ABO (Komdt. D J. Gouws). City Coins August 2011.
Dirk Gouws joined the Pretoria Commando as a Burger on 28 September 1899 and fought in the early Natal battles, e.g. Dundee (Talana), Elandslaagte, Colenso and Platrand (Wagon Hill).
His later service was in the Transvaal (Zilkaatsnek, Hornsnek and Warmbad).
He was captured at Pienaar’s River on 23 October 1900 and sent to Ceylon as PoW No. 14432.
He listed his rank at the time of his capture as “Commandant van Aankope” (roughly translated as Commandant of Purchases). This means the medal should actually have been named to “Laager Kommandant” i.e. Commissariat Officer.
