The Second Anglo-Boer War

Over the last twelve months we’ve written several blogs on the Refuge’s involvement in World War One and how it was affected, both through the boys that fought for their country and the financial restrictions at home. With 2014 marking 100 years since the outbreak of the War, it has been important to mark the sacrifices made by the charity. However it is not the only war that our Refuge boys have fought in. 

Extract from the Children’s Haven, 1900

The Second Anglo-Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the South African Republic and the Orange Free State. It was the result of a long running period of unrest in Cape Colony between the Boers and Britain, who had taken over the area in 1795. British troops were sent across to South Africa and several of the Refuge boys played their part in the battles that followed. 

One such lad was James T. who had entered the Crossley Home on George Street in March 1883 aged just 9 years old. After a few years of schooling the committee of the Refuge received a letter from James desiring a change of scenery.

First part of James’ letter

This request was acceded to and James travelled to Birkenhead to serve a three year apprenticeship on the charity’s training ship the Indefatigable. Ship records show he left in November 1888 to join the German vessel, the Gudrun. Little was heard from James until 1892 when a letter to his old house mother, Mrs Hodson, revealed he was putting his feet back on dry land and had joined the Rifle Brigade in Winchester. As a soldier he travelled to Egypt and Crete before being deployed to South Africa in 1899.

James on admittance and 12 months later

A further letter written on the 10th April 1900 to Mrs. Hodson told of his experiences: 

“We arrived at Durban November 25th [1899], and our first fighting was done on December 15th at the River Tugela, where we had to retire, the Boer position too strong for us; here our loss in killed and wounded was very heavy. Our next fight was Spion Kop where we took the hill with a heavy loss and then had to retire. Our next engagement was at Vaal Krantz where our regiment did some grand fighting. Then followed Monte Cristo where we found the Boers had left their Camp behind them with plenty of good things. Our next fight was Pieters Hill on the Anniversary of Majuba, where we gave the Boers the warmest reception they had ever had from the British Troops. Then came Ladysmith, all General Buller’s troops marched through Ladysmith on March 2nd. The 2nd Battalion of the Rifle Brigade had been in there all the time. They did cheer us when they saw their old chums of the 1st battalion but they did look so thin and badly clothed.

I am glad to tell you that I have come out of all this fighting without a scratch. I had two narrow escapes, one bullet went through my jacket sleeve, and another day I had the butt end of my rifle blown away, so I was useless, but my Officer gave me his instead at once so I went on. I hope to see you if God spares me to come home. I have tried all through to keep up the good character of the Cheetham Hill Homes. I have got two medals for the Soudan, a star for Crete and one for this war, so I shall have a good collection when I get home.”

The war finally ended on 31 May 1902 with the Treaty of Vereeniging, two years after this letter was wrote.