The Boer War Diary of Jacobus Wille

The Boer War Diary of Jacobus Wille

This diary, transscribed and translate by his daughter, follows Free State burgher Jacobus Wille from his surrender in the Witzieshoek district in July 1900 through his long captivity as a prisoner of war in Ceylon, until his eventual departure in December 1902. It begins with the disarmament of burghers under General Prinsloo, their movement through the Free State towns, and their transport via train to the Cape and on to the ship Mongolian at Simon’s Bay, bound for Ceylon via Durban.

Once in camp, Wille records the details that made up POW life: church services, funerals, sickness and deaths; sports matches and concerts; rumours of fresh British troops and of negotiations between Kitchener and Botha; and constant talk of peace and possible repatriation that never quite seems to materialise.

His entries capture homesickness, the importance of letters from family, the struggle to maintain dignity and routine, and the improvised crafts and activities that helped men keep their hands and minds busy, from making waistcoats to carving coconut-shell brooches.

The diary gives readers an unembellished, day-by-day picture of life in the camp: religious life, camp regulations, news of battles and executions, and the emotional ebb and flow as rumours of peace rise and fade. It shows how ordinary young men experienced the war not as grand strategy, but as queues for food, overcrowded bungalows, funerals, and the constant waiting for news from home.

This volume will be invaluable to family historians tracing POW ancestors, scholars and students of the Anglo-Boer War, and anyone interested in how individuals preserve their humanity under captivity. It offers rich material for micro-history, social and religious history, and for understanding how a devout Free State burgher interpreted both world events and the quiet routines of camp life.

Language:   English
Pages:    120
Format:  Downloadable PDF (±2.2Mb)

The Boer War Diary of Jacobus Wille

Jacobus Wille se dagboek, getranskribeer en vertaal deur sy dogter, dek hierdie Vrystaatse burger se oorlogslewe vanaf sy oorgawe in die Witzieshoek-distrik in Julie 1900 tot sy lang krygsgevangenskap op Ceylon tot en met sy vertrek in Desember 1902. Dit begin by die ontwapening van burgers onder generaal Prinsloo, hul trek deur Vrystaatse dorpies, asook die vervoer per trein Kaap toe, waar hulle op die skip Mongolian te Simonstad inskeep, op pad na Ceylon via Durban.

In die kamp teken Wille die besonderhede aan waaruit die alledaagse lewe van ’n krygsgevangene bestaan: eredienste, begrafnisse, siekte en sterftes; sportbyeenkomste en konserte; berigte oor nuwe Britse troepeskepe en oor onderhandelinge tussen Kitchener en Botha; en die aanhoudende gerugte oor vrede en repatriasie wat nooit heeltemal bewaarheid word nie.

Hy skryf eerlik oor heimwee, die belang van briewe van die huis af, die poging om waardigheid en roetine te behou, en oor die stokperdjies en “kampbedrywe” wat manne besig gehou het – van baadjies stik tot die maak van kokosneut juweliersware.

Die dagboek bied ’n onopgesmukte, dag-vir-dag blik op die kamp: geestelike lewe, kampreëls, nuus oor veldslae en teregstellings, en die emosionele berge en dale soos wat gerugte oor vrede opvlam en uitgeblus word. Dit wys hoe gewone jong mans die oorlog beleef het: nie as 'n groot strategiese ervaring nie, maar as toustaan vir kos, oorvol bungalows, begrafnisse en ’n eindelose wag op nuus vanaf hul geliefdes.

Hierdie boek is van groot waarde vir familie-navorsers wat krygsgevangenes in hul stamboom opspoor, vir studente en navorsers oor die Anglo-Boereoorlog, en almal wat belangstel in hoe mense hul menswaardigheid onder gevangenskap behou. Dit is ryke bronmateriaal vir mikrogeskiedenis, sosiale en geestelike geskiedenis, en vir ’n dieper begrip van hoe ’n toegewyde Vrystaatse burger wêreldgebeure en die roetines van sy kamplewe ervaar en ingekleur het.

Taal:   Engels
Bladsye:    120
Formaat:   Aflaaibare PDF (±2.2Mb)