Martini-Henry geweer / Martini Henry rifle

Martini-Henry geweer. Die eerste Martini-Henry gewere het in 1871 vir militêre doeleindes in gebruik gekom en is tot 1889 vervaardig en tot na die einde van die Eerste Wêreldoorlog nog deur verskeie lande gebruik. Hierdie Martini-Henry geweer het oorspronklik aan a2.b7.c2.d3. Gert Frans Johannes Henning *8-8-1843 behoort. Die datum van vervaardiging – 1872 – is op hierdie geweer gegrafeer en dat dit ‘n Merk 2 geweer is. Gert Frans Johannes Henning se seun a2.b7.c2.d3.e4. Marthinus Christoffel Henning *14-1-1873 het die geweer hierna geërf. Gedurende 1899, kort na die uitbreek van die Anglo Boere-oorlog, sluit hy, sy twee jonger broers en hulle pa by die Vrystaatse magte aan en veg saam teen die Britte. Hy begin die oorlog met hierdie Martini-Henry geweer en versteek die geweer, in seile toegedraai, in ‘n klipskeur op hulle plaas, O’Lot in die Ladybrand distrik, nadat hy ‘n Mauser geweer bekom het. Hy is op 23 Desember 1901 naby Aliwal-Noord gevange geneem en na Indië gestuur om in die Ahmednagar krysgevangenekamp aangehou te word. Na die oorlog keer hy terug na hulle plaas O’lot. Hier het hy weer die Martini-Henry geweer, wat hy versteek het, gaan uithaal. Hierna erf Marthinus se seun. Gert Frans Johannes *11-6-1911 (f3) die geweer en na hom sy seun Marthinus Christoffel *15-11-1963 (g2). Op die foto hieronder van Gert Frans Johannes Henning * 1843 met die geweer, het die geweer nog sy volle voorhout terwyl die geweer tans ‘n veranderde (meer sportiewe) voorhout het. Dit is onseker wanneer en deur wie die voorhout verander is. Daar is verskeie teorieë. Een moontlikheid is dat baie Boere destyds sulke gewere ‘n sportiewe voorkoms gegee het, want dan het die Britte nie belang gestel om op die geweer beslag te lê nie en dit in hul arsenaal op te neem nie. In hierdie geval kon dit deur Gert Frans Johannes *1843 of sy seun Marthinus Christoffel *1873 gedoen gewees het. ‘n Ander moontlikheid is dat die voorhout dalk beskadig kon gewees het, bv. nat geword het, toe dit in seile toegedraai en versteek was en Marthinus Christoffel *1873 toe die beskadigde deel op so ‘n manier verwyder het. Nog ‘n moontlikheid is dat Marthinus Christoffel *1873 dit dood eenvoudig gedoen het omdat hy meer van die gemodifiseerde geweer gehou het en hy lief was om met hout te werk.

Martini Henry Rifle. The first Martini Henry rifles came in use during 1871 for military purposes and were manufactured until 1889, but were used up to the end of the First World War by several countries. This Martini Henry originally belonged to a2.b7.c2.d3. Gert Frans Johannes Henning *8-8-1843. The date of manufacture of this rifle -1872 – is engraved on the rifle and that it is a Mark 2. a2.b7.c2.d3.e4. Marthinus Christoffel Henning *14-1-1873, the son of Gert Frans Johannes inherited the rifle later. During 1899, shortly after the outbrake of the Anglo Boer War, Marthinus *1873, his two younger brothers and their father joined the forces of the Orange Free State and the four men fought together against the British. Marthinus started the war with the Martini Henry rifle. After he obtained a Mauser rifle, he hid the Martini Henry, wrapped in tarpaulin, in a rock crevice on their farm O’lot, district Ladybrand. He was taken prisoner-of-war on 23 December 1901 near Aliwal North and was transported by ship to India, where he was kept prisoner of war in the Ahmednagar prisoner-of-war camp. After the war he returned to their farm, O’lot, where he recovered his Martini Henry rifle. Hereafter the son of Marthinus – Gert Frans Johannes *11-6-1911 (f3) – inherited the rifle and after him, his son, Marthinus Christoffel *15-11-1963 (g2). On the photo of Gert Frans Johannes *1843 here-under with his rifle, the rifle still has its full front-wood, while the rifle at present has a different (more sporting) front-wood. It is unsure when and by who this modification took place. There are several theories. One possibility is that many Boers in the days of the Ango-Boer-War gave their rifles a sporting look. The British were not interested in confiscating modified rifles and to take such rifles in their arsenal. If this theory is applicable to this rifle, it could have been done by either Gert Frans Johannes *1843 or Marthinus Christoffel * 1873. Another possibility is that the front-wood got wet and damaged, for example while it was hidden in the rock crevice on O’lot and Marthinus Christoffel *1873 removed the damaged part. Another possibility is that Marthinus Christoffel *1873 did the modification because he prefered the modified configuration and he loved to work with wood.