Dirkie Uys

Dirk Cornelis "Dirkie" Uys (3 March 1823 – 9 April 1838) was a Voortrekker hero during the Great Trek.

After the massacre 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.

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.

He shot three Zulu warriors, briefly forcing them to retreat, but they rushed at him and stabbed him off his horse.

Frieze from the Voortrekker Monument depicting Dirkie Uys defending his father Piet Uys in the Battle of Italeni .