Among the many little-known stories of the Anglo-Boer War is that of Ingvar Schrøder- Nielsen, a young Norwegian land-surveyor, who lived among the Boers and  described their ways with humour and empathy. He befriended a number of Boer families and writes with great sympathy about their often tragic plight.

Appalled by the destruction of farms by the British forces and the incarceration of civilians in the infamous concentration camps, he joined the Boer forces.  His descriptions of the military tactics, improvisations and onerous circumstances of the Boer fighters, and graphic details of epic battles such as those of Vlakfontein and Moedwil, vividly bring to life the people enmeshed in these conflicts.

Nielsen was captured and taken to a British camp where he witnessed the tragic execution of his comrade Piet Schuil, a young Hollander who had been sentenced to death on trumped-up charges. Nielsen’s poignant and moving account of his friend’s last hours is probably the only available record of this tragedy. Less sombre, even entertaining, are his descriptions of life in the prisoner-of-war camps on the Bermuda Islands, where Nielsen, himself having been threatened with execution, was to remain until his release in July 1902, when he returned to Norway.

 ‘I found this book to be one of the most interesting personal accounts of the Anglo-Boer War, which I  have read. ‘ (Comment by Boer War authority & book collector David Scholtz).    

 ISBN 978-0-620-52802-3. 226p., ilustrations, map.  Price R180 plus R10 postage.

Order from  Africana Publishers, 5G Indian Road, Kenilworth 7708, RSA.

Tel. 021 761 8030; Cel: 083 415 7678;

In the final years of the nineteenth century Great Britain forced two small independent freedom loving Boer republics, Transvaal and Orange Free State, into a bitterly fought war. Britain was determined to gain control over the fabulous diamond fields in the Free State and the gold deposits in the Transvaal. The confrontation lasted three years and is remembered as the Anglo-Boer War. Britain inflicted enormous damage on the republics. They devastated the countryside, destroyed all livestock, and interned 200 000 women, children and old men in concentration camps where many died due to initially poor sanitary arrangements and malnutrition. Many thousand freedom fighters lost their lives, and 25 000 were deported as prisoners of war to far distant camps in Asia and Bermuda.

A wave of sympathy for the Boers swept through the world. Everywhere money, medical supplies, clothing and provisions were collected, field ambulances and complete hospitals equipped and sent to the republics. More than 3 000 volunteers from overseas joined the Boer forces to fight without pay, receiving only food, clothing and weapons. This book tells how one small country, Switzerland, reacted to the war, how the Swiss living in the two republics participated in their defence and how they were influenced by the war. It also includes a description of Swiss emigration to the two republics and a detailed register of the Swiss known to be resident in the two republics in 1899.

ISBN 978-0-620-52810-8. 207 p., illustrations, maps.

Order from Africana Publishers, 5G Indian Road, Kenilworth 7708, RSA.

Tel. 021 761 8030 Cel.: 083 415 7678. Price R180 plus R10 postage

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has made public the first batch of Death records free on line. These records cover the years 1895 – 1972. They are far from complete as the Magisterial District of Cape Town only has 3000 records and during this period there should be millions. These records now cover the entire Cape Province. Although the District says Cape Town there are deaths there for Woodstock, Sea Point, Maitand which are themselves housed in separate books in the National Archives. These records can also be accessed there for free. Users on can browse through indexed records here

 

These records include:

1. Name of deceased
2. Name of parent of guardian if the deceased is under the age of 10 2b Place of residence of mother
3. Sex
4. Ag
5. Race
6. Birthplace
7. Whether single, married, divorced etc.
8. Occupation
9. Pensioner or dependent of pensioner
10. Date of death
11. Place of death
12. Usual place of residence
13. Intended place of burial
14. Causes of death
15. Duration of disease of last illness
16. Name of medical practitioner
17. Informant details

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