Gideon Scheepers
Country of Birth: South Africa
Year of birth: 1878
Places of Residence: Middelburg
Boer Hero
Gideon Scheepers was a leader among his men What really happened to Gideon Scheepers, the gallant 23-year-old Boer fighter who was executed by a British firing squad some months before the Anglo-Boer War was to end? Though nobody knows, since his body was never found, this young heliographer became an almost legendary figure in South African history and his name sacred to many Afrikaners.
As he was considered innocent and had become an idol because of his daring exploits in the Cape Colony, Scheepers' execution caused an outcry throughout the world.
Despite his tragic end and the public interest aroused by the secret and apparently clandestine circumstance of his death, very little is known about his exact movements and experiences.
Commandant Gideon Scheepers was born on 4 April 1878 in Middelburg in the Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek. At age 16 he joined the Staatsartillerie in the Transvaal Republic and was soon a first-rate telegraphist, heliographer and later in the SA War a scout that the Boer leader, General Christiaan de Wet, prized. He took part in the Battle of Magersfontein and escaped capture when General Piet Cronje surrendered at Paardeberg
At age 22 he got the rank of Commandant and led a commando of 150 men who took on the British in the Cape Colony. He had several successes and his bravery was legendary. His mere presence in the Cape Colony inspired more Boers to take up arms against the British.
On 10 October 1901 Scheepers became ill and asked to be left behind near Prince Albert. The British captured him and jailed him in Graaff-Reinet. During his trial the British refused him his rights as an Officer and charged him with war crimes under martial law. After the court accepted some suspect testimony about the alleged war crimes he was sentenced to death and executed in 1902. He was 23 years old.
His remains was buried in an undisclosed location and the grave leveled off as you would when you bury a dog.
The British thought of him as a brigand, but among the Boers his memory lives on as that of a hero and a martyr.
End chapter 1
The young and brave men who lost their lives to make a better world for us were buried like dogs. Pity that it is. Well written with feeling. I do believe that Cecil John Robinson was your grand father and not great-great Grandfather. Gideons sister (Cecil Joh'ns mother) was Johaana Scheepers Robinson.
31 Oct 2009
Peter
Cecil John Robinson was her grand father and my father.
06 Jun 2010
Vicky Onel
I am a pianist who has been performing music composed by Peter Klatzow based on DJ Opperman's "Gebed om die Gebeente" translated by Guy Butler as "Prayer for the Bones". An interesting reference to Ezekiel 37 in the poem. In my opinion Scheepers had the courage to live an individuated experience, and such people have always been a threat to the status quo, it seems, till today. By the way, my great grandfather was married to the daughter of William Frederick Butler, son of Thomas.
09 Jun 2010
Benjamin Fourie
I am a pianist who has been performing music composed by Peter Klatzow based on DJ Opperman's "Gebed om die Gebeente" translated by Guy Butler as "Prayer for the Bones". An interesting reference to Ezekiel 37 in the poem. In my opinion Scheepers had the courage to live an individuated experience, and such people have always been a threat to the status quo, it seems, till today. By the way, my great grandfather was married to the daughter of William Frederick Butler, son of Thomas.
09 Jun 2010
Benjamin Fourie
During the guerilla phase of the Boer War, Kitchener used the policy of scourched earth to great succes. Any Boer farms thought to be assisting the Boers in the 2 republics were raised to the ground. At a gathering of Generals, Smuts suggested that the Boers continue the fight in the Cape Colonly and so put a stop to the burning of farms. As the Cape farmers were citizens of the colony, the British would not burn down farms.
Gideon Scheepers adopted the British tactics of when visiting farms for sustinance he asked them to swear allegance to the Boers, on a few occasions when they refused, he burned down their farms. As he and many of his commando were from the Cape this was concidered as treason, and for that reason he was executed.
23 Dec 2010
Paul
Gideon Scheepers was born on the farm Roodepoort in the Middelburg, Transvaal (Z.A.R.) district.His parents and some of his family members are also buried on this farm.There is also a monument dedicated to him with the words: Ter nagedagtenis aan Komdt.Gideon Jacobus Scheepers.Die onvergeetlike boereheld.Gebore dist.Middelburg 4April 1878.Gefusilleer op Graaff-Reinet 8Jan 1902.Sy lewe was beminlik.Sy stryd dapper.Sy dood onverdiend.Sy graf onbekend. Opgerig deur bewonderaars oor heel S.Afrika.Onthul deur sy 89jarige moeder op 20Jan. 1945."Getrou tot die dood". His mother Sophia Charlotte(born v.d.Merwe) died at the ripe old age of 100years and 4months in 1956.His father Jacobus Johannes died in 1934 at the age of 80.To live so long after his death,especially his mother,and not to be able to at least visit his grave must have been torture.Long forgotten are those who participated in this barbaric act but you made Kommandant Gideon Scheepers INVINCIBLE by burying him like a dog.He is not the only one that we remember.MANY OF US SALUTE YOU!
03 Jan 2011
Peet Schabort
I urgently need the names of Gideon's sisters as one of them apparently were married to ons of my wifes ancestors. Her name was either Anna or Magdalena born 1845 and she was married to Johannes Britz. Your assistance is highly appreciated.
22 Feb 2011
Elric Pretorius
it is really nice to find out you are part of an South-African HERO.
Just dig deeper and deeper and you will find out more than you've hoped for like me,i found out Daleen Matee a legendary
writer is indeed one of my ansisters her best book is called KRINGE IN DIE BOS.
and the more i dig into the history of my scheepers family the more new stuff i find every day aspecialy of the anglo boers oorlog.
23 Feb 2011
Stanley Scheepers
I have been working on the Scheepers family tree and have so far got details dating back 13 generations for numerous Scheepers members and married relatives. Although I have the tree dating back to the mid 1600's, I cant find the section where Gideon Scheepers' family line and mine branched off from each other. My family names include his name so I assume there must be a link somewhere I do not know about .
Could someone with some details on the Scheepers family please email me and we can see what we can work out. Am more than happy to share the info I have gathered to date.
My email is waynescheepers@btinternet.com
28 Feb 2011
Wayne Scheepers
Gideon Scheepers was my father's cousin. Gideon's dad Jakobus Johannes Jacobus (Gideon's Father) was my grandfather's brother. Because of different views on the Anglo Boer War, they seperated. My father was suppossed to be named after Oom Jacobus. Instead he was named after one of the Egyptian faraos. My son carries my fathers name in memory of that sad occassion. The war broke the Scheepers family apart.
31 Mar 2011
Scheeoers A
As a Scheepers descendant, my father was Cornelius Coenraad Scheepers, my brother is Jakobus Louwrens Scheepers, but more than that I simply don't know anything about our grandfather, grandmother. Any/ all information will be considered helpfull and can be emailed to me.
29 Sep 2011
Sunell Hattingh (Scheepers)
All i know is that my father was Johnnes ,Jurgens ,Coenraad,Nicholas Scheepers, my grandfather was Jerry Scheepers ,more than that i do not know,help will be appreciated.Please email me on scheepers.jurie@gmail.com
09 Jan 2012
Jurgens Scheepers