"Malherbes in Vryheidstryd", by dr. W. A. Malherbe
newspaper · an original record · consulted 2026-08-16
- Type
- newspaper
- Repository
- Newspaper clipping, family papers, held by Frans Oosthuizen
- Reference
- Undated cutting, one column and a captioned photograph. The author names himself as the youngest son of Izak Malherbe. Publication and date NOT ESTABLISHED. [TO VERIFY]
- Consulted
- 2026-08-16
The citation as it was given
TRANSCRIBED 16 Aug 2026, AND IT CORROBORATES THE LETTERS AT EVERY POINT. || The photograph caption: "Lede van die Pretoriase kommando tydens die oorlog. Agter, v.l.n.r. staan Hennie Malherbe, Jan Malherbe, Flippie Tulleken (Worcester) en twee Retiefs (Wellington). In die middel sit Izak Malherbe, Jan Luttig, Jim Rattray (Worcester) en Van Zyl. Heel voor le Kenne Malherbe (wie se vrou later burgemeesteres van Pretoria en Volksraadslid was)." || The article: the war began in October 1899, and among the first Boer forces to leave the Transvaal for the Natal front were between ten and fifteen Pretorians known on the battlefield as the KORPORAALSKAP VAN IZAK MALHERBE. Izak lived with his family in Johannesburg. "Daar was vier broers Malherbe. Izak (die oudste), Jan, Hennie en Pieter. Jan en Hennie het in Pretoria gewoon. Pieter (die jongste) was 'n jong prokureur wat 'n vennoot van generaal Beyers op Boksburg was." Their friends asked to join them, and because Izak was respected and loved they formed the Malherbe corporalship under him. "Kol. Deneys Reitz, wat een van hulle was, skryf met hoe lof en waardering in sy boek 'Commando' van Izak Malherbe." A fifth Malherbe, Kenne, was in the group but was not a brother. || On the deaths: at Colenso the corporalship was still all together. At Spioenkop in January 1900 Jan was killed, "wie se gesin in Kerkstraat in Pretoria gewoon het"; Izak brought his brother's body back to Pretoria and he lies buried near the heroes' acre in the Ou Kerkhof. Izak went to greet his wife and two sons of thirteen and fourteen in Johannesburg and went straight back to Natal, "waar hy 'n maand later, op 27 Februarie 1900, in die slag om Pietersheuwel geval het. Sy graf is in die loopgrawe van daardie slagveld." Hennie and Pieter were taken prisoner and sent to the GROENPUNT CAMP at Cape Town. || WHAT IT ADDS THAT THE LETTERS DO NOT: where each man is buried, the name of the unit, the Deneys Reitz reference, and that Hennie and Pieter survived as prisoners of war. WHAT IT DOES NOT SETTLE: which newspaper, and when. It is a family cutting with no masthead. [TO VERIFY]
Kept verbatim. This project contradicts published genealogies and corrects a family's own oral tradition, so every claim has to be checkable by someone who was not in the room.