85.Kommandant Gideon Scheepers
Updated: 02/06/2026
Die Montagu Konneksie
Photo of Gideon Scheepers probably taken by Ivie H. Allan
Saamgestel deur Irma Jordaan met dokumente en foto’s verkry vanaf
Die Argief van die Montagu Museum
Gideon Jacobus Scheepers was born on 4 April 1878 on the farm Grootlaagte, Middelburg, Transvaal.
From an early age he showed promise of being a leader and his need to be in an army which demanded discipline and hard work. At the age of sixteen he joined the ZAR armed forces to become a learner telegraphist. This was two years before the infamous Jameson Raid into the Transvaal. Within a year he became one of the Transvaal’s most proficient heliographers.
Cpl. Scheepers in the uniform of the Transvaal Artillery
Scheepers was then asked to join the Free State artillery, and to put the field telegraphy on its feet. He agreed to do this but on the understanding that after a period he could return to his old unit. However he was destined to stay with the Free State Corps and rose rapidly in rank.
Groep van die Veldtelegrafie
Instrukteur Lt. Paff sit heel links; naas hom staan Scheepers met heliograaf
Foto: Montagu Museum
Quoting from Rodney Constantine’s book, “The Poisoning of Gideon Scheepers” he says, “Gideon Scheepers entered the Cape Colony in December 1900, under General Christiaan de Wet’s orders, and as a part of General Piet Kritzinger’s invasion force. The commando of 300 entered on Dingaan’s Day, at Odendaalstroom, just west of Aliwal North. Scheepers was then a twenty two year old Captain in the Orange Free State Scout Corps. The primary reason for this invasion of the colony was to foment a general uprising in the colony as a whole, in advance of the arrival of General de Wet. Kritzinger and his lieutenants were under orders to expand the area of hostilities, to divide the British forces deployed in the republics and to drive up the financial costs of the war.”
During his raids into the Cape with approximately 250 men Scheepers’ reputation of leadership, and sadly, harshness grew side by side. It was said that his men would do anything he asked of them. But on the other side of the coin he gained an unsavoury reputation for one who burnt down houses of colonials who were directly connected to the Imperial war effort. His superior officers urged him to stop this practice, and also the destruction of farmhouses and government buildings. Sadly he refused to heed this advice which was to tell against him at his subsequent trial in Graaff-Reinet in the December of that year.
With his arrival in the Cape Colony in the mid-1900’s he embarked on a campaign of harassment of the British forces with some success. In the month of August he operated with success in the Willowmore and Steylerville districts in which he burnt down six houses and enlisted twenty-one rebels. His movements now brought him to the outskirts of Oudtshoorn in the last week of August from where he then trekked west. Clashing with a British column between Oudtshoorn and Calitzdorp. He then turned south west towards Barrydale. A few days later he brushed against a pursuing column near Vanwyksdorp in the Ladismith district.
Turning south towards Riversdale his commando clashed with the defence force of that town. On 31 August he captured Barrydale but occupied it for only one day. He then continued towards Montagu where he clashed with that town’s Defence Force, forcing them into retreat towards Ashton.
Document: Montagu Museum
Col. Alexander’s column attacked his rear guard and the commando swung north towards Ouberg. At this point a few kilometres east of Montagu, Scheepers’ westward movement came to an end. The date was 4th September 1901. He was only 150 kilometres east of Cape Town. After a few days in the country south of Touws River the commando trekked eastwards toward the Ladismith district which he reached on the 7th September.
Events were now to take a dramatic turn in the life of Gideon Jacobus Scheepers. In his book, Rodney Constantine writes that on 13th September a lone rider by the name of Danie Hugo entered the Scheepers camp, and after some debate as to his bona fide he was accepted into the group. This new arrival it seemed was to be the undoing of Scheepers and was to end the leadership of that successful commando.
Turning back towards Oudtshoorn on the 21st the commando rested on a farm near the Kamanassie River. It was here that the new arrival Hugo it is said, poisoned his leader. Quoting again from Constantine’s book he says, “A patrol was sent out to scout the approaches to the town (Oudtshoorn). Scheepers and his staff went and sat in a bedroom and discussed plans for an attack on the town at daybreak the following day. One of the cooks brought water into the room with which they could wash. Scheepers and Kareltjie Lehmkuhl sat together on a bed, smoking and working out a plan of action. This was the eleventh hour. At this point Hugo entered the room carrying a tray with two glasses of wine. Wearing a broad smile he called out, “Commandant, I was at least able to get you some wine!” Scheepers and Lehmkuhl downed the wine and Hugo returned to the kitchen. And promptly disappeared forever from the commando, never to be seen by them again.”
A much older Kareltjie Lehmkuhl
Photo: Montagu Museum
Scheepers became very ill but remained operating in the Little Karoo for the remainder of September. His health deteriorated daily and he had to be carried in a captured Cape cart as he was unable to ride. On 6th October he summoned a doctor from Ladismith who was met by a commando. The doctor happened to be British and was temporarily stationed in that town. Scheepers’ young adjutant Kareltjie Lehmkuhl stood near him while the examination took place. When it was completed the doctor announced his verdict. “You have been poisoned – but it is a slow poison.” The doctor then examined Lehmkuhl and informed him the poison had worked out of him, but that it was possible that he would suffer permanent damage. In later years this was to the case.
Scheepers now decided to head for the Calvinia district and so left the Little Karoo travelling north-west. On 10 October the commando reached the farm of Koppieskraal on the Dwyka River, 21 kms north of Gamka’s Kloof. Koppieskraal is about 15kms south-east of the railway line, and it was here that he could go no further. It was therefore decided unanimously by the entire commando that he should remain behind and surrender rather than go on and await certain death from the poisoning. That same day he took leave of his entire commando and then dictated a letter to his secretary, Alec van Heerden: “As Commandant G.J. Scheepers is unable, due to serious illness, to accompany us, we cordially request you to urgently send a fully-equipped ambulance to the farm Koppieskraal, Prince Albert district, in order to transport him to the closest hospital.” A messenger was then sent with the surrender letter and instructions to hand it over to the nearest column.
In a matter of hours the first British patrol arrived. Dr Mearns arrived shortly afterwards and examined the sick man. Scheepers was immediately taken to Matjiesfontein Hospital and remained there for a week, where he received excellent care. He was then moved to Beaufort West for a month, before spending three weeks, still critically ill, at Noupoort.
Drawing from a photo of Scheepers in the hospital at Beaufort West
Photo: Heroes
On 8th December he arrived at Graaff-Reinet and was tried under martial law. The most serious charges were seven counts of murder (the execution of black scouts and spies) and fifteen of arson. His case was concluded on 28th December 1901, when he was sentenced to death by a firing squad. Lord Kitchener confirmed the sentence on 14th January, 1902. This irreversible verdict was announced by the convener of his martial law court, Col. A. Henniker, on the square at Graaff Reinet on 17th January 1902.
Scheepers being sentenced to death Col. Henniker reads the sentence. Scheepers in a light suit, centre of square
Photo: Illustrated London News
The prisoner is led away after receiving the death sentence
Photo: E Whitlock’s Collection
The following day on 18th January at 3 pm, Scheepers was shot dead by firing squad on the outskirts of the town, and was buried where he fell. He had asked to be shot as a soldier, standing upright, but instead he was tied in a sitting position to a chair. When he was buried, the chair in which he was sitting was broken into small pieces which were interred with him. Presumably, so that there would be no souvenir hunters after the execution. As one author put it, “He died as he had fought, a hero, and not yet quite 24 years of age.”
A final word on the mystery of Gideon Scheepers’ grave, which has to this date never been found, and probably never will be. That night after he had been shot and buried, five men of the Coldstream Guards under the command of Lieut. John Campbell and with a local church minister in attendance, exhumed the body of Scheepers. His body was then taken by stretcher into the Sunday’s River valley and in the quiet of night reburied well away from the sight of the first grave. Evidently it rained that night and so all traces of the footprints of the soldiers were washed away, leaving no trace of their macabre work. With that his grave is lost forever. There have been many theories as to why Scheepers’ body was removed by the British authorities and hidden away for all time. Perhaps it was they who had engineered the poisoning and a later test might implicate them. Or perhaps the British did not want Scheepers to become a martyr in the eyes of their enemy. Many books have been written on the short military life of Scheepers and his last days, but still the answers on the whereabouts of his grave remain a mystery.
Source: Researched by Mr Rob Reid and printed in booklet form for the Montagu Museum, 1999.
Montagu Museum
Memorial to Scheepers outside Graaff-Reinet
Photo: Internet
ʼn Persoonlike verklaring deur die fotograaf Ivie. H. Allan omtrent die teregstelling van Kommandant Gideon Scheepers
Fotograaf Ivie.H. Allan
Bron: Montagu Museum
Mnr. Ivie.H. Allan het die volgende verklaring (oorspronklik Engels) op 29 Mei 1942 op Wepener aan ds. Harper Martins gemaak:
“Ek, Ivie.H. Allan is gebore in Wimbledon, Surrey, Engeland en het na Suid-Afrika gekom in 1890.
Ek het toe op Graaff-Reinet gaan woon vanaf 1893 tot Februarie 1904. Daar het ek ‘n fotografiese ateljee gehad.
Eindelik het die “Boer War” uitgebreek in 1899. En ek was persoonlik teenwoordig toe Kommdt. Scheepers in die dorp ingebring was.
Hy is gevang in die Camdeboo deur Gorringes’s Flying column. Het net pas herstel van ‘n aanval van koors, en as dit nie daarvoor was nie, dan sou hulle hom nooit gevang het nie.
Net voordat hy gevange geneem is, het hy ‘n boodskap na Graaff-Reinet aan Kaptein Henniker van die Tweede Bataljon van die Cold Stream Guards, die destydse garnisoen van die dorp, gestuur. Hy het laat weet dat hy na Graaff-Reinet kom, en dan sal hy vir Kapt. Henniker aan die naaste telegraafpaal ophang.
Die eerste keer wat ek hom weer gesien het, was toe ek sy potret in die tronk gaan afneem het. Hy was gewillig en tegemoetkomend.
Hy het ‘n blou baadjie gedra met koper knope, en ek dink daarby het hy ‘n baie ligte kleur broek aangehad, met bloed spatsels daarop.
Hierna het ek ‘n foto geneem van 8½x 6½ binne in die hofsaal. Dit is die welbekende een, en die enigste ene, want niemand anders was toegelaat om daar foto’s te neem nie.
Die foto van die hofverigtinge
Foto: Montagu Museum/Die kamera was ‘n Watson met ‘n “Cook Triplet” lens.
Ek het nie die saak gevolg nie, want ek is dadelik met kamera en al na my ateljee om die plate te gaan ontwikkel. Een van die baie plate wat ek daar afgeneem het, was goed, want ek kon nie die hof vra om stil te sit nie.
Daarna het ek die parade afgeneem tydens die uitspreek van die vonnis op die markplein.
Die Cold Stream Guards het omtrent drie dele van die plein beset met gevelde bajonette.
Aan die oop kant van die plein was die tafels met die offisiere van die Cold Stream Guards. Kol. Henniker was die voorsitter. Hy het eindelik opgestaan en die verskillende aanklagtes teen Komdt. Scheepers voorgelees.
Dit het min of meer soos volg gelui : “In as much as on a certain date, etc., you committed murder ……”
Daar was omtrent nege sulke aanklagtes gewees.
Eers het die Sers. Majoor vir hom ‘n stoel gebring. Hy het dit weggeskop dat dit oor die koppe van die soldate gevlieg het.
Verder het hy met sy hoed op die kop gestaan. Hy wou nie toelaat dat hulle dit afhaal nie.
Hy wou vantevore nie toelaat dat ds. Murray vir hom ‘n gebed moes doen nie, maar die volgende dag het hy daarvoor verskoning oor gevra.
Die oorspronklike vonnis was dat hy gehang sou word. Die galg daarvoor was alreeds klaar gemaak. Maar die laksman, sekere King, kon nie opgespoor word nie. Daarop is toe besluit dat hy geskiet moes word. Hy is om 3 nm die volgende dag doodgeskiet.
Dit was baie tragies, want toe die skoolkinders daardie dag uit die skool uit kom, het hulle gejuig en hul boeksakke geswaai van vreugde toe die ambulans, waarin Scheepers gesit het, en omring deur ‘n gewapende wag op weg was uit die dorp na die plek van eksekusie.
Dit was omtrent drie myl uit die dorp uit. En ek het met die “Town Guard” te voet saam gegaan.
As jy jou rug na die Nederduits Gereformeerde Kerkgebou sou staan dan kyk jy in die direksie waarin hulle beweeg het.
Hulle het by die klein koppie ‘n goeie end verby gegaan, Scheepers is in daardie vlakte begrawe, maklik twee myl van die koppie af.
Ek het saam geloop om so instaat te wees om die eksekusie af te neem. Toe ek om permissie gevra het om die eksekusie af te neem, is dit geweier. Ek mag dit onder geen omstandighede dit doen nie. As ek dit sou waag, sou daar sware straf op rus. Ek het egter besluit om dit maar te waag.
Toe die ambulanswa aangekom het, het Scheepers self die trappies afgeklim. Die Sers. Majoor het sy hand aangebied om hom af te help. Scheepers het enige hulp geweier.
Hy het direk na die graf gestap en dit bekyk, en spottend daaroor geglimlag.
Toe het hy reggedraai vir die vuurpeleton. Hy het regop gaan staan, sy arms gevou, en wou so staande geskiet word. Dit is aan hom geweier, en hy was aan die stoel vasgebind. Hy was nie toegelaat om soos ‘n soldaat te sterwe nie.
Ek het my klein Brownie kamer onder my baadjie weggesteek gehad. Ek het tussen die twee rye manskappe gestaan met net genoeg ruimte om die foto’s te neem sodat ek nie bemerk kan word deur die offisiere nie. Ek het drie opeenvolgende foto’s geneem van die eksekusie:
1.Net toe die prisoniere wat die graf gegrawe het, en hom aan die stoel gebind het, en hom geblinddoek het, weggehardloop het na hul posisies uit die pad uit;
2.Die stoel en die stofdampies van die koeëls gemaak het toe die skote geval het. (By toeval het die vuurpeleton uit 25 man bestaan. Dit is die grootste wat ooit by ‘n eksekusie gebruik is by Graaff-Reinet.) Die band waarmee Scheepers se hande vasgemaak was, het losgeraak. Sy hande was omtrent ses duim van mekaar af weg toe die skote geval het.;
Teregstelling van Scheepers vasgemaak op die stoel
Foto: SA Military History Society
3.Die liggaam uitgestrek op ‘n kombers, met die dokter wat by die lyk kniel om vas te stel dat hy dood is.
Na die eksekusie het die sersant van die prisoniers die stoel stukkend gebreek. Genoeg “quick lime” was reeds al in die graf gegooi. Daarna is die liggaam op die kombers in die graf laat sak.
Die stukke van die stoel is daarna ook saam daarin gegooi. Nog meer kalk is oor die liggaam gegooi. Dit is gedoen sodat die liggaam spoedig verteer kan word. Die graf is daarna toegegooi.
Die wagte het die graf toe vir ‘n aantal dae bewaak sodat die kalk eers sy werk kon doen en sodat niemand die liggaam kon probeer wegneem eerdat dit verteer is nie.”
(Let : dat geen veranderinge aan die Afrikaans van die dokument gemaak is nie)
Bron: Afskrif van dokument in Montagu Museum
Kommandant Gideon Scheepers en sy verbintenis met Montagu
Gideon Scheepers het baie duidelik ‘n verbintenis met Montagu gehad. Daarvan getuig die name van twee plase in die rigting van Barrydale (R62), nl. “Scheepersrust” en “Scheepersdraai”.
Dis hier welbekend dat toe Scheepers met sy manskappe vanaf Barrydale se kant af gekom het, hy vertoef het op die plaas van Oom Jan Swart naby Kruispad. Dié plaas het later “Scheepersrus” geword.
Volgens drie verskillende bronne (Shearing, De Kock en Kriel Montagu Museum) het Scheepers gesondheidsprobleme gehad voordat hy vergiftig is en daar is berig dat hy na Montagu gekom het met tifuskoors wat hom gedwing het om kontak te maak met ‘n plaaslike dokter in Montagu. Volgens mev. Alta Barnard van Montagu-suid, en dogter van wyle dr C.A. Wessels, het hy ‘n boodskapper na haar vader gestuur met ‘n kenmerkende foto van homself met die hoed so skuinsweg op die kop. Die foto moes dien as identifikasie, want hy het ernstig versoek dat die dokter hom moes kom behandel.
Dr. C. A. Wessels
Foto: Montagu Museum
Montagu under Martial Law 1901
Dokument: Montagu Museum
Die bloedjong Dr. Wessels (pas terug op Montagu na jare se studie in die buiteland) het Scheepers herken op die foto en verskeie kere uitgery na die plaas van oom Jan Swart. Hy het altyd stilletjies in die donker gery in die kapkar, want die Britse troepe was toe alreeds in Montagu. Hulle het die bestaande N.G. Kerk in die dorp beset, en die horlosie in die toring uitgehaal, sodat hulle alles wat aangaan in die dorp kon bespied en ook daardeur kon skiet indien nodig. Mnr. Ben van Deventer wat lewenslank koster was van die N.G. Kerk, het self duidelik op een van die balke waar die klokke hang in die toring, die naam “Capt. Roberts” gesien.
Die Britse militêre hoofkwartier was in die eerste Poskantoor op die dorp, vandag is dit die huis met die naam “Eerstepos” in Kerkstraat 18, Montagu.
Dus baie duidelik dat Dr. Wessels baie versigtig te werk moes gaan as hy stilletjies in die aand uitgery het na die siek Gideon Scheepers. Hoe dikwels hy gegaan het, en presies hoe lank Scheepers daar gerus het om te herstel kon niemand met sekerheid vasstel nie, maar toe Scheepers genoeg herstel het, het Dr. Wessels gesê “nou kan jy voortgaan”.
Mnr. A.J.H. Burger (bekend as Marius) woon vandag nog op die plaas
“Talana”, en teken aan soos volg: Volgens oorlewering (van sy vader en ouer broer) het Scheepers hier op Talana by my oupa Alewyn Petrus Burger oornag. Hy was toe reeds ‘n baie siek man, en kon nie meer perdry nie, maar het in ‘n kar (kapkar) gery. (Die plaas “Talana” is nader aan die dorp).
Die aand het die offisiere met die skooljuffrou en ander van die omgewing in ons huis gedans.
Die volgende oggend moes die Kommando vroeg padgee want die Engelse was warm op hulle spoor. Die Boere het my Oupa in die buitekamer opgesluit sodat hy nie hulle teenwoordigheid kon verraai nie. Vermoedelik ook om hom ‘n goeie alibi te gee vir sy eie beskerming.
Sowat 4 kms hiervandaan, op die plaas “Boererus”, steeds in die Montagu rigting, het die kommando regs gedraai, terwyl die agterhoede daar gelaat is om die Engelse te stuit. Die klompie Boere het dan ook daar op die voorste Engelse geskiet, en een of twee gewond. ‘n Ambulans het hulle (die gewondes) per perdekar uit Montagu kom haal.
Scheepers se spioene het hom goed ingelig en hulle het geweet die Engelse wag hulle in op die dorp. Hulle draai toe om by Derdeheuwel (R62), ‘n plaaswyk ‘n paar kms. vanaf die dorp. Die bepaalde plaas heet vandag nog Scheepersdraai. Daarvandaan swenk hulle in die Langkloof, die Karroo-deel van Montagu. Die dorp Montagu word heeltemal ontwyk, en hulle is terug in die rigting van Ladismith deur die Karroo. Toe waarskynlik in die Gamkaskloof rigting, deur Seweweekspoort en Bosluiskloof.
Mev. Esther Hofmeyr, Montagu
14 November 1998
Bronne:
Montagu Museum Argief
Gesprek met:
Mev. Alta Barnard van Montagu-Suid, dogter van oorlede Dr. C.A. Wessel;
Mnr. A.J.H. “Marius” Burger van die plaas “Talana”;
Mnr Ben van Deventer, lewenslank Koster van die N.G. Kerk en groot kenner van die Montagu geskiedenis
Foto: Irma Jordaan
Die volgende storie is vertel aan mev Hofmeyr op 12 Februarie 1966 deur mnr. Jacobus Daniel Stemmet van Kromstraat 9, Montagu, rakende sy oom, mnr. Pieter Gabriel Conradie, wie gewoon het op Lettaskraal, in die Karroo-deel van Montagu.
“Kommandant Scheepers en sy mense het deur ons distrik gekom en op Lettaskraal in die afwesigheid van mnr. Pieter Conradie, op sy plaas ‘n kleurling wat ‘n spioen was doodgeskiet en net daar begrawe met die graaf van mnr. P. Conradie met sy naam op die graaf. Die graaf is by die graf in die grond gesteek. Toe die Engelse agterna daar verbykom kry hul die graaf, grawe die graf oop en vind die Kleurling. Daarna word mnr. Conradie wat op die dag van die teregstelling op Talana was, en niks met die saak te doen gehad het nie, na Grahamstad geneem na die konsentrasiekamp.
Sy vrou het agtergebly maar is op Montagu vir ‘n tyd lank in die tronk gehou. Sy ouers is te perd aangeja vanaf Rietkuil (nou Sandou) na Montagu, en is ook in die tronk gesit. Die pa is geruime tyd in die tronk gehou maar die moeder en vrou is later losgelaat. Die oubaas was die oupa van mnr. Stemmet.
Mnr. Pieter Conradie was ter dood veroordeel op Grahamstad. Toevallig vang die Engelse ‘n Boer wat op die betrokke dag by Kommodant Scheepers was. Op sy getuienis versag die Engelse die vonnis van mnr. Conradie maar laat sy familie niks weet nie. Sy familie het klaar gerou vir hom, toe hy onverwags na die oorlog by die huis opdaag. Die Engelse het hom tot op Montagu laat kom. Plaastoe moes hy stap.
Al sy briewe uit die kamp is vernietig, g’n pos het ooit sy familie bereik nie. Sy huisraad is alles stukkend geslaan, sy huis is afgebrand, al wat behoue gebly het, was ‘n tafelpoot waarvan mnr. Stemmet se ouma toe ‘n koekroller gemaak het”.
Brief geskryf deur die moeder van Gideon Scheepers aan die moeder van Jacobus Stemmet en wat geskenk is aan die Montagu Museum deur mnr. Stemmet op 12.2.1966
Die bogenoemde brief vertaal in Engels:
Roodepoort
12 Desember
Dear Friend,
Your letter I did receive and see that you ask what we know of our beloved son Gideon.
Oh, child it is to us ourselves unknown but we trust that he will be returned to us in 1907 *. May God give that it shall be so.
O, dear child, we too had a bitter time during the war. I and my children were sent to a wild place on the coast of Natal and we could barely exist on the little food they gave us. There were some other people too. God helped us through it.
One of my children died too – a girl.
Best greetings your friend.
Sophia C. Scheepers
Roodepoort
Post Wonderfontein
*Apparently Mrs Scheepers believed the rumour that Gideon Scheepers was never executed but banished to “some” island.
Government House, Pretoria
Lord Selborne erken geheime opgrawing en heimlike herbegrafnis in onbekende graf
10th July 1907
Sir, – With reference to McLyttleton’s letter to you of the 17th May, I am desired by His Excellency Lord Selborne to inform you that most careful enquires have been made on the subject of the disposal of the body of the late Commandant Scheepers.
The Military authorities have been consulted in the matter, and the report has been received from the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Aldershot from which there can be no manner of doubt that Commandant Scheepers was shot and buried at Graaff-Reinet. Mr. Hoole, the Magistrate, was present at the execution and saw him shot and buried, as were also Brigadier General the Honourable A. Henniker, then commanding the 2nd. Battalion Coldstream Guards, and other officials.
For some reason which is not now known, the body of Commandant Scheepers appears to have been exhumed after the execution and taken away from the spot where the execution took place to some other spot which is not now known.
The Officers who superintended the second burial after the body had been exhumed report that it would be impossible at the present time to identify the spot where the remains were finally interred.
It appears, therefore that it is impossible now to state the actual place where the body lies; but there is no doubt whatever as to the execution having been carried out, and His Excellency thinks that Mrs. Scheepers would be wise to pay no attention to any stories she may hear about her son having been banished to an island.
His Excellency much regrets that his efforts to trace the exact spot where Mrs. Scheepers’ son is buried, have not been successful.
Bron: Scheepers se Dagboek deur dr Gustav S. Preller
Die datum van publikasie en in watter koerant dit verskyn het is onbekend
Dokument: Montagu Museum
Monument op die h/v Donkin- en Somersetstrate in Graaff-Reinet wat die Boere wat tereggestel is deur ‘n vuurpeleton herdenk
Foto’s : Irma Jordaan
