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Auction: 21030 - The 'Greca' Collection of Southern African Postal History
Lot: 348

Transvaal
Military Mail
Magoeba War, 1895
1895 unstamped envelope to Waterberg, headed "Commando dienst", signed by F.A. Grobler, Veldcornet, Waterberg Lager" and showing Nylstroom c.d.s. (11.6) with Pietersburg datestamp (10.6) on reverse. A rare cover from this little known campaign. Photo

Note: The Magoeba War lasted from August 1894 to 9 June 1895, when Magoeba was killed. The cause was the resistance to the imposed relocation of the tribe to make way for Boer farmers.

General Piet Joubert was in command of the 800 burgers and 6,000 Bantu soldiers (mainly Swazi mercenaries) who launched an attack against the Makgoba tribe in the north and north eastern Transvaal. Magoeba fled in to dense forest, and as the unhealthy summer season prevented a campaign, his territory was encircled by forts. These forts were not successful, and General Joubert and his commando then made a search of the forest. Chief Magoeba was found by a Swazi unit on 9 June 1895, who killed him and handed his head to Joubert as proof of his death.

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Sold for
£1,200

Starting price
£1200