War Diary: Fiction, Fact and Fancy

At the time of the declaration of war Isabelle and her husband. Charles, were in Johannesburg. He was manager of the Johannesburg branch of the African Banking Corporation and a British subject. All British subjects were required to leave the Zuid Afrikaansche (Transvaal) Republiek, but he and his wife were granted permits to remain in Johannesburg. Clearly it was the intention of the Government to allow banks to continue to operate, so their key personnel had to remain. They moved from their home in the suburbs and occupied rooms on the top floor of the Bank's premises. Mrs Lipp was determined to remain and support her husband, but they sent their children to the coast with relatives.

The Diary was kept for the period immediately before the granting of the Ultimatum by the British Government until the occupation of the British troops under Lord Roberts on 31 May 1900 - a period of just under eight months. The original handwritten diary was deposited with the University of Stellenbosch, together with a typed version which appears to have been completed in 1928. The typed version has been in circulation but, about five years ago, the Parktown & Westcliff Heritage Trust decided to publish the original version.

While attempting to retain the original text of the time, some editorial changes have been made to structure the sentences and paragraphs to assist the reader. Some changes had been made in the 1928 typed version. In cases where these assisted in expanding on the original text, they have been incorporated. Parts of the original text have been either damaged or are difficult to read. In these cases the later draft has been used.