Below is a report from the West Australia Chairman of SAMVOA, of a service organised by the WA committee of the National Boer War Memorial Association (of Australia). The service was held at the South African War memorial in Kings Park, Perth, on Sunday, 29 May 2011. Fourteen West Australia veterans represented SAMVOA at the service.
This year marked the 109th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902, bringing the Anglo Boer War of 1899 – 1902 to an end.
On Sunday, 29 May 2011 members of SAMVOA WA laid a wreath in memory of the Boer men, women and children who died during the war and in the spirit of reconciliation. The service took place at the South Africa War Memorial in Kings Park, Perth.
We are mindful and appreciative of the invitation from the National Boer War Memorial Association, allowing us the opportunity to take part in the ceremony and in so doing, lay a wreath on behalf of our forefathers that took on the might of the British Empire.
The British War Office estimated that the campaign against the 40 000 Boer burghers (Boer = Farmer/ Burghers = citizens) would be wrapped up within three months. Three years later and needing to deploy 450 000 British and Colonial troops, the Boers finally surrendered after a “scorched earth policy” carried out by Lord Kitchener and his General Staff and the internment of Boer women and children in concentration camps throughout South Africa.
It was in these camps that 28 000 women and mostly children were to die of disease and malnutrition, leaving a scare that has never quite healed within the Afrikaner people.
Besides the Australians and South Africans taking part, there were also representatives from the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Rhodesia.
I would like to congratulate the WA committee of the National Boer War Memorial Association for a well organised day and it was pleasing to see that attendance numbers have increased considerably from the inaugural service held at the same venue last year. May it continue to grow throughout Australia and we look forward to taking part in the 110th anniversary next year.
Sakkie van der Merwe and his wife Frances, who dressed up as a Boer burgher and vrou respectively.
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My sincere thanks to the following Veterans who attended the parade - Philip Niman, Michael Lord, Errol Crystal, Donovan Roets, Mark Coldry, Stephen Higley, Ian Higley, Ron Fouche, Eric le Grange, Kevin van der Mescht, Riaan de Villiers, Ben Opperman and Shaun Porter.
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Garth A Pienaar
Chairman SAMVOA WA
