LT COL F.F. PIENAAR'S BOER WAR DIARY (PART II)

Abstract

FREE STATE TO MACHADODORP

Pienaar asked for and was granted a transfer to the OFS where he was asked to help with the establishment of communications between the Menschvreterberg, site of the Boer Headquarters, and Winburg. It was decided to use wire fences and a vibrator instead of a telephone, as it would take too long to lay a cable. This was a relatively simple process as, by law, every Free State farm had to be fenced along its borders. Therefore, a network of readymade lines already existed. The only procedure necessary to insulate the wire was to walk along the fence, cut the cross-bindings connecting the upper wire to the lower ones, and lay a cable under the gates. Soon messages were gaily buzzing to and from along the fence wires and, despite interruptions due to cattle knocking over poles; it allowed the Government in Kroonstad to keep in constant touch with the front line.