British Occupation of Wolmaransstad

[gabriel 1 10]

As we know the Boers left Wolmaransstad in the face of British occupation. They left in a hurry but managed to take all the stocks from the post office leaving only those that were in the hands of the reps of Thos. Leask and Company. (refer SACC), these stamps were then over-printed V.R.I.

 

My interest is in the date that the Boers actually left. It is believed that they departed around 22 - 24 May 1900 but no where can I find concrete evidence of the exact date. I have stamps on piece cancelled 23 May 1900 which are probably Philatelic which does not really matter as it is proof that the Boers were still there.

 

My question is, does anyone have any material that gives the date that the Boers left, or reference, web site that gives the date?

[dstorm 10]

Wolmaransstad

 

Hello Gabriel. The Philatelic Federation of South Africa issued a book on this subject. It is called The Wherewithal of Wolmaransstad. Should anybody be interested, I can try to obtain a few copies and then list it on BidorBuy. Whether it will answer your questions I do not know at this stage, but I will find out.

 

Regards

 

Jacques

[gabriel 1 10]

Hi Jaques

 

I would definetely be interested in a copy of this book. As my collecting areas are concentrated around the Boer War I need all the info I can get. Thanks for your response on this matter.

[sheann 10]

Wolmaransstad

 

Good evening Jacques I would also be interested in obtaining a copy of the book you mentioned to gabriel1

[dstorm 10]

A major battle!

 

I quote from Thomas Leask’s Diary:

 

Quote:

It started quite early on the morning of 15 June 1900, when Lt CG Huddlestone sent a message into Wolmaransstad from the Orange River Side of the Vaal River some 35 km away. Come and escort me and my men into the town. The message said, otherwise “his large number of troops†would “devastate the countryâ€

At this time the little town was defenceless: the Wolmaransstad commando was with General de la Rey somewhere north of Christiana. Two men went from the town and brought Huddlestone and his men – 12 troops – in.

Unquote.

 

It seems as if that was The Battle of Wolmaransstad.

 

Regards

 

Jacques.

[dstorm 10]

Hello Gabriel1

 

I spoke to Harry Birkhead today. By the 23rd of May the Boers were long gone!

 

Bought a lovely cover today addressed to Leask. 3 Transvaal stamps all tied with three 23rd May 1900 Wolmaransstad cancellations. Being in the Christmas spirit, I thought about giving it to you as a Christmas present. I then decided against it. After all, it is the thought that counts.

 

Regards

 

Jacques

[gabriel 1 10]

Hi Scrooge

 

Keep it for me, you know I need it, what is Harry Birkhead giving us for Christmas?, alot of the covers he has are in any case dirty, torn and look like they were kept in a tent under some dirty matress.

 

Regards

Gabriel1

[dstorm 10]

Hello Gabriel1

 

Exactly. I am also sick and tired of all these Prisoner of War Covers that are not in pristine condition. As you have said, kept under a mattress in some tent, carried for weeks on end inside a jacket or shirt pocket and thus covered with sweat, roughly opened because the recipient was eager to read the letter received after months of no communication, etc, etc.

 

Maybe the Chinese forgers should become involved and provide us with a better product.

 

Regards

 

Jacques

[gabriel 1 10]

Hi Jacques and other interested philatelists

 

By the way, most of the letters sent to Leask were sent by himself or his daughters from Scotland. Just about all of the covers that exsist from that time in Wstad are all philatelic, not that it makes much difference, coupled with the history and circumstances surrounding the covers they are still very collectable.

 

What is interesting about the overprinted stock that Leask had when W/STAD was occupied is that reputable auction houses etc have, over the years, stated as fact the measurement between the "cancelled" and V-R-I, is x. In actual fact all the over prints on the stamps were hand stamped by Leasks assistant.

 

Another interesting bit of info about the over prints is that Leask claimed that none of the stamps were over printed whilst on cover. However, this has been seen not to be the case as some covers exsist with the "d" of "cancelled" on the cover and not on the stamp.

 

Just a few more interesting facts surrounding W/Stad.

 

Regards

Gabriel1