Military History: The Graspan Skirmish

The Graspan Skirmish

Guest Speaker: Dr Tony Stimson

On 6 June 1901 about 100 South Australians were part of a 200-man force which captured a convoy of Boer wagons, carts, women and children near the little village of Reitz, and then fought off a commando determined to recapture it. In little more than an hour’s fighting on a gentle ridge on Graspan farm eight South Australians and many others died. It was easily the province’s worst day in the Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902.

Graspan was not your typical skirmish. The fighting around and under the wagons and their cargo of terrified women and children was hand to hand when long range sniping from cover was the norm in war on the high veldt. Moreover, the battlefield was tiny, no more than four or five tennis courts in size. Modern magazine rifles could wreak terrible damage at such short range.

Graspan was…