H.B.M. Coetsee carved slate Anglo-Boer War / Anglo-Boereoorlog griffie

Bellevue  Kamp Simonsstad - Ter Gedachtenis van de Krygsgevangenen - Souvenir of Anglo-Boer War.

In the left carved circle is the: OVS (Oranje Vrystaat) Wapen.With the words vryheid on top and immigratie lower down. Also the words Geduld en Moed further lower down.

In the right carved circle the Eendracht maakt Macht coat of arms of the Transvaal. It was the official heraldic symbol of the South African Republic from 1866 to 1877 and again from 1881 to 1902.

Carved right at the bottom the words: Gemaak door H.B.M. Coetsee de 23 My jaar 1901.

The first sizable batch of Boer prisoners of war taken by the British consisted of those captured at the battle of Elandslaagte on 21 October 1899. No camps had been prepared and by arrangement with the Naval authorities these prisoners (approximately 200 men) were temporarily housed on the naval guard ship HMS Penelope in Simon's Bay. Several ships were used as floating prisoner of war camps until permanent camps were established at Greenpoint, Cape Town and Bellevue, Simonstown. The first prisoners were accommodated in Bellevue on 28 February 1900. Wounded prisoners were sent to the old Cape Garrison Artillery Barracks at Simonstown which had been converted into the Palace hospital. The first wounded arrived on 2 November 1899.

At the end of the war there were 24 000 prisoners of war in the overseas camps and 6 000 in camps in South Africa. The greatest number of POW's were shipped to Bermuda, where a number of camps were established on different islands, namely Burt's Island, Darrell's Island, Hawkin's Island, Hinson's Island (also called Godet Iland), Long Island, Morgan's Island, Port Island, Smith's Island and Tucker's Island.

Around 24 000 boer prisoners were transported to various overseas camps. During this period some 577 men perished either at sea or in the camps &ndash  mainly due to natural causes. It has been recorded that the eldest prisoner was 78 at the time whilst the youngest was 7 years old. Camps existed in South Africa, Bermuda, St. Helena, Ceylon, India and Portugal.

"23 My Jaar 1901",,,,,"24 x 34 cm in the wooden frame",700,1200