Dirkie Uys

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Dirkie Uys (1823 - 1838) was a Voortrekker hero during the Great Trek.

After the massacare of Piet Retief and his men by Dingaan on 6 February 1838, a number of Voortrekker camps were also attacked by the Zulu impis. These Voortrekkers appealed to other treks, particularly those of Piet Uys and Hendrik Potgieter in the Orange Free State, for help. Both treks send out commandos to help, including Uys' fifteen year old son, Dirkie.

During the subsequent Battle of Italeni, Piet Uys was mortally wounded by an assegai while riding to the rescue of two of his cornered men. The rescue party fled, with Piet Uys falling from horse several times.

Opinions of what happened next differ:

According to the most common version (mostly told by people who had not been present at the battle), Dirkie Uys was ahead of his father with most of the party when he heard he heard his father ordering one of his men to leave him where he had fallen. Seeing the Zulus closing in on his father, Dirkie Uys turned around his horse, shouting "I will die with my father", and charged. He shot three Zulu warriors, briefly forcing them to retreat, but they rushed at him and stabbed him off his horse. Dirkie Uys fell beside his father, where they were both stabbed to death. This version of events is depicted on one of the historical friezes of the Voortrekker Monument.

The version handed down by the Uys family as well as others that were present at the battle differs - according to them Dirkie Uys and another youngster were lagging behind the rest of the fleeing rescue party when they had to cross a stream with thick patches of reeds on its banks. While they were crossing it, a party of Zulus attacked them. The other youth escaped but Dirkie Uys's horse slipped, giving one of the Zulus an opportunity to grab his arm. Dirkie Uys was never seen alive again.

After the Battle of Blood River, Piet Uys' remains were found by a detachment, but Dirkie Uys' never were.