The area around Sandstone Estates saw significant activity during the Boer war of 1899 to 1902,the so called second Boer War. Kommando Nek which is on Sandstone’s property was an escape route for a large Boer force while the Ficksburg area saw a lot of action.
We have gathered some stories together courtesy of Morgan Barratt, our neighbour at Sandstone, which involved the area around Sandstone Estates. They are not short stories but worth a read and illustrate some of the brutality of the conflict. Harrismith is quite far from Ficksburg but linked to it as it illustrates life at the time via the entire conflict.
The story of Thomas Astbury.
https://www.angloboerwar.com/forum/5-medals-and-awards/31790-thomas-astbury-of-the-south-staffords-wia-at-general-s-nek
The Moolman’s Spruit Action April 1902
http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol121hk.html
Harrismith