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The site name refers to an incident during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), specifically the Second Boer War, when British forces destroyed livestock at Klipkraal near Excelsior in the Free State. This was part of the British 'scorched earth' policy, which aimed to deny Boer commandos food and supplies by burning farms, destroying crops, and killing or confiscating livestock. The policy was implemented systematically from 1900 onwards, particularly after Lord Roberts and later Lord Kitchener took command, and it extended across the Orange Free State and Transvaal. The destruction of cattle at farms like Klipkraal was a common tactic to weaken Boer mobility and logistics, as commandos relied heavily on local farmers for fresh meat and horses. The town of Excelsior, established in the late 19th century in the eastern Free State, was in a region where such farm burnings and livestock killings occurred, though specific records of this exact incident are scarce. The site type, a kraal (an enclosure for livestock), reflects the typical farm infrastructure of the era, which was a primary target for British destruction. The year 1900 marks the period when the war shifted from conventional battles to guerrilla warfare, prompting the British to intensify these measures. While the exact details of the Klipkraal incident are not widely documented, the broader context of the scorched earth policy in the Free State is well established in historical records, including accounts of farm burnings and livestock destruction in the districts around Excelsior, Winburg, and Ladybrand.
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