Philip Botha

Philip Rudolph Botha (30 June 1851, Greytown, Colony of Natal – 6 March 1901, Doornberg, Ventersburg, Orange Free State, South Africa) was a Second Boer War general, like his younger brothers Louis (1862-1919), Christiaan (1864–1902) and Theunis Jacobus (1867–1930).[1]

Philip Rudolf Botha
Philip Rudolph Botha (1851-1901)
Personal details
Born(1851-06-30)June 30, 1851
Greytown, Colony of Natal
DiedMarch 6, 1901(1901-03-06) (aged 49)
killed in action at Doornberg, Ventersburg, South Africa[1]
Spouse(s)Magdalena Maria Wessels (Pietermaritzburg, circa October 1854 – buried Vrede, Orange Free State, March 1930 [2]
Parent(s)Louis Botha and Salomina Adriana van Rooyen
OccupationBoer war general
Military service
AllegianceOrange Free State
Battles/warsSecond Boer War:
–Battle of Poplar Grove 7 March 1900, Fredericksdale 3 January 1901 and others.
Newspaper report on the death of Philip Botha, The Sydney Morning Herald, March 23, 1901.

Early years

Philip was the eldest son among seven sons and eight daughters born to Louis Botha Senior (Somerset East, Eastern Cape, 26 March 1827 – Harrismith, Orange Free State, 5 July 1883) and Salomina Adriana van Rooyen (Somerset East, 31 March 1829 – Harrismith, 9 January 1886).[1] He migrated with his parents from Natal Colony to Vrede in the Orange Free State. Botha married Magdalena Maria Wessels and had at least four daughters and five sons by her, including the later general "Manie" Botha (Hermanus Nicolaas Wilhelm, 1877-1950),[2][3] who fought in the Second Boer War, the First World War - for the Union of South Africa against the Germans in the South West Africa campaign (1914-1915) - and the Second World War.[4]

Second Boer War

At the outbreak of the Second Boer War Philip Botha voluteered as a soldier for the Orange Free State and became leader of the Kroonstad Commando.[5] In 1900, he was appointed fighting general (Afrikaans:Veggeneraal) and Assistant Chief Commandant under Christiaan de Wet, tried in vain to break the encirclement of Piet Cronjé and his troops at Paardeberg and fought in the Battle of Poplar Grove on 7 March 1900. With de Wet and Free State president Steyn Philip Botha and his troops managed to escape from the Brandwater Basin over the Slabbert's Nek mountain pass on 15 July 1900, while Marthinus Prinsloo remained and surrendered with some 4300 troops to the British on 30 July 1900.[6]

In January 1901 Philip Botha ordered the execution of British Lieutenant Cecil Boyle who was accused of ill treatment of Boer women and children in Dewetsdorp.[7][8] Botha was called upon to account for this, but was killed in action in a small skirmish with British troops at Doornberg near Ventersdorp on 6 March 1901.[9]

Literature
  • Breytenbach J.H., Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika,
    • volume IV. Die Boereterugtog uit Kaapland, Die Staatsdrukker Pretoria, 1977. Philip Botha is mentioned on 33 pages from pages 310-311 up to pages 477-481 and 487.
    • volume V. Die Britse Opmars tot in Pretoria, Die Staatsdrukker Pretoria, 1983. Philip Botha is mentioned on 44 pages from page 29 up to page 477.
  • J. E. H. Grobler, The War Reporter: the Anglo-Boer war through the eyes of the burghers, Johannesburg: Jonathan Ball Publishers, 2004. ISBN 978-1-86842-186-2. Pages 45, 47-49, 54, 61, 64-65, 67, 77, 100, 107, 111.
  • Thomas Pakenham, The Boer War, George Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1979. Abacus, 1992. ISBN 0 349 10466 2. Pages 332 and 390.
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References
  1. "Genl. Philip Rudolph Botha, b1c7d2e3f1g2h3". geni.com. Geni. A MyHeritage Company. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  2. "Magdalena Maria Wessels". geni.com. Geni. A MyHeritage Company. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  3. "Genl. Hermanus Nicolaas Wilhelm Botha, b1c7d2e3f1g2h3i3". geni.com. Geni. A MyHeritage Company. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  4. Ammentorp, Steen. "The Generals of WWII. Botha, Hermanus Nicolaas Wilhelm. Major-General". generals.dk. Steen Ammentorp. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  5. Lourens, Janet; Watt, Steve A. (June 2008). "Military History Journal Vol 14 No 3 - June 2008. FREDERICKSDALE 3 JANUARY 1901. A little known engagement of the Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902". samilitaryhistory.org. The South African Military History Society, Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  6. Kinsey, H. W. (October 1999). "Military History Journal Vol 11 No 3/4 - October 1999. The Brandwater Basin and Golden Gate surrenders, 1900". samilitaryhistory.org. The South African Military History Society, Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  7. Smith, Robin W. (June 2016). "Military History Journal Vol 17 No 1 - June 2016. AMNESTY DENIED. Salmon van As, Barend Celliers and Josef Muller". samilitaryhistory.org. The South African Military History Society, Die Suid-Afrikaanse Krygshistoriese Vereniging. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  8. de Bruin, Jaco; Wessel, Andrés (November 2011). "Historia vol.56 n.2 Durban Nov. 2011 ARTIKELS Militêre verhore in die Oranje-vrystaat tydens die Anglo-Boereoorlog, 1899-1902. Legal validity of military trials in the Orange free state during the Anglo-Boer war, 1899-1902". scielo.org.za (in Afrikaans). SciELO The Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) SA (South Africa). Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  9. "PR Botha (1851-1900), Broer van Louis Botha". afrikanergeskiedenis.co.za (in Afrikaans). FAK Afrikanergeskiedenis. 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
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