different perspectives, that of your great grandfather (and grandmother), that of Jantje (the women in his life), that of the members on the opposition benches in the Cape Colony parliament, against the back drop of a sub-continent in turmoil at the end of the 19th century could make for an interesting canvas.
Hi Dusty, I couldn’t agree more with David. Get to work, girl!! If and when you need any of my (limited) input, just let me know. And don’t forget to invite me to watch the digging. My family up here are enthralled. I have lots of info on JJ during his tenure as Mayor of Pretoria that may add some insight into his political leanings at the time.
The photos of the cave and the ‘inboekseling,’ the captured women and children to be distributed to Cape farms as farm labourers are extremely valuable. This story must out. I am so very impressed with the manner in which you are pursuing the matter. Surely this is a journey which should happen in reality, and not just over the virtual link between us all over the net. Do I have your permission to engage with the Northern Cape Provincial Government on the matter of retrieving the skull now that we seem to know where it is?
David, thank you for your kind comments. This story will be happening in reality, it all just takes so long. As I said earlier, I would like Garth to take it further, as he was the instigator.
However, this has not stopped us from trying to find out more, until things start happening. I have tried to persuade a cousin, who lives close by (who happens to be 8 months pregnant), to climb over the wall with her spade and wellies. But she’s not too keen at the moment.
Nossie has also made contact with someone who can get access to the property, to take photos of the garden.
In the meantime though, have you made any progress with locating the grave?
Hi Dusty
I have been reading your site with great interest because I very recently found out that all the people you speak of are related to me in some way or other. These are extracts that indicate who was related to whom and the names are spelt as they were at the time of the books being written. One connection that does not appear here is that Gasibone died July 1858 was the brother of Sekhome who was the grandfather of Sir Seretse Khama:
“However to get back to Hasibone or Gasibone, the only way that I am able to indicate the exploits of the Gasibone family is to quote an extract from the book: “Matabele Thompson his autobiography and story of Rhodesia” edited by his daughter Nancy Rouillard:
Page 131
“The name of Shelli’s tribe is the Batlapine. Gasibonae is the paramount chief but his uncle, Mahura, had charge of the territory in which we were, and had more men. As the Caffirs expected the Boers to attack them they would not allow us to go on, and Mahura gave orders that any of his people who accompanied us would forfeit their property”.
Page 135 – Appendix B “Notes on the Chief Galishiwe”
“Galishiwe was captured by Colonel Warren’s force a few months after the attack on Cornforth Hill and sentenced to ten years’ imprisonment. In 1897 he led another rebellion in the Langeberg. He was captured by Captain Dennison in the Kalahari and sentenced again to ten years imprisonment. All his lands, now the Pokwani area, were confiscated, surveyed into farms and granted to white settlers. In 1920 he was living in the Magogong Reserve near Taungs. Thompson met him in that year and wrote the following note on the encounter:
‘I met him recently, our first meeting since 1878, as he was traveling by train to Kimberley to give evidence before the Native Reserves Commission. He was quite friendly and asked whether my wounds were better. We had a chat about the events of 1878, and he gave me some details of the fight from the natives’ side. He put the blame for the attack on Cornforth Hill on his headmen. He declared that it was made against his will but he had to join in. He said that none of his people would ever have “bitten my hand” had we not helped the Hunters, and entertained and guided Major Brunker’s troops.’
Galishiwe, Thompson wrote in another note, was the son of Gasibone. In 1858 President Pretorius, first President of the Transvaal, in conjunction with a commando of Free State Boers, had a fight on the present site of Kimberley against Pethlu, the eldest son of Gasibone. The natives on that occasion beat the combined Boer forces and captured some thousands of sheep and cattle. They crossed the Vaal River at Klipdrift, and continued for about eighty miles to a natural stronghold in Mankorane’s territory south of Taungs, where they ensconced themselves. Three weeks after five hundred Boers attacked this place but they were unable to dislodge the natives. They then engaged the services of a Bushman, who for a few rolls of tobacco shot Gasibone, cut off his head, and sold it to the Boers. They carried it in triumph to Pretoria. In the olden days natives never thought a victory complete until they had secured the head of the opposing chief. Pethlu died a few years later, leaving a son of the same name. Gasibone was the eldest son of Mothibi, whose second son, by a concubine, was Jantje, who was killed by British Colonial troops when fighting with Galishiwe in Langeberg in 1897. Luka Jantje’s head was cut off and taken to Cape Town by a member of the Colonial forces. Pethlu, second of the name, was one of Galishiwe’s headmen in the Langeberg rebellion, and it was he who ordered the murder of the Blom family at Pokwani in 1895, in the rebellion arising from the Rinderpest. He was eventually hanged at Kimberley in 1901, on the very spot where his father had defeated the Boers forty-three years before. Truly the Gasibone clan was unlucky in the matter of heads.”
It would be interesting to find all the Gasibone clan heads.
Coinlover1, thank you for your very interesting comment. Please would you let me know which book you are quoting from so that I can do more research.
Also, please would you email me (dustymuff@gmail.com), and I’ll put you in touch with some of the other people who have expressed an interest in this story.
Perhaps there could still be some form of resolution or closure for the descendants of all the parties involved.
Hi Dusty
I sent you a message via your email address supplied by you in the message above.
Your final comment of finding closure is not what I am seeking but rather identification of my family tree. I was brought up on the other side of the fence, so to speak and mention of this side of the family was never made.
My g/grandfather Captain Alfred James “Bulala” Taylor of Avoca farm in Plumtree was such a colourful fellow that he clouded the exploits of all the other members of the family, so our perspective of the events of that era were very one sided. In a sense and being brought up differently, and although I do not condone his actions, I would be seeing life through the eyes of Mugabe with the eradition of the British and Boers from Africa and allowing it to return to its natural state.
My interests though, are not so radical but rather being able to mount the hurdles of identifying the women that make up my descendants. I strongly suspect that through them I am also related to Mzilikazi and therefore also Lobengula. As I believe that the little 4 year old white girl that was abducted from the Vegkop massacre as a present for Mzilikazi was my g/g/g/Grandmother.
Thank you for this interesting site.
for ‘Coinlover1’– I have a lot of info on Phoebe and Alfred Taylor. Please contact me, Yrs Ray
Hello Ray
II am directly related to Phoebe and Alfred Taylor as my mother is their grand daughter. She is still living and is currently writing her memoirs. Please contact me with regards to swapping information.
Gill
My Great Grand mother was Georgina Neville (nee Wolfenden), Phoebe Taylor’s daughter from her first marriage. I would be very interested in your mothers memoirs and recollections.
regards
Gary
Hello Coinlover – My mother is the grand daughter of Phoebe and Alfred Taylor. I spent many happy holidays at the farm in Plumtree. Please contact me as my mother is writing her memoirs and she may have some information.
Hi Gill – I have come to the site very late. Also a descendant of Phoebe and Alfred Taylor. My Grandmother grew up on the farm (I think listening to stories and the family spent time there) I would be interested in finding out what memories your mum has written.. It is always sad when you come to find out about your ancestors and have no link.
There is no hyphen in Temple Smythe. He was the eldest son of E Weber Smythe, JP of Dublin and married one of my great aunts, Eveline Sara Fayle (!872-?).
I have a copy of part of a letter written by him to the family in Birr, Ireland. There is no date but it is a first hand account of the killing of Luka Jantje. It also showed that even as a doctor you could be right up at the front of a battle.
“We have had a terrible time of thirst fatigue$ pain the latter due to the way the sharp rocks knock our feet about We charged one hill (the strongest position in the Longberg [sp?]) with the bayonet we stormed the place grandly under our own awful fire I was up amongst the leaders & saw a fellowmdrop beside me. I saw to him (he was dead, shot thro the head) & then I was called away to the left as I went a bullet just passed my head & hit a sand stone rock driving the dust all over my face The second man was also dead – shot thro the head Then I …[illegible on fold of paper]… who had a bulley thro his thigh…[illegible on fold of paper]…fire and another who got a Martini bullet thro his chest. The latter fell in good cover. We marched up the Kloof & halted to give the men a rest & then were ordered to beat around the valley while the artillery played over us As we were marching slowly along the valley I was on the extreme left & front of the line when 3 of the enemy jumped up within 10 yds of me on the side of the hill above me The leader aimed at a young Kaffrarian beside me & I dashed up straight at them The chief (it was Luka Jantje) a rifle bullet passed over my shoulder & he turned to get the rifle (a Winchester repeater) up again to fire when I shot him thro the heart with my revolver I turned to find the second man almost on me when I shot him thro the liver [?] & again thro the arm But he still came on so I had to club him with my revolver on the head Then my greatest danger for about 15 of the Kaffrarians fired a volley into us hoping to save me Providence was kind to me for my third enemy was bowled over & I was not hit. Then the whole column began cheering & every one came up to shake hands with me – none whom I had never seen before The Chief sent for me & the staff stood me drinks & my own Chief thanked me for what i had the good luck to do for the Medical Staff Corps. It was the Paramount Chief I shot & that ended the war”
Hope this is of interest.
Coinlover, I have just responded to your email – sorry it’s taken so long, but I’m a serial procrastinator, even when it comes to fascinating messages like yours.
I love your analogy where your refer to seeing life through the eyes of Mugabe!
I do hope you’ve made some headway with your research, and hope that you will share it here, as there are others like you who are researching their families, and have somehow landed up on this page.
David, thank you for your information about Smythe. Does that make Smythe your great uncle, or was his union with Eveline a second marriage? She must have been much younger than he was, as he was already fighting battles in 1879, when she was a mere two years old.
That letter is most intriguing! Do you have any idea who holds the original? If possible, I would really appreciate it if you could scan your copy and email it to me on dustymuff@gmail.com
I have an original note from that time. It reads: “Dr Smythe has shot Luka Jantje as he came out of the cave. Prisoners say no doubt. & ??? ??? identifies him. F Johnson” It is in an envelope which has the following written on it: “Dispatch from Frank Johnson to O/C (Colonel Dalgety o/c CMR Bechuanaland First Force) when Lukas Jantjes shot at Gamasep in 1897.”
Hi Dusty Muffin
I responded to your email and sent two attachments that reflect a small portion of what I have found. There are a number of other clues that lead me to believe what I suspect is true. I am considering a DNA test to prove my suspicions but that will be sometime hence.
I referred to my great grandfather above as a colourful fellow, well if you watch the film “Breaker Moran” by Union Films you will hear mention of his name as he was involved in the trial of Breaker Moran and nearly ended up with the same fate (shot).
He was married to Phoebe Clark, the woman I am investigating. I understand from the website “Ancestry” that there was someone interested in these people and lived in France. If you happen to here of anyone with an interest in the people I refer to, please let me know.
It would seem that a lot of detail and/or facts are lost/re-arranged depending on who is recording the history! Fascinating! The plot thickens.
Dusty
Hope you got my material on Temple Smythe that I emailed to you.
David
David – I did, thank you. Will be putting aside a chunk of time soon to collate and update all the new information. Fascinating stuff!
Hi Dusty, a further snippet recently discovered that relates to the 3 white children abducted from the Vegkop massacre can be found in the book called “Mlimo-the rise and fall of the Matabele” by Mziki (A A Campbell). The book is a narration by an old African that travelled with Mzilikazi on his travels. He reports in the book that three children were taken to M. as a present. No one could pronounce their names so they gave them African names and M. gave them his mother’s name. The little girl was called Toloyi and one of the boys was called Velani (coloured boy). He didn’t know much about the little girl but he believed that she married an induna and had no children. I feel that I am evidence of the contradiction to this statement and that the induna was, in fact, of the Batlhaping nation and she was sent there with a child from M.
Coinlover1 – your story gives me goosebumps. It’s wonderful that you are pursuing this, and I wish you luck in uncovering more of the story – and much more luck in unravelling the truth.
Dusty do you have any information on Capt Alfred Taylor of the Southern Rhodesia Volunteers. I am interested in his whole life but particularly what did he do in the First World war and where.
Sorry Joe, I don’t but it looks like Coinlover may be able to help you – I’ll put you two in touch.
Hi Joe & Dusty,
I also am looking for information about Captain Taylor, particularly about his exploits in France, as a basis for a character in an historical fiction I’m writing set during WW1.
You have probably already seen this material, at http://www.bushveldtcarbineers.com.au/?page_id=52
which promises ‘to be continued.’
Best wishes,
Steve Sailah
Sydney
Hello Joe, are you referring to Capt. Alfred James Taylor of Avoca farm, Plumtree?
Coinlover – you’ve got mail!
Hi there. Ive just discovered this site and am finding your knowledge and links to Alfred Taylor and Phoebe Clarke very interesting. My father is a grandson of these folks and im at an early stage of trying to build up a knowledge of my ancestors. Would love to connect. I’m based in Johannesburg South Africa.
Hi Roderick,
Alfred Taylor is a well known character is some circles, in particular concerning his involvement with the Bushveldt Carbineers during the Anglo-Boer war in South Africa. You’ll find him most recently in Joe West’s book “Breaker Morant, the final roundup,” and as a fictional villian in my 2014 novel, “A Fatal Tide.” His role in the war crimes has been documented in many books over the years. It’s worth looking at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Taylor_(British_Army_officer) for an overview.
Best wishes,
Steve Sailah
Sydney
Dusty
Thanks for putting me in touch with Joe West. We have begun a dialog that I am finding extremely interesting and will periodically let you know what is happening.
Glad to hear that Coinlover, and looking forward to your updates!
Dear Dusty
I have in my possession two photo albums of the Langeberg campaign including a pic of Jantjes skull
as well as some letters and diaries
This is the first time have heard of anyone else who knows this story and it dovetails with what I know
Any progress on the recovery of the skull
Kind Regards
Glynn Smithers
Glynn, this is absolutely fascinating! This matter has grown legs of its own, and it is a story that is begging to be told.
Thank you so much for your input, I look forward to finding out more.
Dear Glynn
I work for the McGregor Museum in Kimberley and we are currently busy with a research project on the Langeberg campaign. We have thus far done quite a bit of research in various academic institutions in Cape Town, Kimberley and Grahamstown and have also visited the Langeberg a couple of times to try and find the grave of Luka Jantjie.
We would be very interested in the photo albums and documents in your possession. I would appreciate it if you could contact me directly at sunet@museumsnc.co.za.
Sincerely
Sunet
Hi Sunet
Thank you for your input. I have emailed Glynn about your comment. I think it’s wonderful that serious research is being done, and I’m sure Glynn’s contribution will be very valuable.
Good luck!
Hi
I’ve recently been given my family (Smyth) papers, and have discovered a letter written by my great great uncle Temple Smyth in which he mentions that he killed Luka Jantjes in Bechauanaland in August 1897. Being curious, I googled Luka J. and discovered that you had mentioned Temple in your account of the battle. So I thought I’d contact you to let you know that I had some letters from Temple, only one of which mentions Luka.
Look forward to hearing from you
Siobhan (Dawson)
Siobhan, this is very exciting news – it seems that through this blog, the descendants of the key players in this matter are destined to unite and resolve this matter!
Thank you for your input – I will email you directly for mor information.
Dear Dusty
I have been very busy working on mines in DRC and Zimbabwe over the last year. I have been approached by a film producer who would like to make a series of documentary shorts on hiden histories of South Africa. The Luka Jantje story would make for a good episode. Jan Blom, the Iron Age Ruins around Waterfalboven, the Venda Keepers of the Drum, the rescue of the Voortrekker by Chief Moroka after Mizilikazi made off with all their cattle, etc. I am writing to find out if you would be interested in assisting in a story on Jantje? I will not proceed with writing the brief for such an episode unless I get the green light from you.
Regards
David
David, this sounds very exciting, and I’d love to be involved!
Hi Dusty. Thank you for the good work you are doing in a search of the remains of my great great grandfather. my name is Tumo Dikare Jantjie. I was named after Luka’s son. My son is named after Luka. I have been shaking while I was going thru all the inputs made by other readers. I am glad Sunet also commended as my family is working closely with the mcgregor museum. my father became the third chief of batlhaping in 1972 July the first after Luka’s death and he is really passionate about finding the remains of Luka. Our family tree is as follows.
Jantjie-Luka-Dikare1-Kgosienewang1-Pitso-Kgosienewang2(current chief)
please contact us thru Sunet @ Mcgregor museum or directly tumo.jantjie@yahoo.com. there is also a mass grave in Manyeding 5km from where we reside. that grave is where the first killings occured.
Hi Tumo
I am pleased that so many people are interested in resolving this matter, and as I replied to your comment on the other post, I’m meeting with the museum in a few weeks time.
I’m sure that a more complete story will emerge once everyone has met and compared notes. I look forward to that day!
Hi dusty. I havent been doing anything much on the internet but I’m back again. I so wish that whenever you meet with the Mcgregor museum I be present. My father is well in touch with the museum and surely he would like to join you either and I surely you will really like his inputs and what he knows as he grew closely with Luka’s grandson. the battle never ended after Luka’s death and it is still going on. next year around april will be the 113th year after Luka’s tragedy and my family was thinking of doing something in memory of our grandfather and hero to the batlhaping. We cant do it alone and we need to involve as many people as possible. the proposal has not yet been discussed with the museum and we will soon put it on the table for planning.
Hi Dikare
I have already met with Sunet, and I am so sorry that you and I couldn’t meet.
I think it’s a wonderful idea to commemorate Luka, and I wish you all the best with your preparations. Hopefully this will go some way towards ending the battle.
Dear Dusty,
I recently came across your blog about Luka Jantjie. I was so delighted to find other people who share my enthusiasm for the story, that I just had to get in touch…
I have been working with the historian (and friend) Kevin Shillington for the past two years preparing a biography of Luka for publication in South Africa, UK and (we hope) USA for September 2011. We had talked about doing it for twenty years, but only with the onset of ‘semi-retirement’ have we both had the time to devote to it.
It will be quite a big book – over 90,000 words, and 100 pictures, mainly photos. Kevin is the writer; I am the editor, designer, illustrator and publisher.
Both of us have been involved in researching the history of the Batlhaping,
including Luka’s life for several decades. I wrote a masters dissertation on the Langeberg Revolt at SOAS, London in 1968; subsequently I co-authored an article on the subject in the Journal of African History in 1971 with Harry Saker (South Africa). Since then I have been a teacher and a publisher both here and in several parts of Africa. Kevin Shillington wrote his PhD thesis on the colonisation of the southern Tswana 1870 to 1900. This was later revised and published by Ravan Press in 1985.
During Kevin’s research he visited the area and spoke to members of the Jantjie family. Both of us have visited Kuruman and the battlefield in the Langeberg on several occasions. In 2009 I went with Sunet Swanepoel, Sephai Mngqolo and David Morris – all from the museum in Kimberley. They were extremely helpful. I am sure you will enjoy your visit to see Sunet and others at the museum. When do you plan to visit?
Kevin was just finishing a major revision of the whole manuscript, when I came across your marvellous blog, parts of which deal with the battles in the Langeberg. I don’t know why I had not ‘googled’ Luka Jantje before, but that’s what I did, and I was so pleased to find other people in the universe
who are equally fascinated.
Much of the story you reveal in your blog is not new to us, but some contributions add new and especially personal dimensions: Michael Searle talking poignantly about his ancestor, Captain Searle; Tumo (Dikare) Jantjie’s generous response; Temple Smythe’s vivid description of shooting Luka with his pistol; the story about what happened to the skull. NB We have at least two more stories about that skull. Very confusing!
I am happy to help answer any of your questions, but you will understand that we cannot distribute the complete manuscript before publication. So I hope you (and everyone else who has contributed to the blog) can be patient with us till September 2011.
Kevin and I are keen to make the final book (even at this late stage) as comprehensive and definitive as is possible. We wondered whether you would be prepared to help us with some of the information and contacts that you have been gathering. We would be delighted if you can.
My email is: john@aldridgepress.co.uk
Very best wishes,
John
PS no website functioning properly at present.
Dear John
Thank you so much for such interesting feedback! I’m thrilled that a book is to be written, and I’m willing to help wherever possible.
I sincerely hope that your input here will generate even more interest – who knows, there may be more descendants with new stories to tell!
Hi Dusty,
You may find this of interest.
I am also one of the semi-retired class! Many years ago (at least 50) I was given two badges. They are made of silver and are apparently hand-made. I do have a picture available.
The ribbon in the design has the legend: “18 LANGBERG CAMPAIGN 87”. The central design has a “B” with two mirrored “F”s intertwined. [See below … probably Bechuanaland Field Force.] The BFF is surrounded by a wreath and surmounted by a crown.
Their provenance is totally unknown. They were possibly given to me by family friends as I collected coins at the time.
[Major Frank W. Johnson also pursued his military career as Chief Staff Officer to the Bechuanaland Field Force during the Langberg Rebellion campaign of 1896, after which he returned to England.] [Both “Langeberg” and “Langberg” seem to have been used in the documents and elsewhere!]
I found the Luka-Jantje story fascinating. I have a note somewhere that the CMR was involved in the campaign. Over the years (and very sporadically) I have tried to find out more about the badges but got nowhere. The last note I made is dated April 2007. This evening I found a whole lot of information!
Happy New Year, by the way!
Robin
Hi Robin Scott,
I have sent Dusty a photo of a BFF (Bechuanaland Field Force) Langeberg campaign badge. It is in a display in a museum in Cape Town. Sorry, forgotten its name. Perhaps Dusty could put it on her blog or email it to you. Whichever she prefers.
However, it does not sound similar to your badge. There is another coin-like one on a ribbon plus a bar saying BECHUANALAND.
Frank Johnson (later promoted to Lt-Col) wrote an autobiography called Great Years. Unfortunately not until 1940, as he has misremembered some details. For example, he confuses Luka with Toto, another leader at the Langeberg in 1897. However, his description of coping with the terrain is brilliant. Accurate, too, as I can attest, having struggled up rocky hills in the battlefield area in 2009!
Yes, it’s a fascinating story.
John
Hi John,
The museum is probably the Iziko South African Museum, which used to be a popular visit whenever we went to Cape Town.
I have sent Dusty a pic of the badge.
Robin
Hi dusty, I wrote some time ago before I was connected to the net. I purchases an album of 24 photographs of people and places during the Bechuanaland campaign abot three years ago – some of the photos I have match some of those you have shown on your web site. I have pictures of Gamasep Kopje and pics also of various groups of servicemen involved in the campaign – However one picture among those I have intrigues me as it shows Col Baden Powell and other officers in a group photo. I have not found any reference to Baden Powell taking part in that campaign. I would like to contact those others on your site who have copies of photos from the campaign to compare what we all have can you contact them and ask if wecan exchange email addresses to share what we have. I can be contacted per email at sinned@melbpc.org thanks for your time Dennis wallace
Dear Dennis,
I am pretty certain that Baden Powell was not involved in the Bechuanaland campaign in 1897, but it was only two years later that he was involved in the siege of Mafikeng (in roughly the same area of South Africa, too), so it is possible that the creator of your album was at both events. Certainly the administrator Charles G H Bell was involved in both events. Dalgety, the officer commanding troops in the Langeberg, also fought in the Anglo-Boer War, but at Wepener, near Lesotho – not at Mafikeng.
A new book entitled “Luka Jantjie: Resistance Hero of the South African Frontier”, by historian Kevin Shillington, is being published in September by Aldridge Press in UK/Europe/Middle East, by Wits University Press (South Africa) and by Palgrave Macmillan (USA, Canada, Australia, NZ). The book has 320 pages of detail about Luka and the six-month long siege at Langeberg / Gamasep in 1897 as well as about the history that preceded that event plus about 250 pictures, some of which you may have in your album. The book is already listed on Amazon.co.uk and Waterstones in UK. Other book websites should follow suit.
I hope this information as well as the book helps you identify some of your photos. Please do email me at john@aldridgepress.co.uk if you (or others) want to know more.
Kind regards,
John Aldridge
Hi all…
uhm… Sorry for being late on the story… but one can’t seem to help but wonder.. WHAT HAPPENED TO THE QUEST??? have they discovered Luka’ s skull..?
or is this the way the story ends???
would really like to know.
HopeMAN, we have come to the conclusion that there were two skulls. We believe that actual skull was destroyed in a fire in the Albany Museum in the 1930s. The one my grandfather had probably belonged to someone else. Decapitation was quite common then.
Hi Dusty,
It’s a pity then it’s not Luka Janjie’s skull. Cause I actually went to school with one of his decedents. I am originally from Kuruman , currently residing in Cape Town
I must admit that I have been entirely out of the loop of the story about Luka Janjie. I have been “digging up my ancestors” (genealogical searches for missing links) in the mean time! One of the unsolved links is how I came into the possession of two of the badges for the “FFB LANGBERG CAMPAIGN 1897”. Unfortunately, although I am sure who had them previously, I do not even remember his name!! (Stellenbosch friends of my long-deceased parents.)
I will carry on reward-less, until I resolve the issue!
Dusty ,
If in SA please keep in touch. My uncle who is 96 years of age related the story to me and your piece is on point. The only one that is exactly as he explained as role by our great grand father
We, we defendants and people whose story remains untold, whose entire lineage is still displaced with lack or no resources will appreciate a deeper connection and a way forward for government and the communities to engage
I would like you to meet the oldest living gentleman whilst he is still alive
Please keep me posted
Boitumelo Monoketsi ( Gasebone/ Jantjie)
Hi Boitumelo, this is fascinating news! I am in Cape Town, and I would love to hear your great grandfather’s story. Where are you based? If you prefer, please feel free to email me dustymuff@gmail.com
You may have missed this: https://dustymuffin.wordpress.com/2011/09/19/book-launch-luka-jantjie-%e2%80%93-resistance-hero-of-the-south-african-frontier-by-kevin-shillington/