Piet Uys leader of the Boer Burghers Troop

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Piet Uys was the leader of the Boer Burghers Troop that fought in Evelyn Wood's column. He was the only Boer leader who offered to join Chelmsford's first invasion of Zululand, and was able to give good advice to Redvers Buller. He and his 4 sons were in the appalling descent of Devil's Pass at Hlobane. Piet went back to help his eldest son but was killed in the attempt. Piet, the older man sits in front of his sons, the eldest of whom is on the right.

Source:http://www.britishempire.co.uk/

I see they all have MH and not sniders.

Impi, only three have M-H

Piet Uys has a Swinburn Henry Carbine, the second right has a Westley Richards No1 carbine. By the way, don't stand in front of the Johnny Boojer to Uys left, his rifle is cocked!.

Thanks Neil. So the Swinburn Henry Carbine, is longer in length than the MH

Impi

No, Uys is holding the carbine, directly behind is another rifle. The SHC is shorter[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]

Hi Neil,
Do you have any data on the MH's specially made for the North Natal Boers. I have seen one of these weapons recently. The receivers of this batch of rifles were embossed, on the left side, with the words "Natal Boer Republic" or similar wording.

regards

barry

Barry
The only mark which is commonplace is the ZAR (Made Specifically for the ZAR) on the Martini Francotte action Westley Richards, these date from between 1894-1897, Externally they do look like a MH, except the action is a superior drop out and nine groove rifling.

Westley Richards had a big gripe with the War office, he was overlooking in the trials of 1868, so he entered into agreement with F Martini for his patent rights in the Britain, whilst setting up a company, The National Arms and Ammunition company, employing Dixon, the former RSAF superintendent in 1871 to tender for government contracts, NAA was not considered, to make matters worse he then sued the war office for breach of Martinis patent by BSA & LSA companies, who were private manufacturers making for the govenrment. He actually won, albeit on appeal, in 1875, and was awarded breach of patent damages, as part of the damge reduction, he did receive some orders from the W^D, but NAA went bust in 1885. Despite this, he seemingly never forgave the war office, so when the Boer republics came along wanting rifles he willingly accepted, despite questions in parliament, his repost was always "well you never wanted to give me an order" .

The issue of service rifles would be generally directly from the military to arm the volunteers, irregular Horse, Militia and Police would have to purchase their own weapons, and these came through intermediaries, or through the colonial governments.

I find it very unlikely that the war office would even consider arming any of the Boer irregualrs apart from for the conflict duration, as tensions were simmering which blew up in 1880-81, suggested reading on this is "Rain of lead" the seige of Potchesftroom. Even in 1885 in England, volunteers and Militia still were not armed with the MH.

For more info on the rifles of the Boer republics "Carvings From the Veld" by David George is a must.

The Boers could not feel this guy where they considered a traitor and his gang ...

New Zealand Herald 25 June 1879 Page 6

A DUTCH WARRIOR.

[i]"The bravery of noble Piet Uye, who fell at Kambula, receives its due recognition, as j in the case of all other good and courageous men, only after death. His heroism is now I lauded in every paper in the colony, and is no doubt already almost a proverb in every household in South Africa. The family name appears to be associated with almost every Kaffir war in the land. His early ancestors belonged to Swellendam, and his father, Piet Uys by name also, was one of f the immigrants across the Orange River, in 1635 37. The father was killed in the war with Chaka, and Piet's brother. Dirk Corns- lius, a lad of, fought bravely by his father's side. The father, contending against overpowering numbers, urged the son to fly, but the latter, according to the words quoted by the Telegraph, replied, No, papa., mijin jrfaate is blj we, and both perished in the enemy onset, the son having stood over his wounded fither, till slain on the spot. piet Lafras Uya was grandson of Jacob and Alida Uys, and formerly lived at Graham's Town. He was born at Wydgyelegen, or Ouplaats, Potterburg, on the 27th September, 1826. His father had first settled in the Oitenhage dietrict, on the farm Brakfonteid, now Huinansdorp, and was generally known by the name of Piet Malelasberg, The hero of Kambula had settled on one of several farms he owned in Natal and the Tranvaal, named Wydgelegen, in the Utrecht district. He married Maria Van Niekirk, daughter of Cornelius Van Niekirk, of Natal, and had three sons and seven daughters. His wife died in 1873, and one daughter is dead, and four daughters and one son now married. Piet Uys's early life was spent in Natal, where he was deeply respected by Dutch and English, and white and black. Being born among the Kaffirs, he could speak the Zulu language even better than many of the natives and, worthy of mention, was on friendly terms with the king of the tribe at whose hands he fell. His father lost his life in avenging the murder of his friend Retief, and Piet lost his life in avenging the death of his father. Piet Uys's bravery was founded in true piety, and his last recorded words are an earnest of his belief that he was fighting in a good cause".

Original Text used.

It's not the opinion of the boers and it's not a good cause

I'm assuming it's Piet Uys who was killed at Hlobane , not Kambula . Rascal , he obviously thought it was a good cause as he lost his life in doing so . True , no other Boer leaders were willing to help . If I remember correctly Piet asked Wood or made him promise to look after his family if he was killed in the war .
90th.

Hi Marsupial

I never said he was killed in Kambula!

Piet Uys thought defending a good cause, but he was mistaken heavily ...

LC had promised him what for licking the feet of the British ?

Cheers

Pascal the Rascal

Rascal.
I never said that you said it was Kambula ! I was talking about the Newspaper article . Everything is a lot clearer with the benefit of hindsight .
La Marsupial Le Grandest ! :p;:

He earned what slavishly serving the British ?

He chose his ownside, so obviously he had an opinion with regards, what was best for his country.

He ownside his thing, so he Obviously Had an opinion with regards, what was best for his country. For his country ?

Anything as long as it foam

This was not one of his fellow Boers ...

For his country :p;:


I believe that the British had promised land in northern Zululand, he got what he deserved

Cheers

Pascal

He saw it as his country. As it says he was well known among all. In his eyes the Zulu's had to be stopped.

Stop the Zulus who were at home??? :p;:


Piet Uys leader of the Boers who read the Bible backwards and wrong :p;: Yet the people of the Bible, which read backwards and through :p;:

Cheers

Pascal

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Selby Times - Friday 27 October 1899