When De Wet invaded the Cape with a number of commandos in January 1901 the British responded with 16 mobile columns, among them were two columns of Australian Bushmen under the command of Colonels Plumer and Henniker. This was a campaign of endurance for both man and beast as every effort was made to catch the elusive Boer General. Heavy fighting took place at farms such as Wolvekuilen (14 Feb). De Wet lost his guns to Victorian Bushmen, but finally was able to re-cross the flooded Orange River and escape into the Free State. Many men (and horses) were literally exhausted and they went to Colesberg to rest.
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Robin Droogleever 2010
