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Served: Mooi Rivier.

ABO (Burg. P. G. van Aswegen). City Coins November 2007

Petrus van Aswegen served in the Mooi River Ward of the Potchefstroom Commando. He was in action at all of the initial battles on the Western Front: Mafeking, Twee Riviere (Modder River), Magersfontein and Koedoesrand. In addition he was at Paardeberg but managed to escape before Gen Cronje surrendered. He was taken PoW in the Bushveld north of Pretoria on 23 Oct 1900 and sent to Ceylon on board the S.S. Catalonia.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

ABO (Burg. P. G. van Aswegen.) Sold for a hammer price of GBP 220. Totals: GBP 283. R 6,230. AUD 540. NZD 590. CAD 480. USD 360. EUR 310.

Out of interest here are a few footnotes on the Van Aswegen family that may one day assist a future researcher or family member:


Uncle: Schalk Jacobus van Aswegen, Died in Service
4 September 1853 – 11 October 1899

One source states that he passed away at Polfontein within the Lichtenburg district and another at his farm “Wonderfontein” near Potchefstroom; either way it makes him one of the first Boers to pass away at the outbreak of the war (Ref: HPK - p198).

Polfontein was a Mobilization Point Before the war officially began, Boer forces from the western Transvaal — including the Lichtenburg, Marico, Potchefstroom, and Bloemhof commandos — were mobilized at Polfontein, under General Piet Cronjé.

From Polfontein, General Koos de la Rey led a detachment of Lichtenburg and Potchefstroom commandos to intercept a British armored train at Kraaipan, just southwest of Mafeking. This resulted in the first engagement of the war on 12 October 1899, where the Boers derailed the train and captured British supplies and prisoners.

ABO Medal Roll: https://www.angloboerwar.com/forum/surname-v/21816-van-aswegen-schalk-jakobus-burger

 
Uncle: Willem Jacobus Van Aswegen, Killed in Action
13 November 1858 – 18 February 1900
KIA at Paardenburg on the 18^th February 1900
Memorial:  graves.eggsa.org/freestate/Boshof_Rural/Battle-of-Paardeberg/f/



ABO Medal Roll:  https://www.angloboerwar.com/forum/surname-v/21818-van-aswegen-willem-jacobus-burger


Uncle & name sake: Petrus Gerhardus van Aswegen, POW
2 August 1848 – 15 September 1907                             
Oath of Neutrality: 31 March 1900
Captured: On His Farm 26 Apr 1900
Prisoner number: 5020
Sent to: South Africa
Age: 52
Sent to Bloemfontein RC from Oct 1900 to July 1902
Source: Anglo Boer War Museum 2016       
Source:  www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Person/57908...rhardus_van_Aswegen/


Father: Johannes Henning Van Aswegen, POW
Captured: Welverdiend 27 Aug 1900
Prisoner number: 11943
Sent to: St. Helena
Age: 50
Source: Anglo Boer War Museum 2016