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Another officer in the Swaziland Commando who signed off on Gouvernement’s Noten was 2nd Lt. Gideon Jacobus Nell (frequently spelled Nel). Gideon Nell was born in Utrecht (Tvl} on November 15, 1871, almost nine months to the day his father Willem Andries Stephanus Nel, a farmer, married his mother Aletta Catharina Kritzinger. Gideon Nell and his siblings (two brothers and 4 sisters) spent part of their youth at Forbes Reef, Swaziland, close to Steynsdorp just over the border with the Carolina District. (Jeppe drew Swaziland as part of the Transvaal, but in effect it was a Transvaal protectorate with a Native Chief nomally in charge). Gideon Nell joined the Swazieland (sic) Rijdende Politie (SRP, Swaziland Mounted Police) which was headquartered at Bremersdorp (now Mnanzini). He was a 2nd Lieutenant in the SRP when, by September 1899, the tensions between Britain and the two South African Republics had reached boiling point and the Transvaal Government instructed all white residents of Swaziland to leave the territory. This instruction applied to both “Boer” and “British” residents and effectively transferred the power over Swaziland to the Native Chief Ngwenyama Bhunu weMbandzeni. The objectives of this instruction appear to have been an effort to keep the territory neutral during the upcoming conflict and to force Boer families to move to safe territory whilst their men of fighting age joined the commando. It can be assumed that Gideon Nell moved with his colleagues of the Swaziland police force to the new SRP head quarters at Bell’s kop (Belskop) on the border between Swaziland and the Ermelo District. (Bell’s Kop and the later mentioned Oshoek became important Boer Telegraph-communication hubs during the war).
At the outbreak of the war Gideon Nell (Like J.A.D. Kruger described in earlier post) moved with the Swaziland Police under General Chris Botha into Natal and fought in all major battles there. On his ABO application Nell mentions the battles of Colenso on 15 December 99, Molendrift (5 February 1900), Boschmond (?)(16 February 1900), Helpmekaar (April 1900). Scheepersnek (11 June 1900), Bremersdorp (23April 1900) and Talene on 26 September 1900. He also mentions actions at Sambaansland en Lemombo (a mountain range in the north east of Swaziland). This listing is obviously not exhaustive as Gideon stayed in the field for the entire duration of the war. On his DTD application Gideon mentions to have commanded a unit at Colenso and that he was involved at the relief (or disarmament as he uses the word “ontzetten”) of canons (and?) Laager at van Tondersnek. Gideon applied for his medals relatively early (in 1923) and gave as reference both Kommandant J.A.D. Kruger and General Coenrad Brits with whom he served in South West Africa during the suppression of the 1914/15 Rebellion .

Gideon married twice, first with a Marthina Isabella Badenhorst and sometime after 1915 with Aletta Davel. At some stage after the war Gideon moved to the farm Glenmore in the Ermelo District (“Post Office Oshoek”) and died there on February 28, 1958, aged 86.



This Pretoria 5 Pond was signed by Nell. His proximity to J.A.D. Kruger is evidenced by the fact that he uses the exact same text for issuing the noot “Op eerlijke wijze ontvangen” (received for honest reasons). The noot doesn’t bear any evidence that the recipient presented it in a claim for compensation after the war.




Gideon Nell’s application form for his Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst medal. (Photo Credit: Ewald Nel)


Gideon Nell’s full medal set featuring his DTD and ABO medals (Photo credit Ewald Nel)

Superb vignettes of Boer service - keep them coming!

The recent dispersal at Noonans of an old and large collection of Gouvernement’s Noten brought two Gouvernement’s Noten to market that were annotated by Kapitein A.P. Pretorius.


Kapitein A.P. Pretorius, photo credit Elmarie/WMBR.

Kapitein Andries Petrus Pretorius was the scion of one of the oldest Boer Voortrekker families. This made research into the man rather difficult as the combination of early appearance of the Pretorius name in South Africa with the habitual large family size and propensity to give at least one the offspring the exact same Christian names, meant that there were quite a few men with the name Andries Petrus Pretorius. The A.P. Pretorius in question appears to be the one born on 23 November 1878 from the marriage between Andreas Petrus Pretorius (1845-1927) and Adriana Rosina Muller (1850-1921). Andries had no less than 13 siblings. He joined the Ermelo Vrijwilliger Corps (Ermelo Volunteer Corps. EVC) which had been active in Swaziland prior to the Boer War. (this is a bit confusing as the official name of the commando of Ermelo volunteers was at least until 1898 “Ermelo Volunteer Cavalry Corps” or EVCC, see badge. Perhaps the name of the unit changed thereafter). It is assumed that Andries joined the Swaziland Commando at the outbreak of the war. He had the rank of Kapitein in the EVC and was attached as adjudant to the staff of General Christiaan Botha, Kommandant of the Swaziland Police. Andries Pretorius served with Generaal Christiaan Botha (who eventually became commander of all Boer forces in the Eastern Districts of the Transvaal) throughout the war and therefor his war experiences mirror those of Christiaan Botha. It is possible that his position as Adjudant shielded Pretorius from certain frontline duties he nonetheless mentions on his ABO application to have participated in the fighting at the Tugela line, Colenso, Spionkop “and many other battles.”


Ermelo Vrijwilliger Cavalry Corps white metal cap badge (in use from 1893-1898)



A Mauser attributed to Kapitein A.P. Pretorius has survived the war. (courtesy Rob Davidson)

Kapitein Andries Petrus Pretorius married (date unknown) Catharina Elizabeth Roodt (1880-1923) with whom he had 4 children (plus one stepdaughter). He lived with his family on the farm Zendelingsfontein near Klerksdorp (Tvl) where he died, aged 46, in 1925, surviving his wife by just two years. Pretorius was an early applicant for his war medals (1921). His ABO application erroneously mentions “Military secretary on Kommandant-Generaal Louis Botha’s staff”. Anecdotally, Andries Pretorius bore a strong resemblance to Louis Botha’s secretary Van Velden. Pretorius provided as reference for his medal applications Luitenant W.R. Collins (“EVC”) and General Coenraad Brits. The obvious candidate to provide a reference, Christiaan Botha, was no longer available as he had died a few months after the war.



Gouvernements Noot annotated by Andries Pretorius. He writes “Door mij uitgegeven”(issued by me) and signs with A Pretorius, Kapitein EVC

A fantastic thread, EFV, with excellent research and images bringing this little-known area to our attention.

Many thanks
David