Battle of Kakamas
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The battle of Kakamas took place in Kakamas, Northern Cape Province of South Africa on 4 February 1915. It was a skirmish for control of two river fords over the Orange River between contingents of a German invasion force and South African armed forces. The South Africans succeed in preventing the Germans gaining control of the fords and crossing the river.
Prelude
South Africa had assembled a force of 6,000 men in Upington and Kakamas, under the command of Colonel J. van Deventer. Deventer's men were to from one of the columns in a planned invasion of German South West Africa. In a pre-emptive move German Schutztruppe under the command of Major Ritter invaded South Africa.[1]
Battle
Ritter attacked Kakamas on 4 February 1915, hoping to capture two Orange River fords and head south further into South Africa. A fierce skirmish developed with the Germans being beaten back, with the loss of seven dead, sixteen wounded and sixteen taken prisoner.[1][2][3][4]
Aftermath
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Following the battle van Deventer called up the rest of his column from Upington, 80 kilometres away, crossed the Orange River and proceeded to advance slowly into South-West Africa.
Memorial
Just outside the town, in the town's cemetery, there is a memorial dedicated to the German soldiers killed in the battle.[5]
See also
- Battle of Keimoes June 1901 during the Second Boer War
- Maritz Rebellion or the Boer Revolt occurred in South Africa in 1914 at the start of World War I.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Willcox, A. R. (1986). Great river: the story of the Orange River, Drakensberg Publications, ISBN 0-620-09845-7, ISBN 978-0-620-09845-8 p. 84
- ↑ Olivier, Sandra (2005) Touring in South Africa, 2nd Edition, Struik, ISBN 1-77007-142-3. p. 164
- ↑ Exploring our Provinces: Northern Cape, Volume 8, Jacana Media, ISBN 1-77009-267-6. p. 62
- ↑ Reader's Digest illustrated guide to Southern Africa, Reader's Digest Association South Africa (Pty.), ltd. in association with T. V. Bulpin, 1978, p. 183
- ↑ Reader's Digest illustrated guide to southern Africa, 2nd Edition, Reader's Digest Association South Africa, 1980, ISBN 0-620-04650-3, ISBN 978-0-620-04650-3
Further reading
- "Agter Die Skerms met Die Rebelle" by C. F. McDonald, (1949)
- 1. Boer Rebels and the Kaiser,s Men and 2. Kakamas: von Hadeln's reconnaissance section, Die Boervolk van SA, 25 August 2009.
- Karl Waldeck: "Gut und Blut für unsern Kaiser", Windhoek 2010, ISBN 978-99945-71-55-0
- Historicus Africanus: "Der 1. Weltkrieg in Deutsch-Südwestafrika 1914/15", Volume III, "Kämpfe im Süden" (Das Gefecht bei Kakamas), Windhoek 2014, ISBN 978-99916-872-8-5
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