Introduction to Bacon & the Art of Living
The story of bacon is set in the late 1800s and early 1900s when most of the important developments in bacon took place. The plotline takes place in the 2000s with each character referring to a real person and actual events. The theme is a kind of “steampunk” where modern mannerisms, speech, clothes and practices are superimposed on a historical setting. Modern people interact with old historical figures with all the historical and cultural bias that goes with this.
The Boers (Our Lives and Wars)
The Afrikaner Nation and Boers feature prominently in my story of bacon. The timeline is such that I returned to South Africa just before the outbreak of the war. So, inserting the Boer War into this work makes perfect sense.
The second role of inserting it is that it is a perfect example of the power of the mental world where we serve images we created and exist only in the mind such as nationalism. It is central to the “art of living” considerations and insights that came to me through the discipline of meat curing.
The Boer War chapters are:
- Chapter 13.01.1: The Castlemaine Bacon Company
- Chapter 13.01.2: The Life and Times of Jan Kok
- Chapter 13.01.3: The Art of Living: Sketches to Understand Ourselves and Others
- Chapter 20: Appendix A – JW Kok War Diary
- Chapter 21: Appendix B – Johannes Willem Kok War Diary
- Chapter 22: Appendix C – Short Autobiography: Johannes Willem Kok
Most of these photos are also available on Google Photos in the following album for easy sharing: https://photos.app.goo.gl/NgBRUJwEapTMDv1A6
Americans in the ABW

American volunteers, welcomed by President Kruger. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Annexing the Orange River Colony

Annexing the Orange River Colony May 1900
Australians in the ABW
Dirk Marais wrote,
“Australia and the ABW
1899-1902
NSW Bushmen
The war between the British and the two Dutch South African republics – the Boer War – began on 11 October 1899 when the Boers declared war on the British. It lasted until 31 May 1902 when Lord Kitchener and General Botha signed a treaty, the Peace of Vereeniging. Australia, as part of the British Empire, offered troops from the six separate colonies and from 1901, the new Australian Commonwealth.
Contingents
The first colonial contingents arrived in South Africa between November 1899 and March 1900; the second between December 1899 and February 1900; the third between April and May 1900 and the fourth between May and June 1900. The 5th NSW contingent departed between March and April 1901 and consisted of the 2nd and 3rd NSW Mounted Rifles and those troops destined to become the 3rd NSW Imperial Bushmen, plus reinforcements for the Field Ambulance NSWAMC and A Field Battery RAA.
After 1901 additional contingents of soldiers were sent to South Africa to form battalions with squadrons from each state. These battalions were first numbered as units of the Commonwealth Contingent. Later the entire force was designated as the Australian Commonwealth Horse.
Casualties
It is estimated that about 16,000 Australians fought in the Boer War and there were about 600 casualties and deaths. Six Australian soldiers were decorated with a Victoria Cross. In our collection are some general records relating to the Boer War, such as regimental orders and photos of the NSW Bushmen’s Contingent.”

Captioned breakfast on the Veld; looks like Aussies but has the WO got a lemon Squeezer? Photo and comments by Iain Hayter.

Australian soldiers in the Anglo-Boer war, c. 1901. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais


Australian light horse Artillery ABW 1899-1902. Photo and caption by Dirk Marais.
Black Refugees, soldiers and ordinary people

From the album of photographs of the 14th Brigade (Lincoln Regiment) Field Hospital in the Boer War in the Welcome Library. Photo provided by Andries Pretorius.

Sol Plaatjies

Reference: http://historicalpapers-atom.wits.ac.za/sannc-delegation-to-england-1914; Deputation of the South African Native National Congress (SANNC) to England in 1914, in protest of the Native Land Act of 1913. The members of the SANNC delegation to England as shown in the photograph were Thomas Mapikela, Doctor Walter Rubusana, Reverend John Dube, Saul Msane and Solomon Plaatje.

Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje (1876-1932) Historical Papers Research Archive, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa; Sol Plaatje during his visit to England. The driver of the car is Henry Carsle, an Estate agent from Sussex, and next to him his wife Louise. Also in the car are their children Mary, the oldest of their daughters, Eleanor, Faith and Brock.

Willem Snowball Prisoner of War. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Black man at war ABW. Photo by Martin Plaut.

Black men at war ABW. Photo by Martin Plaut.

Photo supplied by Chris Pretorius.
Martin Plaut writes about the role of ‘black Boers’, as they refer to black people fighting for the Boer nations, and says that the role of these ‘black Boers’ is captured in this British ditty:
‘Tommy, Tommy, watch your back
There are dusky wolves in cunning Piet’s pack
Sometimes nowhere to be seen
Sometimes up and shooting clean
They’re stealthy lads, stealthy and brave
In darkness they’re awake
Duck, Duck, that bullet isn’t fake.
Chris Pretorius posted a quote about Plaatjies: “In 1932, Solomon Tshekisho (Sol) Plaatje, intellectual, journalist, linguist, politician, translator and writer, born at Doornfontein near Boshof, OFS in 1876, passed away in Soweto at the age of 56. He was (amongst others) court translator for the British during the Siege of Mafeking and diarized his experiences, which was published posthumously.”

Medical inspection at a Black concentration camp administered by the British Native Refugee Department. Photo and description supplied by Hans de Kramer.

Scouts attached to the 14th Brigade (possibly the Lincolnshire Regiment) during operations in the Bethal, Ermelo, and Vlakfontein area during the Paardekop period. Photo and description supplied by Dennis Morton.
Bloemfontein




Bloemfontein se ou markplein vanaf die dak van die Poskantoor. 1880’s. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman.

Voor Bloemfontein teer strate gehad het. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman.
Boer Warrior


Hans Swart. Photo supplied by Nico Moolman. Sent to him by Piet Lombard from Heilbron.

Bittereinders vas gestaan tot die laaste! Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Boer gesin “Sharpshooters”Oud en Jonk was deel van die oorlog ABO 1899-1902. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Danie Theron en Pres.Steyn in gesprek. ABO 1899-1902. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Boer warriors. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Anglo-Boere Oorlog helde bymekaar as senior Oudstryders gedurende die 1940’s. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman.


Two Boers. Names and date of photo unknown to me.
Note: thank you to MC Heunis for pointing out the hat badges. They were burghers of the Orange Free State. Photo and description supplied by Leo Taylor.
British Soldiers

A wonderful photo from my meagre collection. Such awesome soldiers so far from home. Photo and description supplied by Lisa Huckle.
Louis Botha

In ou Vryheid…1887.. Die latere generaal Louis Botha staan 3de van regs. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman.
Brandwater Basin (Where my great Grandfather surrendered to the British – ABW)
For a detailed treatment on events surrounding the Brandwater Basin, see The Life and Times of Jan W Kok.

Sentry at a blockhouse in the Brandwater Basin. Photo supplied by Jaun de Vries.

Surrender hill. Photo supplied by Hans de Kramer

Surrender bin the Brandswater Basin.
British POW’s

British Prisoners of War at the Waterval Camp North of Pretoria. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Bermuda, Hawkins Island

Prisoners of war on Hawkins Island, Bermuda. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Prisoners of war on Hawkins Island, Bermuda. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Prisoners of war on Hawkins Island, Bermuda. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Canadians fighting in the ABW on the side of Britain

Canadian troops under fire; Field Hospital; Battle of Paardenberg Drift; 19 February 1900.

Canadians climbing a kopje. Supplied by Tinus Myburgh.
Cape Town

A very busy Cape Town harbour in 1900. The Anglo-Boer War is in full swing as men and supplies are brought ashore and transported to the various battles being fought in Northern Cape. Photo and comment supplied by Grant Findlater (Dr Lock).

Kaapstad hawe…1870’s. Foto beskikbaar gestel deur Nico Moolman.

‘n Ingekleurde Poskaart van Kaapstad uit die jare

The Pier, Rogge Bay, Cape Town. Sundays were a favoured day for outings on the Pier at the end of Adderley Street. In this photo from the early 1900s, people gather on the beach to watch fishermen bring in their catch while a number of small fishing boats lie at anchor at the lee of the pier. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Photo supplied by Naeem Dadabhay.

The Theatre drawing by Lady Anne Barnard ca 1802. Photo and description by Stephan Lategan.

Washerwomen at the seasonal wetland on Rondebosch Common, on Campground Road
Photo by Hilton, T. on Flickr. When we lived in Rondebosch I used to run around the common every day for exercise

Sea Point 1856. One of the first open-air photos taken around Cape Town. The future daughter-in-law of a certain Dr James Cameron. Photo by Andre Strydom.

Photo supplied by Michael Fortune.
Children, Concentration Camps and War


Medical staff in the Bloemfontein Concentration Camp. Photo by Elria Wessels.

Medical staff in the Bloemfontein Concentration Camp and one of the patients (her name was Lizzie van Zyl). Photo by Elria Wessels. Tony Van Der Helm writes that “she is holding a cloth doll under her right shoulder and evidently died within the hour after the photo was taken. Speaking under correction, I think the doll was given to her by Emily Hobhouse.”

Medical staff in the Bloemfontein Concentration Camp and one of the patients (her name was Lizzie van Zyl). Photo by Elria Wessels. Tony Van Der Helm writes that “she is holding a cloth doll under her right shoulder and evidently died within the hour after the photo was taken. Speaking under correction, I think the doll was given to her by Emily Hobhouse.”

Women on their way to a concentration camp. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Women on their way to a concentration camp. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Crossing the River

British troops watch while a train of transport wagons cross a drift during the Anglo-Boer War. 1899-1902. In the background, one can observe a railway bridge destroyed by the retreating Boer forces. Supplied by Dirk Marais.


British artillery crossing a stream. Location unknown! From the album of photographs of the 14th Brigade (Lincoln Regiment) Field Hospital in the Boer War in the Welcome Library. Photo supplied by Andries Pretorius. Photo supplied by Andries Pretorius.

British artillery crossing a stream. Location unknown! From album of photographs of the 14th Brigade (Lincoln Regiment) Field Hospital in the Boer War in the Welcome Library. Photo supplied by Andries Pretorius. Photo supplied by Andries Pretorius.


British forces crossing a river! Exact location not given. From the album of photographs of the 14th Brigade (Lincoln Regiment) Field Hospital in the Boer War in the Welcome Library. Photo supplied by Andries Pretorius.

“Ei Kona horse” ABW labourers crossing a stream on their way to work From the album of photos of the 14th Brigade (Lincoln Regiment) Field Hospital in the Boer War in the Welcome Library.

Royal Irish Rifles crossing the Vaal River. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Modder rivier brug 1900, supplied by Dirk Marais
Colesberg ABW

British Scouts Firing at a Boer Patrol Commando near Colesberg! Photo supplied by Dirk Marais
Concentration Camps

Howick Concentration Camp and some women and children waiting for the water. Some children and women in front of their tents. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Howick Concentration Camp and some women and children waiting for the water. Some children and women in front of their tents. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Howick Concentration Camp and some women and children waiting for the water. Some children and women in front of their tents. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Howick Concentration Camp and some women and children waiting for the water. Some children and women in front of their tents. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels
Convoy

Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.
Below, Boers Entering Van Rhyndsdorp, Photo supplied by Iain Hayter.

Genl. De la Rey

General de La Rey on his horse. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Gen. De Wet, Christiaan.

Pres. MT Steyn en Genl.De Wet met besoek aan Pres.Steyn se plaas Onze Rust 1909. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Die sout van die aarde. Tant Nelie en oom Christiaan. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman.

Christiaan De Wet and boet Piet de Wet. (amongst others.) Here with Pres Steyn, Pre-ABW. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman.

A rather sad end to a fighting man’s career. Gen De Wet on the backseat of a motor car after being captured during the rebellion 1914/15. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman

What De Wet loved best during the ABW. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman.

De Wet being escorted in Norvalspont Camp by cheerful ladies after Surrender briefing. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

Gen De Wet oversees the stacking of captured British munitions at Roodewal before blasting it to smithereens…OHS…. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

General De Wet’s bodyguard and staff. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

‘The Big 3’ Generals in Netherlands – 22 August 1902 de Wet, de la Rey and Botha . Photo Credit – Nico Moolman

Genl De Wet, addressing the bewildered at Norvalspont con camp on the peace conditions … post-Melrose House agreement. Later to be known as the Peace of Vereeniging. ABW Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

Genl De Wet drumming up support for the Boer cause in Potchefstroom in August 1900, after the first farms were torched by the British. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

The family De Wet. During the ABW. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

De Wet riding through Kroonstad with Archie Coulson ( interpreter) to his right and other staff members. Archie’s brother fought on the British side. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

Genl De Wet and his son Danie. …Danie was later killed in action at Mushroom Valley Winburg during the Rebellion of 1914. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

Braving the cold, De Wet and French. Talking Peace. End of ABW. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

This amazing set of photos by Dirk Marais. Generaal De Wet en sy Kommando 1901 Potchefstroom.

This amazing set of photos by Dirk Marais. Generaal De Wet en sy Kommando 1901 Potchefstroom.
The newspaper article is from a 1950’s Sunday Times article. Who is the “Pieter” referred to in the article? There was a Pieter de Villiers Graaff who was known as the Cape Rebel (Kaapse Rebel). He was a cousin of Sir David de Villiers Graaff, who is featured prominently in my work on bacon. Pieter participated in 25 battles in the ABW against the English and on 24 March 1901, he was captured and sent to India as a POW where he remained for the duration of the war. I doubt if the Sunday Times article refers to him. He did, however, have a son, also named Pieter de Villiers Graaff. He was born on December 16, 1911, and passed away on July 11, 1988. He was 76.
(Reference: Sir David Pieter de Villiers-Graaff, https://www.geni.com/people/Pieter-Graaff/6000000013388531529# and https://www.geni.com/people/Pieter-Hendrik-de-Villiers-Graaff/6000000007158098655)

This amazing set of photos by Dirk Marais. Generaal De Wet en sy Kommando 1901 Potchefstroom.

Funeral of Mrs CR de Wet at Dewetsdorp in May 1934. A forgotten widow. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.

Funeral of Mrs CR de Wet at Dewetsdorp in May 1934. A forgotten widow. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.
Dutch Volunteers

The Dutch volunteers having a bite to eat. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Diggers during the Gold Rush

Lydenburg /Pilgrimsrest area during early gold rush about 1873. Supplied by Peter Boright.
District Six
District Six (Afrikaans Distrik Ses) is a former inner-city residential area in Cape Town. Over 60,000 of its inhabitants were forcibly removed during the 1970s by the apartheid regime.

Photo supplied by Naeem Dadabhay.

Photo supplied by Naeem Dadabhay.

Photo supplied by Conrad Ludski.
Diyatalawa and Ragama, Ceylon (Diyatalawa is where my great grandfather was a POW – ABW)
























Rugby field, Prisoner of War Camp, Diyatalawa, Ceylon. Photo by Elria Wessels.

POW Carting firewood. Prisoner of War Camp, Diyatalawa, Ceylon. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais

Main Gate Diyatalawa POW Camp Ceylon and the camp and some of the POWs held there. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Diyatalawa POW Camp Ceylon. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Diyatalawa POW Camp Ceylon, Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Diyatalawa POW Camp Ceylon, Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Diyatalawa POW Camp Ceylon, Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Kinders as so Jonk as Krygsgevangenes geneem hoe hartseer! Diyatalawa Camp, Ceylon. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Prisoner of War, POW Camp, Ragama, Ceylon. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Prisoner of War, POW Camp, Ragama, Ceylon. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Prisoner of War, POW Camp, Ragama, Ceylon. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Dorsland Trek

Daar was die Groot Trek in Suid Afrika gewees , maar dan die Dorsland – Angola trekkers. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.
Duitswes

‘Die osse stap aan deur die stoww, geduldig, gedienstig, gedwee.” Duitswes…1915. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman.
Eastern Cape

Boer trenches at Hlangweni. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Farm Life
Farm Life

Op “Viljoenshoek ” se plaaswerf naby Lindley 1920’s. Foto supplied by Nico Moolman.
Football Team


Jason Patrick Hanslo supplied the photos and give the following description. “Kaffir Football team (Basutu XI), Cape Argus, 1899 (The Cape Argus, 10 August 1899, p. 7.) They played 49 games in England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland and France in only a 4-month tour. They were captained by Joseph Twayi. They were the first South African football side to tour abroad and for most opposition the first black team they played against. Their team wore blue shorts and orange shirts with blue facings. In June 1899, the Manchester Times reported on the forthcoming tour and wrote ‘the team is said to be strong, the players being of splendid physique. The Scottish Sport noted that they were reportedly ‘big, powerful men, with a “rare turn of speed” and “considerable individual skill”’ and went on to describe them as a ‘determined, fine-built body of men, who have only picked up the game in the last four or five years. The tour was also reported in the Chicago Tribune and Brooklyn Daily Eagle in the United States and the Evening Post in New Zealand. And guess what the Cape Argus said? In 1899 in an article about the Kaffir football tour to the Cape Argus noted: “The whole affair is farcical as it is unsportsmanlike, and smacks very much of hippodrome. Western Province “soccer” enthusiast can scarcely credit the fact that a gang of Kafirs should seriously be expected to give an exhibition worthy of the name, and the British football public will soon realise this fact.”
Free State

Nagmaal te Heilbron. 1890’s. Photo supplied by Nico Moolman.
Germans fighting for the Boers in the ABW


Housing

‘n Ou kantstraat Boere-dorpshuis in die platteland, 1890’s. Photo supplied by Nico Moolman.



Old Afrikaner house. Many did not have it easy. Photo by Nico Moolman.
Horses

Feeding Horses in Riebeeck Square Photo: Arthur Elliott (1870-1938)

‘n Ou negatief se kiekie. Photo supplied by Nico Moolman.
Iain Hayter writes about the remounts at Port Elizabeth. “At the best of times, the unloading facilities with their archaic method of discharging their cargo onto surfboats bobbing next to the transport ship, far at sea, was inefficient. Now there was pandemonium with dozens of vessels of all shapes and sizes riding at anchor in the Bay, patiently waiting to discharge their cargoes. Priority was given as follows: troops, remounts, mules preceded by military hardware, medical equipment, mail and finally coal for the railways.
What became abundantly clear early on in the war was that the mortality rate of the horses was excessive. Instead of addressing the root cause which was not attributable to battlefield casualties but rather due to death at sea arising from starvation and illness and on land due to overwork or ill-treatment, the British scoured the world for horses.
Port Elizabeth was designated as the staging post for remounts. From November 1899, these remounts started arriving from as far afield as Canada, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. This initial trickle of horses rapidly became a torrent. The rigours of the long slow sea journey claimed many horses. Then in Algoa Bay, they were hoisted from the ship into unstable buckling lighters at sea and then unloaded onto North Jetty to be stabled at the agricultural showground at North End and at Kragga Kamma.
The scale of this remount operation can only be comprehended in terms of the number of remounts transferred from ships in the Bay to dry land at the foot of Jetty Street. According to Neil Orpen in his book on the history of the Prince Alfred’s Guards, this cumbersome laborious process was used no less than 123,000 times between November 1899 and June 1902. In addition to these remounts, the antiquated discharge method also had to cater for 46,000 troops, almost 800,000 tons of military stores as well as thousands of tons of hay. The harbour at Port Elizabeth must have been a hive of activity. One wonders whether this was a 24/7 operation as, without the benefit of modern lighting, proper sources of lighting for nighttime work would have been problematic.
Hermanus

Photo and description by Robin Lee. Cattle on Grotto Beach, messing around where the Blue Flag Beach will later, 1910
Indigenous Houses
– Used by Boers in the ABW

Correspondents scrutinizing a hut in the Boer Laager at Klipdrift. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels
– Technology in housing before the white settlers arrived

Supplied by Mark Finnigan
Indigenous People – When the Settlers Came

“Mapoch was the first real leader of the Ndzundza Ndebele who settled up near Dullstroom (as opposed to Mzilikazi’s followers who became the Matebele and the Amanala Ndebele north of Pretoria). Mapoch built the ‘caves’ or fortified settlements at what is now Roossenekal. When he died and his son was too young to succeed, Nyabela became regent. During 1892 – 1893 King Nyabela fought what is known as the Mapoch War against the Boers and was defeated and sentenced to life imprisonment. The Caves were under siege by the Boers for 8 months. When Nyabela eventually surrendered all the fit and able of the clan were divided amongst the farmers as indentured labourers and the old, infirm and very young left to die. He was let out of prison in 1899, then died 1902 years later. This is the tribe that later became the people who are known as the Ndebele, with their colourful home decorations and dress designs. They became a symbolic way for the people to identify themselves to each other and show solidarity.” (Sarahrichards.co.za)

Irish fighting for the Boers in the ABW

Johannesburg

Johannesburg Market Square. 1895. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais

Johannesburg Market Square, photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Transvaal Gold Mine. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Joubert Park, a pleasure resort in Johannesburg. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Post office in Jeppe Street, Johannesburg. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.

De Korte Street, Braamfontein, Johannesburg. The main street leading to the cemetery and the township of Vrededorp, where a large number of Dutch reside. Photo and description supplied by Dirk Marais.

View of Johannesburg. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.
Kimberley

Mens kan skaars glo elke delwer het sy eie kleim gedelf te Kimberley 1876. Photo supplied by Nico Moolman.






Kruger, President

Prez Kruger…enkele weke voor die uitbreek van die Anglo-Boere Oorlog.. Foto verskaf deur Nico Moolman.

The Arrival in Cape Town, of the Mortal Remains of President Paul Kruger. Supplied by Dirk Marais.
Klipdrift ABW

A Hut at the Boer Laager – Klip Drift ABO. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais
Timo Kok
Timo Kok is the brother of my grandfather on my mom’s side, Eben Kok. He was held in as a POW in the Diyatalawa camp in Sri Lanka. I record the account of his capture and subsequent incarceration in The Castlemaine Bacon Company.

Meat of War

An English Breakfast…ABW style… — with Cuan Elgin. Photo supplied by Nico Moolman.

Veldt breakfast in a British Army camp. ABW — with Rita Malan. Photo supplied by Nico Moolman.

Gen. Elliott’s men have a go at drying Biltong. ABW. Photo supplied by Nico Moolman.

Photo supplied by Jennifer Bosch who wrote, “On the subject of meat I came across an interesting photo a ‘vleis kas’ (meat box) Photo label: Spouse of H Voorewind, a teacher from the Netherlands stationed at Lydenburg, stands next to the meat box. The left side of the photo is unclear because the negative was not left to dry properly: Eggenote van H. Voordewind, Nederlandse onderwyser te Lydenburg, by die vleiskas. Die linkerkant van die foto is onduidelik omdat die negatief nie goed droog geword het nie.

Photo supplied by Nico Moolman. He writes, “Boer POW’s having a Braai-picnic. Note the knives to cut the meat St Helena ABW”

Photo supplied by Elria Wessels. She writes, “Some of the POWs on Burts Island weighting and cutting up the meat that was part of their rations.”

Photo by Elria Wessels. She writes, “Some members of a Boer Commando near Colesberg. They have some biltong hanging above their heads.”
Ndongeni kaXhoki Zulu

Supplied by Sakhile SR Zulu who wrote: This is Ndongeni kaXhoki Zulu my great grandfather who saved British colony from Boer with Dick King.
Warren Loader replied to the post: Some accounts say that Ndongeni did not complete the epic trip to Grahamstown with Dick King and there has been some controversy on just how far he managed to get. Harry Lugg’s book contains the translation of a 1905 Zulu pamphlet in which Ndongeni tells his story. Ndongeni was apparently born in 1826 in Zululand but his father was killed by Dingane, leaving his mother and he seeks refuge on Dick King’s farm at Isipingo, outside Durban.
He worked as a herd boy for Dick King and accompanied him on trips as the voorloper leading the team of oxen which drew Dick’s wagon. Dick and Ndongeni met Captain Smith’s column at the Umzimkulu river and showed them the road to Durban. He witnessed the Battle of Congella and saw one of the British officers killed. He was later called by Dick and told that he was going to accompany him back to the farm at Isipingo. After nightfall, Dick and Ndongeni went down to the bay, where they found horses and a small boat and were rowed across the bay with the horses swimming along behind.
Ndongeni’s saddle was without stirrups but Dick said it would not matter as they were not going far. The first stop was the kraal of Mnini on the Bluff where the two stopped to ask Mnini to obscure the tracks which they had made. They then moved southwards crossing the rivers they encountered close to their mouths and not at the drifts which the boers had barred. Dick swam the ‘Umlazi’ river clad only in his shirt and Ndongeni, who could not swim, rode across carrying Dick’s clothes on his head. He soon realised that they had bypassed Isipingo and Dick told him that they were going south to the Umzimkulu River. It was only when the pair reached that river was Ndongeni told that the real destination was Grahamstown.
After crossing the river, Ndongeni began to feel very tired because he had been riding without stirrups. Dick lent him his stirrups and he managed to get a new horse and the second pair of stirrups from a military camp [at the mouth of the Mgazi River???]. They rode on but it soon became clear Ndongeni was not able to continue; “..my legs from the hips felt as if they had been severed … powerless and unable to lift them.” Dick told him to go back to Mgazi and watch out on the fourth day thereafter, for a ship passing on the way to relieve the garrison at Durban. Ndongeni did see the ship pass dead on schedule and later walked back to Durban, leaving his horse behind at the camp.
Lugg mentions the rumour to the effect that Ndongeni had only accompanied Dick King as far as the Umkomaas River but he discounts it totally saying that nobody involved in the events, including Dick and his son, ever denied Ndongeni’s contribution to that stirring ride. He mentions that the Natal Government awarded Ndongeni a farm in recognition of his service and that they would not have done so unless the story, as given by him, was substantially true. Ndongeni only received his farm in 1898, which is about as shameful as you can get. But, as I discovered the other day when down at the Point, he has received some further recognition since then.
Sakhile SR Zulu replied to this with great appreciation for the information and added that “there are some rumours that the government of that time didn’t want to praise Ndongeni as an equal contributor and some information was hidden.” Amazing information and a great photo. What a privilege to have Sakhile SR Zulu making the contribution himself.
Scorched Earth (Verskroeide aarde)

Photo caption “Burning a farm.” Could be in the Ermelo area. I’m not sure. From the album of photographs of the 14th Brigade (Lincoln Regiment) Field Hospital in the Boer War in the Welcome Library. Photo supplied by Andries Pretorius.
Stellenbosch

Supplied by Nico Moolman.
Table Mountain

Platteklip Gorge, Table Mountain, c. 1890. Photo supplied by Douwe van der Galiën.

Cableway, Cape Town. Photo supplied by Michael Fortune.

View from Signal Hill showing Table Mountain, Kloof Nek, Lion’s Head and some of the homesteads in the upper Table Valley, 1895. Photo supplied by Douwe van der Galiën.

Pragtige Foto deur Henk Sinderdinck van die Moederstad-Kaapstad. Uitsig vanaf Blouberg 1950.

Moederstad-Kaapstad , Uitsig vanaf Tafelberg. Deur Henk Sinderdinck.
Photos supplied by Michael Fortune.
Last Voortrekker

Photo supplied by Dirk Marais.
Naauwpoort

Boers shoeing horses at Naauwpoort. Photo supplied by Dirk Marais
New Zealand soldiers in the ABW fighting on the side of Britain.

Photo and the description below are supplied by Dirk Marais.
New Zealand troopers from the Sixth Contingent move across open country in South Africa, 1901. This photograph may have been taken by Private William Raynes, a Waikato farmer serving with No. 16 Company.
Much of the conflict took place on open plains known in Afrikaans as veldt. Extreme temperatures made life tough for New Zealand troops. While trekking men would often be forced to endure severe daytime heat, while at night they would sleep out in the open with only an overcoat to keep the freezing cold at bay.
Soldiers on trek often began their day at 4 a.m. and broke camp at 5.30 a.m. before spending up to 12 hours on patrol. To preserve the strength of their mounts, the soldiers alternated between riding and leading their horses on foot. Using this method, they could cover 30 km or more in a day.
The New Zealanders who fought in the South African War were the first soldiers from this country to take part in an overseas conflict. Prompted by Premier Richard Seddon, the First Contingent was rapidly assembled and became the first colonial contingent to reach South Africa.
Between 1899 and 1902 New Zealand sent 10 contingents to South Africa. The men who enlisted came from a variety of backgrounds and from all over New Zealand. Many had prior experience in the Volunteer forces but others were ordinary citizens who were skilled riders and marksmen. The contingents were often made up of companies that had strong regional identities and many were supported by local fundraising.
In addition to the men of the contingent, two small groups of New Zealand women served in South Africa. Hospital-trained nurses helped combat the ever-present threat of disease in the unsanitary conditions of field hospitals in South Africa. New Zealand also sent a contingent of female teachers, dubbed the ‘Learned Eleventh’, to teach Boer refugee children in the schools set up in British-run concentration camps.
(c) Dirk Marais

Photo supplied by Iain Hayter.
Northern Cape ABW

The Royal Irish Regiment crossing the North Kaap River: 20 September 1900. Photo supplied by Hilton Teper.
The Royal Irish Regiment recruited from the counties of Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford and Kilkenny. It served in South Africa with General Hart’s Irish Brigade. Around 30,000 Irishmen saw service with the British Army in South Africa.
Iain Hayter writes, “There were a number of instances where Irish fought Irish in the ABW and many poems poems were written, the Irish being so lyrical………
We are leaving dear old Dublin
The gallant famous fifth;
We’re going to the Transvaal
Where the Boers we mean to shift.
We are the sons of Erin’s Isle –
Modem Musketeers:
The famous Fifth Battalion
Of the Dublin Fusiliers.
Let this conflict be a warning
To all Britannia’s foes;
Not to tease her ftirious lion
As on his way he goes.
For if they do, they’ll fmd they’re wrong
And won’t get volunteers
To stand in the face of a Regiment
Like the Dublin Fusiliers
and
On the mountain side the battle raged, there was no stop or stay;
Mackin captured Private Burke and Ensign Michael Shea,
Fitzgerald got Fitzpatrick, Brannigan found O ’Rourke,
Firmigan took a man named Fay – and a couple of lads from Cork.
Sudden they heard McManus shout, ‘Hands up or I’ll run you through’.
He thought it was a Yorkshire ‘Tyke’ – ’twas Corporal Donaghue!
McGany took O ’Leary, O ’Brien got McNamee,
That’s how the ’English fought the Dutch’ at the Battle of Dundee.
The sun was sinking slowly, the battle rolled along;
The man that Murphy ‘handed in’, was a cousin of Maud Gonne,
Then Flanagan dropped his rifle, shook hands with Bill McGuire,
For both had carried a piece of turf to light the schooh-oom fire …
Dicey brought a lad named Welsh; Dooley got McGurk;
Gilligan turned in Fahey’s boy – for his father he used to work.
They had marched to fight the English – but Irish were all they could see –
That’s how the ‘English fought the Dutch’ at the Battle of Dundee.

Anthony Scott asked a friend to colour the photo in, supplied by Hilton Teper.
Russians in the ABW


Some of the Russian Volunteers that fought for the Boers. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Simons Town POW’s

POW CAMP AT BELLEVUE SIMON’S TOWN AND SOME OF THE PRISONERS. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

POW CAMP AT BELLEVUE SIMON’S TOWN AND SOME OF THE PRISONERS. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

POW CAMP AT BELLEVUE SIMON’S TOWN AND SOME OF THE PRISONERS. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Spioenkop

British troops climbing Spioenkop. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
President M. T. Steyn
Martinus (or Marthinus) Theunis Steyn (2 October 1857 – 28 November 1916) was a South African lawyer, politician, and statesman. He was the sixth and last president of the independent republic of the Orange Free State from 1896 to 1902.

Pres Steyn luister of hy die trein kan hoor aankom. Hier staan hy en sy gesin op ‘n Europese stasie tydens sy verblyf daar na die AB Oorlog. Photo and description by Nico Moolman.


Pres MT Steyn, A Fischer, A Browne en JBM Hertzog as afgevaardigdes van die Nasionale Konvensie. Op die “Carisbrook Castle” op pad na Engeland om erkenning vir Uniewording te verkry. 1909. Supplied by Nico Moolman.

Pres Steyn as jong regs-student in Engeland 1879. Supplied by Nico Moolman.
St Helena, Broadbottom Camp, Deadwood Camp.

Deadwood Camp St Helena. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

POWs in Broadbottom Camp, St Helena. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

POWs in Broadbottom Camp, St Helena. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.

POWs in Broadbottom Camp, St Helena. Photo supplied by Elria Wessels.
Jan Smuts
Field Marshal Jan Christian Smuts PC, OM, CH, DTD, ED, KC, FRS (24 May 1870 – 11 September 1950) was a South African statesman, military leader, and philosopher. In addition to holding various cabinet posts, he served as prime minister of the Union of South Africa from 1919 until 1924 and from 1939 until 1948. Smuts subsequently lost the 1948 election to hard-line nationalists who institutionalised apartheid. He continued to work for reconciliation and emphasised the British Commonwealth’s positive role until his death in 1950.
In the Second Boer War, Smuts led a Boer commando for the Transvaal. During the First World War, he led the armies of South Africa against Germany, capturing German South-West Africa. He then commanded the British Army in East Africa.
From 1917 to 1919 he was also one of the members of the British Imperial War Cabinet, and he was instrumental in the founding of what became the Royal Air Force (RAF). He was appointed as a field marshal in the British Army in 1941. He was the only person to sign both of the peace treaties ending the First and Second World Wars. A statue to commemorate him was erected in London’s Parliament Square.

Jan Smuts en Louis Botha Lichtenburg 1914 begrafnis van Gen de la Rey. Photo and description by Linda Fouché.

Photo supplied by Nico Moolman.

General JC Smuts inspects the cadet HO our guard at St. Andrew’s School, Bloemfontein with the school’s legendary headmaster, Mr FW Storey, who was, like General Smuts, known as the Oubaas. Supplied by Roger D Crawford