Spiokop Boer sentry

The first casualty of the battle of Spioenkop was an “unknown” Boer sentry surprised by the British and killed by Lieutenant Awdry/Audrey. He is buried in a solitary grave on the spot where he was bayoneted with the inscription;

“In memory of

unknown Burger sentry

died on this spot

29th January 1900“

Two points about this inscription do not ring true. Firstly he could not have been unknown as he was in the company of a small group of sentries from the Vryheid & German Commandos were his colleagues. Secondly no person was killed on Spioenkop after the 24th January as the British had all left on the 25^th. I believe that details of this mans demise were deliberately falsified to protect his family. After all he had been the “cause” of the British reaching the top undetected. This is substantiated to a certain extent by a comment made by a Boer journalist “The Burghers must have sadly neglected their duty thus allowing the English to surprise the piquet”