Louw Wepener
Born | 21 July 1812 Graaff-Reinet |
---|---|
Died | 15 August 1865 Thaba Bosiu Lesotho | (aged 53)
Rank | Commandant |
Battles/wars | Frontier Wars Free State–Basotho Wars |
Relations | Hester Susanna Nel and Hilletje Maria Levina van Aardt |
Lourens Jacobus (Louw) Wepener was born on 21 July 1812. He was the son of a
Military career
Wepener participated in some Frontier Wars (1834–1853) as Acting Field Cornet. He moved to the farm De Nek in
He later migrated to the Orange Free State where he bought two farms in Bethulie district – Constantia and Moordernaarspoort. When he arrived in Orange Free State, Wepener was appointed Acting Commandant. He took part in the Free State–Basotho Wars – which were a series of wars fought between Moshoeshoe I and the Orange Free State.
The three are the Senekal War (1858), Seqiti War which included two conflicts in 1856 to 1866 and 1867 to 1868. The wars resulted in the
The first attack on Thaba Bosiu failed on 8 August 1865, the Boers tried again on 15 August.[2] As he ascended
Death
The loss of Wepener was a huge loss in the
Eleven months after the death of Wepener, his son – Dick Wepener – and four of his friends went to Thaba Bosiu to collect his father's remains for a proper burial. King Moshoeshoe I's son – Tladi – took Dick to where his father was buried. This is when Tladi told Dick that his father's heart had been eaten by warriors. His body was taken to be buried at the family farm in Constantia.[6] The pass at Thaba Bosiu known as Khubelu pass where Wepener was killed is also known as the Wepener's pass to commemorate his death.[7]
Honours
- A town founded in 1867 was named after Wepener. This town is found in the Free State on the banks of Jammersbergspuit, a tributary of the Caledon River.
- There is also a monument in his honour at the front of the town hall in Wepener.
- On the N6 to Aliwal North, there is a little monument in honour of Wepener.
- Two military awards were named after him – Louw Wepener decoration (1952 – 1975) and the Louw Wepener medal (1967–1975), which were issued by the South African Defence Force to its members for courageous or heroic deeds in saving lives.[8]
References
- ^ Meyer, Petro. "Commandant Lourens Jacobus (Louw) Wepener". Genealogie en Geselsgroep - Jeffreysbaai. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ Meyer, Petro. "Commandant Lourens Jacobus (Louw) Wepener". Genealogie en Geselsgroep - Jeffreysbaai. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ Du Preez, Max (2004). Of warriors, lovers and prophets: Unusual stories from South Africa's past. Cape Town: Zebra Press. p. 60.
- ^ Du Preez 2004, p. 60.
- ^ "Louw Wepener memorial and grave". Artefacts. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ Du Preez 2004, p. 63.
- ISBN 9780620503952.
- ^ Meyer, Petro. "Commandant Lourens Jacobus (Louw) Wepener". Genealogie en Geselsgroep - Jeffreysbaai. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
External links
- https://web.archive.org/web/20141011020928/http://www.afrikanergeskiedenis.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Louw-Wepener.pdf
- http://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/comdt-louw-wepener-53-killed-combat-during-attack-moshesh-thaba-bosigo-free-state
- http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol122as.html