An Unusual Medal: Burgerunie van de Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek

Pierre H. Nortje (May 2025)

Source: KZN Coins

In June 1961, the Afrikaans newspaper “Die Transvaler” published two articles on this medal after being contacted by the Africana Museum.

The museum received inquiries from a member of the public, but could not provide any help. That person was none other than Dr. Isidor Kaplan, a well-known Johannesburg Africana collector and numismatist. Dr. Kaplan said that he could find no one who could tell him when and for what reason the medal was struck.

The next day, the newspaper was visited by a person by the name of Chris Neethling, who was a friend of the reporter who wrote the articles. He had one of these medals with him, but the information he provided, as we shall see later in this paper, seems mostly incorrect, probably because of a fading memory.

In short, he said that the medal was made from silver and plated in gold. One day, he thinks it was in 1936, he was contacted by an organisation in Pretoria who offered him a medal for R3. He was told that he was entitled to the medal because he was the oldest son of a “bittereinder” (a Boer that fought to the bitter end) during the Anglo-Boer War.

The reporter then assumes that it was not an official medal as it had to be paid for. Also, that he found it strange that the medal was only offered to the sons of the bittereinders and not the soldiers themselves, because Mr. Neethling’s father was still alive when he (the son) received his medal, but his father was never approached in this regard.

The reporter ends his article by saying that the original questions on when and on whose authority the medal was struck remain unanswered.

In the second article in the newspaper on the subject, an article was published under the heading “Geheim van Medalje Opgelos – Uitgereik Deur Die Burgerunie” (Secret of the Medal Solved – issued by the Burgerunie). The article states that the medal was issued by the “Burgerunie van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek” and the “Dogters (daughters) van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek”. The reason for creating the society was “…om die ou tyd te laat herlewe” (to relive the old days).

Source: Werner Lamprecht

The names of both the women and men involved in the creation of the society are named, and their first meeting was held on 29 September 1938 at the Voortrekkergedenksaal in Pretoria with 20 people attending. The article further states that men wore gold medals and women’s issues were struck in silver.

In 1974, The National Cultural History and Open-air Museum in Pretoria published a booklet entitled “The Era of the Generals”. It was written by Matthy Esterhuysen and gives a portrayal of the medals and commemorative awards in honour of Generals Louis Botha, Jan Christiaan Smuts and James Barry Munnik Hertzog on loan and in possession of the museum.

One of the medals in the Smuts-collection is described as follows: - Insignia, Burgerunie van de Zuid-Afrikaanse Republiek (Union of Old Burgers). A miniature of a medal depicting the Transvaal republican coat of arms with the inscription “Eendragt Maakt Magt”. It hangs from a dark green ribbon. No. 218. Union established about 1938. Although a non-political league, it was opposed from various quarters. Intention to form a similar organisation in the O.F.S. was dropped.

Picture source: Library of the Western Cape Numismatic Society

Conditions of membership:

Voters and Burgers of Z.A.R., or
Others who took part actively in affairs of the Z.A.R., i.e. defence, research, etc.
Sons of the above born before the end of the 31st May, 1902.

The office bearers were Albert Kuit, Chairman, Gustav F. Preller, Vice-Chairman, and H. de Kock was Secretary. (In the newspaper article above, Mr. Kenny Malherbe is named and not Preller, although Preller’s wife was indeed involved.)

Membership was limited to 300.

Esterhuysen says that in 1938, at a function in Voortrekker Hall, the 300 certificates were awarded. General Smuts was not present; his certificate and badge (medal) must have been sent to him. This Union is now defunct. Badges (medals) were only worn on one occasion – when a wreath was laid on the grave of A.W.J. Pretorius. (Andries Wilhelmus Jacobus Pretorius [1798 –1853] was a Boer leader and instrumental in the creation of the South African Republic. The city of Pretoria is named after him.)

The S.A. Mint (mint marked RMP = Royal Mint Pretoria) struck the medal. On the containing box, the name of Lindenaar, Juwelier, Bandoung appears. Gold 9ct. (We find this strange, as C. Lindenaar was a Dutch jeweller trading in the city of Bandoung, Java, Indonesia. If the medal was struck by the SA Mint, how was Lindenaar involved? The following picture was found via an internet search, which says it was his exhibition stand in 1924 at the “Jaarbeurs”, an annual trade fair held in Bandoung.

Source: Collectie Stichting Nationaal Museum van Wereldculturen.

Esterhuysen gives her sources as a certificate of membership to J.B. Weijers and information received from reactions to newspaper queries.

There is a document held by the National Archives & Records Service of South Africa entitled “Burgerunie van die ZAR: Hou sy eerste funksie in Pretoria” (Burger Union of the ZAR: First Function held in Pretoria) that we unfortunately could not get access to. This was apparently the meeting of 29 September 1938 mentioned in the newspaper article above. However, this date is most probably incorrect as it is impossible that the inaugural meeting was held 3 months after some of the medals were already awarded. According to a picture posted on Angloboerwar.com, which shows an example of a certificate accompanying one of these medals, the date is recorded as 20 June 1938. It was awarded to an A.P. Burgers and numbered 99. During the Boer War, Burgers also qualified for the Anglo-Boer War medal.

On his certificate, the three conditions for membership differ slightly from those supplied by Esterhuysen. The certificate reads (English translation on the right)…

(a) Burgers wat as stemgeregtiges op die Z.A.R. se veldkornetlyste geregistreer is.

(b) Diegene wat Burgerskap verkry het as medestryders vir die Republiek in erkende krygsverrigtinge.

Citizens who are registered as voters on the Z.A.R.'s field cornet lists.

Those who got Citizenship as fellow combatants for the Republic in recognized military operations.

The sons of (a) and (b) born before 31 May 1902.

Source left: Quagga Books. Source right: Angloboerwar.com

We also found a copy of the program of the wreath laying ceremony, which, according to Esterhuysen, was the only occasion where members wore their medals (see picture above left and note signatures of both Jan Smuts and Isie, his wife). The author could unfortunately not find any old pictures of the ceremony.

The well-known medal collector, Henk Loots, provided much well-researched information and posted pictures of medals relating to the Z.A.R. on the Angloboerwar.com website. In at least two of his postings, he mentions the Burgerunie medal.

The picture below of the certificate to A.P. Burgers was posted by Loots, who mentions that another civilian ZAR medal was awarded to Burgers, being the silver issue of the medal commemorating the opening of the Delgoa/Pretoria railway line in 1895. A silver pocket watch went with the medal.

Source: Angloboerwar.com

In his second article, Loots writes that a person by the name of Wouter Johannes Geerling (born in Den Haag in 1866) emigrated to Pretoria and 1888 and was called up during the Anglo-Boer War for active service in the ZAR Military Telegraph Department. After the war, he founded the firm of Taylor & Geerling, Registered Public Accountants. In 1938, he also became a member of the "Burgerunie van de Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek" (Union of Old Burghers) and received their small gold badge, numbered 174. He was also appointed as Honorary Consul for the Netherlands, in which capacity he was created a Knight of the Order of Orange Nassau (August 1939) and promoted to Officer Grade in January 1944. He died in 1949 and was awarded the following medals during his lifetime.

* ABO Medal impressed ASST. HOOF VAN TELEGRAAF W.J. GEERLING
* Badge of the Order of Orange Nassau, Officer Class with rosette on ribbon.
* Badge of the Burgerunie van de ZAR, numbered 174.
* Miniatures for the ABO medal and Orange Nassau Order.

Source: Henk Loots

The Pretoria numismatist, Werner Lamprecht has an impressive collection of these medals – see picture below. The medal on the right is inscribed with the number “69” and the recipient being “Assit. Veg Genl. J.F. Jordaan”.

Note that the hallmark of the medal on the right uses the “375” mark to indicate 9ct gold, while another medal we found (see the first picture in this paper) only shows “9ct” and not the “375” mark. Both are marked by the Pretoria Royal Mint.

In the following pictures from Werner Lamprecht’s collection, the differences between the silver (for women) and gold (for men) medals are shown. The “D” preface to the number “10” on the silver medal probably indicate “Dames” (Women).

We found a 3-page handwritten memo, dated 18/2/72, relating to the Burgerunie. The document is a response to an inquiry the author received. We guess that it was addressed to Colin R. Owen, the author of The Military Badges and Insignia of Southern Africa. He ran Chimperie Agencies' Postal Auctions in Somerset West for many years and was sometimes called by his surname.

We are sure that the memo was written by the late state historian Jan Ploeger. See, for example, this article he wrote in 1974 that was published recently on the website of the WCNS - The Fate of 200 Coinage Dies for the State Mint of the Z.A.R.

Source: Werner Lamprecht

Memo 18/2/72

Dear Owen

At last, I am at home on one week leave some information i.r.t. the “Burgerunie van die Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek”

According to a letter in my possession, the date of establishment of the movement or organisation was 31.1.1938.

Aims:

To keep up and strengthen the old ties of citizenship between ex-Burghers of the former SA Republic, with due regard to the present constitutional position as it has developed since the Treaty of Vereeniging.
To maintain the history and traditions of the above-mentioned Republic, the Afrikaans language, and the national hymn of the former SA Republic as sources of inspiration.

Membership

Ex-Burghers of the SA Republic by birth or naturalisation.
Sons of (a) born before 31.5.1902

Council

A maximum of 50 foundation members
Some members of 4(i) to form an executive and a committee of administration.

Correspondents

To be elected for all districts, including Utrecht & Vryheid.

A register of all members is to be kept.

Each member is to be provided with a membership card and a badge of membership (“order teken” – insignia) showing the coat of arms of the SA Republic, to be worn in public.

Impartiality (Neutrality). The “Unie” has no ecclesiastical or political aims.

The above-mentioned rules and regulations were printed by” Die Volkstem”, Pretoria. (Order 6187 of 1938/?). Also printed was an application form for membership (Die Volkstem Drukkery - 6188).
These forms were circulated on or after 23.2.1938. On 23.2.1938, a confidential circular to that effect was drawn up by Mr H.C. de Kock, a member of the editorial staff of “Die Volkstem”, in his role as secretary of the “Burgerunie”.
Another circular, sent to admitted members, was drawn up and signed by Mr. H.C. de Kock, dated 15.6.1938. Paragraph 3 of this circular reads as follows: -

“Die Voorlopige Bestuur het besluit om die BURGERORDES (wat in die vorm van die ou Transvaalse Wapen in goud geslaan is en hang aan ‘n groen lint van ‘n staaf waarop die letters Z.A.R. staan) aan die lede uit te reik op Woensdagaand 29 Junie om 8 uur, in die Voortrekkersaal, Pretoria”. (The Provisional Management has decided to award the CITIZENS' ORDER (which is struck in gold in the form of the old Transvaal Coat of Arms and hangs from a green ribbon from a bar on which are the letters Z.A.R.) to the members on Wednesday evening, 29 June at 8 o'clock, in the Voortrekker Hall, Pretoria).

An old picture of the “Voortrekker Gedenksaal” built in 1933. Source: artefacts.co.za/

On 24.6.1939, it was announced that members could register for service “for and in South Africa” in times of a national emergency. Minister O. Pirow, having accepted this offer, had on the recommendation of the executive of the “Burgerunie” decided to appoint Dr. G.S. Preller (the historian and journalist) as a registrar at DHQ (Defence Headquarters - wcns ed.) Pretoria. Dr Preller started on 5.6.1939. Circular signed by Mr. H.C. de Kock.

Forms for enlistment: “Vir en in Suid-Afrika. Burgerunie Registrasie. Aantekening Verdedigingsdiens” and an explanatory form (G.P.8.5717 – 1939 – 2,000) were printed by order of the Union Parliament.

About two years ago, I came across a letter (in a private collection, Pretoria) dd. 7.3.1939, and written by the then Consul for the Netherlands at Bloemfontein, Mr. H.H. van Rooyen (Ref nr. 115). In this letter, the above said that the then Commissioner S.A.R. and Harbours, Mr. Albert Kuit, and the then Minister of Defence, Adv. O. Pirow were in favour of the “Burgerunie”. In his letter, Mr van Rooyen put up a plea to support the Minister. Most of the executives of the “Burgerunie” consisted, according to Mr. van Rooyen, of supporters of the then government. To encourage others to join the movement, several ex-burghers, opposed to the government, were invited to join.

This is briefly all that I was able to find. Nobody has, as far as I know, ever made a close study of this subject. I personally do not know how much importance must be attached to the Consul’s statement in the above-mentioned confidential letter. However, looking at some other points mentioned above, I am inclined to take his statement for granted.

Regards, Yours. Jan Ploeger.

Picture left: Albert Kuit, Chairman of the Burgerunie. (Source: Transvaalse terugblikke. J.L. van Schaik Bpk, Pretoria 1945). Picture right: Oswald Pirow, South African Minister of Defence 1933–1939. Source: The DRISA archive.

A few last comments

Werner Lamprecht told the author that a couple of years ago, he contacted the military expert and author, Peter Digby, in regard to the Burgerunie medals. According to Digby, then, a list exists of all the medal recipients (and their numbers) and was kept at the Smuts Museum. Digby undertook to access this document, but it never materialised. Werner then contacted the museum directly and spoke to Emelia Baumgartner, who was unable to help.

Werner then contacted the medal collector Munroe Swirsky, Allan Sinclair of Ditsong Museums and other military experts and collectors, but no one was able to provide any information on a list of recipients.

We would be grateful if any readers of this paper could offer us help in this matter.