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Served: Commandant van Zyl.

ABO (Burger L Smit). City Coins March 2003

Louw Smit gave his Commando as “Van Zyl’s Volunteers” when applying for his medal. This unit was the Griqualand West Commando, consisting of Cape Rebels under the command of General J.A. van Zyl.

Smit fought in the Battles of Magersfontein, Paardeberg and Rooiwal (the death-defying Boer charge on 11. April 1902, commented on in the “Official History” Vol. IV, p 501: “ ...A scene more strange had not been witnessed in this or any other campaign...”)