English: At the outbreak of World War I in 1914, Jan Christoffel Greyling
Kemp, the undaunted and brilliant Boer hero of the Anglo Boer
War, was 42 years old and a major in the newly-founded Union
Defence Force. Among his military colleagues were quite a
few comrades-in-arms from the years 1899-1902, i.e.
Lt;-Col. Manie Maritz and others.
Twelve years before, in the peace tent at Vereeniging, Kemp
had remained a die-hard and, even afterwards, the republican
ideal could not be erased from his mind. In 1912 Kemp and some
of his fellow officers even decided to use their position of
authority to reinstate the republican independence as soon as
the opportunity should arise. The outbreak of World War I in
1914 presented such an opportunity.
At first Kemp opposed Gen. J.H. de la Rey's plan to found a
republic at Treurfontein on 15 August 1914. He felt that the
moment was not opportune. His conviction only materialized
after the military meeting in Pretoria on 14 August 1914.
There it became obvious to Kemp that Botha and Smuts were more
engaged in promoting the interests of the Empire than those of the Afrikaner. He now became one of the fiercest opponents of
the government's proposed German South West African campaign
and turned his back upon the government. Kemp, who only a
short while before had tried to restrain De la Rey, now became
the rebel.
Early in September 1914, Kemp and De la Rey planned to overthrow
Botha's government by means of a coup d'etat. While De la Rey
was attending a session of parliament, Kemp, incited by the
resignation of Beyers as Com.-Gen. of the Defence Force,
resigned as staff officer. De la Rey's sudden death, however,
forced Kemp to reconsider his situation and to join the group
that protested against the government's war policy. Thus he
played a prominent part in the protest meetings that were held
in Lichtenburg, Potchefstroom and Kopjes.
The wavering attitude of Beyers caused Kemp to step into the
limelight in the Western Transvaal after 22 October 1914.
Because of the rebels being defeated at home, Kemp was compelled
to try and contact Maritz in German South West Africa. On
2 November 1914 Kemp and Beyers parted ways when Kemp, accompanied
by approximately 600 rebels, began his heroic march through
the Kalahari Desert. Under his inspiring command this inhospitable
territory was conquered in one of the most remarkable
feats in the military history of South Africa.
After the arrival of his rebel force and Kemp's meeting with
Maritz, they tried by means of successful military operations
against the government forces to lay the foundation of satisfactory
stipulations. However, personal conflicts between
Kemp and Maritz as well as an unsuccessful attack upon Upington
compelled them to surrender. Kemp received the heaviest
sentence of all the rebel leaders: 7 years in jail and a fine
of R2 000.
According to Kemp, his participation in the rebellion was not
only motivated by the Union government's decision to declare war, but also because of his burning desire to found a republic
in South Africa. After 1914 Kemp would strive for this
ideal as a politician.
Afrikaans: Toe die Eerste Wereldoorlog in 1914 uitbreek, was Jan Christoffel
Greyling Kemp,. onverskrokke en talentvolle Boere-krygsheld uit
die Anglo-Boereoorlog, 42 jaar oud en rnajoor in die pasgestigte
Unie-Verdedigingsrnag. Onder sy rnilitere kollegas was heelwat
gewese wapenbroers uit die jare 1899-1902 soos luit.-kol. Manie
Maritz, en andere.
In die vredestent by Vereeniging, twaalf jaar tevore, het Kemp
enduit Bittereinder gebly en daarna het die republikeinse ideaal
nooit in sy hart vervaag nie. Trouens, in 1912 het hy en
sornrnige van sy rnede-offisiere besluit dat hulle hul posisies
sou gebruik om die republikeinse onafhanklikheid te herstel sodra
'n geskikte geleentheid horn voordoen. Die uitbreek van die
Eerste Wereldoorlog in 1914 het hierdie geleentheid voorsien.
Aanvanklik het Kemp genl. J.H. de la Rey se plan opponeer om
op 15 Augustus 1914 'n republiek op Treurfontein uit te roep.
Syns insiens was die tyd nog nie ryp daarvoor nie. Sy standpunt
sou eers uitkristalliseer na die offisiersberaad in Pretoria op
14 Augustus 1914. Daar het dit vir Kemp duidelik geword dat Botha en Smuts eerder Ryks- as Afrikanerbelange nagestreef
het. Eensklaps het hy nou na vore getree as een van die
kwaaiste teenstanders van die regering se voorgenome Duitswesveldtog
en daarna keer hy die rug op die regering. Die Kemp
wat nog kort tevore vir De la Rey tot vreedsame insigte wou
beweeg, het nou reeds in sy gees gerebelleer.
Saam met De la Rey het hy vroeg in September 1914 beplan om
die regering van Botha in 'n staatsgreep omver te werp. Terwyl
De la Rey die parlementsitting in Kaapstad bygewoon het, het
Kemp, aangespoor deur Beyers se bedanking as kommandant-generaal
van die Verdedigingsmag, ook as stafoffisier bedank. Die onverwagte
dood van De la Rey het hom gedwing om sy posisie te heroorweeg
en hom by die protesbeweging teen die regering se
oorlogsbeleid te skaar. Gevolglik speel hy 'n belangrike rol
in die protesvergaderings te Lichtenburg, Potchefstroom en Kopjes.
Die weifelende houding van Beyers het Kemp na 22 Oktober 1914
sterker in Wes-Transvaal na vore laat tree. As gevolg van die
binnelandse mislukking van die Rebellie is Kemp gedwing om met
Maritz te probeer kontak maak in Duitswes. Op 2 November 1914
skei die wee van Kemp en Beyers toe eersgenoemde met ongeveer
600 rebelle op 'n heldetog deur die Kalahari begin trek. Onder
sy besielende leiding is die onherbergsame gebied suksesvol
trotseer in een van die merkwaardigste togte in die militere
geskiedenis van Suid-Afrika.
