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Nestling between the Langeberg Mountains and the Indian Ocean, this haven of tranquility does not lend itself to being a place where the rattle of gunfire heralded a battle fought between "Boer & Brit". Yet on the 13th September 1901, the peace was shattered by such a happening. Heidelberg at the time was a garrison town, the temporary home of the West Yorkshire Regiment, and the building now known asa the "Boer & Brit" was their magazine.
A certain Commandant Scheepers from the Swellendam District, raised a Commando, to join General Smuts, who had crossed the Orange River, and invaded the Cape Colony, in an attempt to instigate an uprising of the Cape Afrikaans folk. They were to attack the British supply lines and threaten their campaigns, in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
On that fateful day, Commandant Scheepers and his Commando rode into Heidelberg along what is now "Fourie Street", for reasons unknown he did not reconnoiter the town, yet he must have been aware of the presence of British troops.
The British, quatered in the magazine, were, on their part, totally inexperienced, and opened fire indiscriminately on the advancing column. Scheepers then detiled a number of his "burghers" to man the heights overlooking "Eksteen Street". These commenced a desultory fire on the magazine. Despite the loss of six men, including three killed, the British troops succeeded in halting Scheepers, and inflicting a number of casualties, including two who were badly wounded.
After a period of intermittent fire, Scheepers eventually withdrew, leaving his critically wounded, two of whom subsequently died, to be succoured by the British.
One Scottish lad, fighting with the Boers, a nineteen year old named Bellingham, was buried in Heidelberg, and later reinterred at Aberdeen.
Commandant Scheepers and his men, circled south of the town, forded the "Duivenkoks" River and made their way, over the "Agterberg" range of mountains to the "Gysmanshoek" pass. After a brief skirmish west of Riversdale, they safely negotiated the pass, and evetually, via Van Wyksdorp, and Calitzdorp, joined up with General Smuts where they served with distinction.
The British made every effort to suppress news of the action, fearful that it could encourage a general uprising in the district. As a result, they buried their dead under the outbuildings of the magazine, and their names were added to those of the 17th Lancers killed at the Elands River battle which took place 4 days later on the 17th September 1901.
Tussen die Langeberge en die Indiese Oseaan is daar 'n rustige dorpie waar geen indruk van die stryd tussen "Boer en Brit" bestaan nie, top op die 13de September 1901 is alle rustigheid verwoes deur net so 'n gebeurtenis. Heidelberg was op daardie stadium die Garnisoen en die tydelike tuiste van die "West Yorkshire Regiment", en die gebou nou bekend as die "Boer en Brit" was die magasyn.
'n Sekere Kommandant Scheepers uit die Swellendam districk het 'n kommando gewerf om by Generaal Smuts aan te sluit. Generaal Smuts het via die Oranjerivier geïnfiltreer en die Kaapkolonie binnegeval om 'n opstand van die Afrikanervolk te bewerkstellig. Hulle moes die Britse voorraadlyne aanval om te verseker dat die Britse houvas in die Oranje Vrystaat en die Transvaal verswak.
Op hierdie dag het Kommandant Scheepers die dorp binne gery via wat nou Fouriestraat is en om die een of ander rede het hulle nie die dorp vooraf bespied nie, alhoewel hulle geweet het dat daar Britse troepe aanwesig was.
Die Britte het almal binne die magasyn vergader, hulle was heeltemal onbevoeg en het geen ondervinding gehad nie. Hulle het blindelings op die aankomende troepe begin vuur. Scheepers het van sy "Burgers" teen die koppie opgejaag, waar hulle 'n uitsig gehad het op wat nou Eksteenstraat is. Hulle het terug gevuur op die magasyn. Ten spyte daarvan dat die Britte ses manne verloor het, waarvan drie dood is, het hulle daarin geslaag om Scheepers te keer en die aanval af te weer. Scheepers het heelwat beseerdes gehad, waarvan twee ernstig was.
Na geweldige, aanhoudende vuur het Scheepers uitgetrek en sy beseerdes net daar gelaat, waarvan twee later onder Britse toesig dood is.
'n Skotse seun wat vir die Boere geveg het, was na die skermutseling op Heidelberg ter aarde gelê en later op Aberdeen herbegrawe. Sy van was Bellingham en hy was maar negentien jaar oud.
Van daar het Kommandant Scheepers via die Duiwenhoksrivier oor die agterberg en deur die Gysmanshoekpas gegaan. Na 'n klein skermutseling op Riversdal is hulle deur Van Wyksdorp en Calitzdorp waar hulle weer by Generaal Smuts aangesluit en hulle diens met sukses voltooi het.
Die Britte het alles probeer om die nuus van die skermutseling stil te hou uit vrees vir 'n opstand in die plaaslike boeregemeenskap. As gevolg hiervan het hulle hul dooies in die kelders van die magasyn se buitegeboue begrawe. Hulle name is gevoeg by die van die troepe wat te Elandsrivier dood is vier dae later op die 17de Septemner 1901.
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