The other two “who were not with us originally” were Harry Spanier and Johnny Niemeyer. Harry Spanier was the first person of Jewish origin on the Boer side to become a casualty of the war. He was 60 years of age, came from Columbus, Ohio to the Transvaal in 1896, and was a railway lawyer and speculator. Spanier had not obeyed Zeederberg’s instruction to remain behind the wall on Bell’s Kop. Somewhere on the field he was challenged, but replied in English with a request not to shoot. As this was a frequently used ruse, he was fired at and shot by his Boer comrades. Falling wounded, he was bayonetted by the Riflemen. His body was recovered the next day with the one rifle wound and the four bayonet stabs administered afterward. His funeral in Pretoria was attended by ZAR President Paul Kruger.
