ONSELEN Arie, van -1901 :: RITTENBERG Henry -1901
Genl Smuts' commando had a long journey through the Free State and over the Sneeuberge (Snow mountains). They were desperate for new provisions - clothes, shoes, food, bullets and horses. They surprised the Col. Scobell's 17th Lancers at Tarkastad and got away with ammunition, horses and khaki uniforms. Happy to have new clothes at last - the boere started to wear the uniforms. But, unknown to them a proclamation was issued by Genl French that any burger caught wearing khaki uniforms, will be executed on the spot. On the 2nd of October 1901, Cornelius Vermaas (20), Henry Rittenberg (20) and Arie van Onselen (22) were asked to check the vicinity out. They were caught by the British, still wearing the khaki's, and subsequently executed. All three were buried at Osberg, but the remains of Vermaas were later re-buried at Uitenhage and Arie van Onselen and Henry Rittenberg here at Kariega. Source: Jooste, G and Oosthuizen, A. 1998. So het hulle gesterf - gedenkboek van teregstellings van Kaapse rebelle en republikeinse burgers tydens die Anglo-Boereoorlog 1899 - 1902. Pages 97 - 100.
contributed by: Alta Griffiths
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