The fortification of Pretoria
Shortly before the outbreak of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), the government of the Zuid-Afrikaansche Republiek (ZAR) decided to fortify Pretoria in order to protect the capital. The Jameson raid that took place on 31 December 1895 and 1 January 1896 was the most important reason for the fortification of Pretoria.
A defence plan was drawn up by a former French artillery officer and military engineer, Leon Gruenberg. He identified eight strategic places around Pretoria and suggested that armoured revolving dome towers, equipped with heavy artillery, be erected at these places. Pretoria would virtually have been turned into an impregnable town.
Because his plan could not provide sufficient shelter and accommodation for a large number of soldiers, it was rejected in favour of a plan of two German engineers, Otto Albert Adolph van Dewitz and Heinrich C. Werner to build forts. Owing to a shortage of money, only four forts were completed, namely those at Klapperkop, Schanskop, Daspoortrand and Wonderboompoort.
History of Fort Klapperkop
Fort Klapperkop was the third fort erected by the German firm. It cost £50 000 and was completed on 18 January 1898. Adjutant ASD Erasmus was commander of the fort. It was surrounded by a moat and had a drawbridge at the front. The moat never contained any water, but was an additional defence measure.
Various pieces of heavy artillery were placed in the forts, but not one of the forts was ever fully armoured. The well-known 155 mm Creosote cannons (Long Toms) were purchased specifically for the forts, but these were withdrawn in due course.
As was the case at the other forts, a paraffin engine was used to generate power at Fort Klapperkop, and lightning conductors were erected. A heliograph and overhead telegraph equipment were installed. The fort also had a telephone. A water reservoir, which received water from the Fountains Valley, was built under the provisions room.
Role of the forts during the war
The disarmament of the forts began before they could be fully manned and armed. Fort Klapperkop was bombarded with luddite on 3 June 1900. On 4 June 1900, fighting broke out all around Pretoria. Owing to their spy activities before the war, the British were aware of the forts. Cannon shots were fired at Fort Klapperkop and Fort Schanskop, and the steel doors of the latter fort were hit. Because the forts had been disarmed, the fire could not be answered. On 5 June the unconditional surrender of Pretoria followed, and the British forces under command of Lord FS Roberts occupied the capital.
The forts were occupied by British soldiers. Infantry and artillery soldiers occupied Fort Schanskop. Unfortunately no information is available on the occupation of Fort Klapperkop.
The water and electricity systems as well as the telephone systems of the forts were repaired where necessary. The forts were also armed. Sandbags and grain bags as well as crenelated galvanised iron battlements were installed on the embankments of the forts as further reinforcement.
In order to further protect the capital, the British erected a network of blockhouses around Pretoria and incorporated the forts in this action. However, the Boers did not try to reoccupy the capital, and therefore the forts did not experience any further action during the war.
The forts after the war
Under British rule, the forts belonged to the crown. On 7 July 1904, Fort Wonderboompoort was reserved for public purposes, which meant that the military no longer owned it. Fort Klapperkop and Fort Schanskop were kept for military purposes. By 1913, the military claims on Fort Daspoortrand no longer existed.
During 1913, old ammunition was found in Fort Klapperkop and destroyed. In 1922, this fort and Fort Schanskop were transferred to the South African Defence Force. Until 1929 the two forts were used for signal en observation purposes only. Fort Klapperkop and Fort Schanskop were declared national monuments on 8 July 1938. During the Second World War (1939-1945) the two forts were used as ammunition stores. During 1962 a decision was taken to restore Fort Klapperkop and to arrange it as a military museum. The Fort Klapperkop Military Museum was opened on 23 May 1966.