Ferdinandus Jacobus Potgieter

Potgieter was born the fourth child and fourth son of farmer Petrus Philippus Potgieter (Uitenhage, Eastern Cape, South Africa, 14 December 1820 – British concentration camp Klerksdorp, 20 December 1901){{cite web |url=https://www.geni.com/people/Petrus-Philippus-Potgieter-b1c8d1e5f9/6000000003317764808 |title=Petrus Philippus Potgieter, b1c8d1e5f9 |last= |first= |date=1 May 2022 |website=geni.com |publisher=Geni. A MyHeritage Company |access-date=20 September 2023 |quote=}} and Wilhelmina Jacoba Pieterse (Cradock, Eastern Cape, 25 August 1826 – Farm Matjiesspruit, Makwassie, now North West province, 18 August 1880), among six sons and three daughters.{{cite web |url=https://www.geni.com/people/Wilhelmina-Jacoba-Potgieter/6000000001634069238 |title=Wilhelmina Jacoba Potgieter (Pieterse) |last= |first= |date=1 May 2022 |website=geni.com |publisher=Geni. A MyHeritage Company |access-date=20 September 2023 |quote=}}

Young Potgieter married Jacoba Johanna Magdalena Pieterse (Potchefstroom District, 15 May 1860 Boksburg, 16 November 1926) and had one son and seven daughters by her, born in Makwassie, Potchefstroom and Wolmaransstad. One daughter, Johanna Margaretha Elisabeth (1879 – 24 May 1902), died in British concentration camp Merebank near Durban.{{cite web |url=https://www.geni.com/people/Jacoba-Johanna-Magdalena-Potgieter/6000000003317861135 |title=Jacoba Johanna Magdalena Potgieter (Pieterse) |last= |first= |date=1 May 2022 |website=geni.com |publisher=Geni. A MyHeritage Company |access-date=20 September 2023 |quote=}}

File:Commandant Potgeiter, killed in action, RAMC O-S-35-738-3 Wellcome L0022428.jpg

In the Second Boer War Potgieter commanded the Wolmaransstad Commando for the South African Republic and fought in many actions such as Battle of Magersfontein (11 December 1899)Breytenbach II 1971, 1978, p. 116. and the Siege of Kimberley on 11 November 1899,Breytenbach II 1971, 1978, p. 378. ultimately being promoted to the rank of a fighting general (veggeneraal). With 20 of his men he and general Froneman serving general Piet Cronjé timely escaped the British encirclement at the Battle of Paardeberg (18 – 27 February 1900) and reached the troops of general Christiaan de Wet.Breytenbach IV 1977, pp. 331, 471, 478. Later, after the capture of the Orange Free State capital of Bloemfontein on 13 March 1900) he opposed the march of general French to Pretoria on 3 June 1900.Breytenbach V 1983, p. 544.

After the capture of the capital of Pretoria by Lord Roberts on 5 June 1900, Potgieter continued the war under general Koos de la Rey as a 'bittereinder' (Afrikaans for fighter to the bitter end, diehard). While De la Rey was away attending peace ouvertures at Vereeniging, Potgieter and Boer general Jan Kemp performed an audacious but failed charge without cover against a British line to again escape encirclement, this time in the Battle of Rooiwal (11 April 1902) in the Lichtenburg district near Klerksdorp. Historian Thomas Pakenham wrote:

{{blockquote|The Boers, led by Generals Kemp and Potgieter, galloped on towards destruction, as though possessed by the spirit of Lord Lucan and the Light Brigade...The six British guns began to tear holes in the column. Still they came on, gambling everything on the chance that the British would turn and run... [Later:] A mile away, Potgieter lay sprawled thirty yards from the South African Constabulary line, conspicuous with his neatly trimmed beard and blue shirt, and there were three bullets in his head and body. Beside his corpse lay fifty other dead Boers.|Pakenham 1992}}

This turned out to be the final battle of the war. The peace Treaty of Vereeniging was signed in Pretoria on 31 May 1902.

{{reflist}}

• Breytenbach, J. H. Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899–1902 [The History of the Second Freedom War in South Africa, 1899-1902], Die Staatsdrukker Pretoria, 1969–1996. Six volumes in Afrikaans.
• {{cite book |last1=Breytenbach|first1=J. H. |title=Die Boere-offensief, Okt.{{snd}}Nov. 1899|trans-title=The Boer Offensive, Oct.{{snd}}Nov. 1899|series=Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899{{ndash}}1902|publisher=Die Staatsdrukker |place=Pretoria|date= 1969|volume=I|lang=af|oclc= 798106662 }}
• {{cite book |last1=Breytenbach|first1=J. H. |title=Die eerste Britse offensief, Nov. - Des. 1899 |trans-title=The first British offensive, Nov. - Dec. 1899 |series=Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899-1902 |publisher=Die Staatsdrukker |place=Pretoria |date=1971 |volume=II |language=af}} Pages 116 and 378.
• {{cite book |last1=Breytenbach|first1=J. H. |title=Die Boereterugtog uit Kaapland |trans-title=The Boer retreat from the Cape Colony |series=Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899-1902 |publisher=Die Staatsdrukker |place=Pretoria |date= 1977 |volume=IV |language=af}}
• {{cite book |last1=Breytenbach|first1=J. H. |title=Die Britse Opmars tot in Pretoria |trans-title=The British advance to Pretoria |series=Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899-1902 |publisher=Die Staatsdrukker |place=Pretoria |date= 1983 |volume=V |language=af |oclc=769254652 |isbn=9780621083606}} Pages 327, 344–346, 357 and 544.
• {{cite book |last1=Breytenbach|first1=J. H. |title=Die beleg van Mafeking tot met die Slag van Bergendal|trans-title=The siege of Mafeking up to the Battle of Bergendal|series=Die Geskiedenis van die Tweede Vryheidsoorlog in Suid-Afrika, 1899–1902|publisher=Die Staatsdrukker |place=Pretoria|date= 1996|volume=VI |lang=af|oclc= 813492747 |isbn= 9780797033214 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4b-ASwAACAAJ}} Page 52: general Potgieter on the western front.

• Pakenham, Thomas, The Boer War, George Weidenfeld & Nicolson, London, 1979. Abacus, 1992. ISBN 0 349 10466 2. Pages 558–559.

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Category:1857 births

Category:1902 deaths

Category:Afrikaner people

Category:South African Republic generals

Category:South African Republic military personnel killed in the Second Boer War