Cor van Gogh en de Boerenoorlog

Abstract

Cor van Gogh, the youngest brother of the famous painter Vincent van Gogh, is relativeJy unknown. Attracted by the gold discoveries in the Transvaal he went there in 1889 to try his luck.
There he entered the service of Cornucopia Gold Company. His letters dating from that period sketch an interesting image of life on the goldfields of the Transvaal by the end of the nineteenth century. Shortly afterwards he joined the NZASM and became foreman of the locomotive workshop.
From documents it becomes clear that he supported the cause of the Boer's war party. When war broke out, he joined the volunteer corps of Genl. JSF Blignaut. In April 1900 this corps was involved in a skirmish in the vicinity of Brandfort. Cor fell ill and, according to the death certificate issued by the Transvaal Red Cross, he committed suicide while being very feverish. It is not known where he was buried.