Sarel Petrus du Toit

Family Sarel was the eldest of seven children of Sarel Petrus Johannes du Toit (Beaufort West, Cape Province, 14 May 1839 – Potchefstroom, Southern DC, NW, 10 November 1929) and Lydia Magdalena Cordier (Kaap de Goede Hoop, 1843 – Potchefstroom, Transvaal, 9 November 1888). He married Louisa Hosea Jordaan (Orange Free State, around 22 December 1865 – Enkeldoorn (Chivhu), Southern Rhodesia, 27 March 1934), and had four daughters and four sons by her. Boer military and besieged citizens had their last confrontation on 28 November 1899, whereafter Boers turned their attention to the advancing British army of Methuen. On 7 December 1900 no more than 1500 Free Staters were left around Kimberley, under the command of General du Toit. By 17 March 1900 du Toit had a large force north of Kimberley. He complained about the lack of a proper canon to attack Kimberley, and received a Long Tom. Naas Ferreira and Du Toit agreed to the proposal of the French volunteer general George de Villebois-Mareuil to storm Kimberley, but this plan was not realised. When the cavalry of British major-general French finally arrived at Kimberley, the Free State military fled and Du Toit had to retreat rescuing the cannon.

After the relief of Kimberley, 25 February 1900 Du Toit commanded generals Andries Petrus Johannes Cronjé, Jan Celliers, Potgieter, Piet Liebenberg of Griqualand and Sarel Oosthuizen of Krugersdorp at the Battle of Veertien Strome (Veertienstromen, 3–5 May 1900 near Warrenton). After the fall of Pretoria he fought at the Battle of Diamond Hill (Afrikaans: Slag van Donkerhoek) on 11 – 12 June 1900.

Guerilla phase Du Toit fought many skirmishes with British troops, including battles at Hartebeestfontein, Lichtenburg, Makwassiebergen, Brakspruit (1 March 1902) up to the last engagement, the Battle of Rooiwal on 11 April 1902 near Klerksdorp in Western Transvaal.

Treaty of Vereeniging Du Toit was a delegate for Wolmaransstad at the negotiations for the Treaty of Vereeniging, starting on 15 May 1902.

Honours Sarel du Toit was awarded the Dekoratie voor Trouwe Dienst, the so-called "Anglo-Boere Oorlog Medalje" (Anglo-Boer War Medal) by the Union of South Africa Government, together with 590 other Boer military officers from the Second Boer War.