The page contains a brief account of the Jameson Raid, 29 December 1895 -
2 January 1896. There are also links to pages containing the officers
who took part in the raid, FitzPatrick's 'The
Transvaal from within' and medals to Jameson Raiders. There is
also a link to an account of the trial taken
from
“Looker on in London” By Mary Krout, 1899.
There is also a nominal
list of the raiders: Officers,
surnames: A
B
C D
E
F G
H
I J
K L
M
N O
P Q
R
S T U
V
W X Y
Z
Non combatants
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Jameson's
Last Stand |
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Brief Account
This ill-fated expedition, led by Dr Jameson, was conceived by Cecil Rhodes,
Premier of the Cape and his co-conspirator and business associate, Alfred
Beit. Its purpose was two-fold, to deliver the riches of the Transvaal by
precipitating the overthrow of the legitimate Kruger government and ensuring
the annexation of the republic to the British Empire. The means were the
huge resources and discontent within the disenfranchised British community
living and working within its borders and who produced much of its vast
wealth
The force that rode out from Pitsani camp on the 29 December 1895 numbered
close to 600 and consisted of almost 400 Rhodesian Police who were employed
by the Charter Company, 120 men recruited at Mafeking and some Cape ‘Boys’.
They had six Maxims, two 7 pound mountain and one 12 and half pound guns.
The plan was a three day hard ride to Johannesburg where the majority, the
disenchanted Uitlanders, the mainly British expatriate community, would rise
up on this catalyst against the Transvaal authorities and tip the republic
neatly into the welcoming and grateful arms of the Empire. To the
participants they were embarked upon a great adventure and one which they
were led to believe had ‘official’ sanction.
It was an enormous political and military gamble, the stakes were
exceedingly high and success would undoubtedly have changed the course of
history in Southern Africa. It is left to speculation quite how much of the
plan the Colonial Secretary in London, Joseph Chamberlain, knew in advance,
but the overthrown of a sovereign government was the ultimate goal of this
exploit.
On the 2 January 1896, the force stopped at day break at a farm called
Doornkop in the Transvaal. They were much in need of rest and had ridden the
170 miles without sleep and under constant harassing fire. They were just
two hours’ ride from Johannesburg and before them lay the alluring sight of
their prize and yet it was not to be; for here they would receive the bitter
news that the city had not risen to support them, they were surrounded,
outnumbered and cut off.
Jameson’s force had never enjoyed the element of surprise and had been
monitored by Transvaal commandos from the moment they crossed the border and
for two days continuously they had fought a running rear-guard action,
sustaining losses in both dead and wounded.
At Doornkop the fighting intensified and the number of casualties rose to 65
killed and wounded. Unaided Jameson’s position was untenable and his small
force was doomed against such determined and overwhelming opposition.
Surrender became their only option and this took place at 8 pm when
following the burial of the 16 British dead, the remainder were led away to
prison in Pretoria. Their great gamble had failed.
