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Military History – South Africa – Europe – England 19th Century
.Article – Online Historic Information | Military
.Page 356
NARRATIVE IV.
I have just heard, from good authority, that my grandfather, who is ninety-seven years, and my
grandmother, ninety-one years, were taken as prisoners to Kroonstad camp, and their house (near
Senekal) burnt. They had no opportunity of taking anything with them, and had it not been for the
kindness of a “ Boer ” lady in Kroonstad, who sent them her bedstead and mattress, they would have
had to sleep on the bare ground. Both died, after being prisoners a week in camp. As far as I can find
out, they died of misery, sorrow, and ill-treatment.
May 14, 1900.
On the 14th of May I went to my neighbours with Lord Roberts’s Proclamation, and said to each,
“ Read this Proclamation. If you live on your farm, no harm will be done to you. So trust to what I
say.”
But what was the result ?
The first column that came, with which Captain B. was, took from all those who had remained in
their homes all they had of cattle and horses. I had tell little calves and forty-two big cattle in my
kraal. I was left without even a drop of milk for my children. I did all I could to get some of these
back. Mr. B., of Christiana, lent me £5 to buy flour (meal) and other articles. I was left with three
daughters, one sixteen years old, one thirteen, and the other eleven. I had four sons in the service of
the Transvaal Government. Through my severe want I gave my consent to my daughter’s immediate
marriage with the cousin of President Steyn, trusting to him to come to my help. I got back a cow in
milk, also a cart and pair of horses.
Christiana is my nearest village, one hour, that is, about six miles from where we live. Once I
went there to get a pass to go to Warrenton to see my son-in-law, who was there on parole. Major T.
made me pay £1 sterling for it, because I had gone in to Christiana without a pass. I had no money,
and I was without food, my children almost bare. A Mr. G. lent me the £1. I paid the £1, and said the
pass should go before the Throne of England. Did anyone ever before pay £1 for a pass? Now, 14
days afterwards, General ——’s column sent a buck-waggon before my door, with a lot of armed
Kaffirs, and two families must go on the open buck-waggon. Mrs. P., whose husband was over the
line, was ordered to go, but she wished to stay on my place. I pleaded to be allowed to stay in my
house. The Major, in an unfriendly way, said : “ In five minutes you must be on the waggon.”
An Australian Bushman said : “ Madame, so many lies have been told in our land about the
uncivilized ways of your people, but the shame is the way the women are treated.”
I had no time ; my children’s best shoes and the clothes remained behind, also all my furniture.
Only a bedstead and two chairs belonging to Mrs. Combrink were taken. There was a great escort of
armed men, and we sat on the open buck-waggon in the sun. Mrs. Combrink was told to be ready in
five minutes ; she took her bed, bath, and two chairs. Then a Kaffir put the two chairs on the waggon ;
she was thankful, but he said it was for himself. In the evening the Kaffir came and took Mrs.
Combrink’s chair from under her, and broke it in pieces to make a fire of. He also took the second
chair, but her sister bought it from him for 2s. Before Mrs. Combrink left they packed all her
household goods upon her cart, and put it on fire before her eyes.
In the evening we four mothers of families sat under the waggon, without food, wet through by
rain. We had to sit up the whole night. At 4.30 we had to get on the open waggon again. Monday
morning we reached the train and the Camp at Fourteen Streams. We had no food that day ; the
following morning a few biscuits, coffee, and sugar. When we got to Warrenton it was better. I
believe we were taken to Kimberley Camp because the burghers had taken my son-in-law. I brought it
before the justice of the General that I had told Captain G. I was not responsible for my son-in-law. . .
I told the Captain over and over again I am not answerable for Mr. S., my son-in-law. He said, “ Yes,
you are.” I requested if I might stay by my husband’s grave in my garden, which I and my two
daughters had cultivated, and which was doing well, and we could bare lived out of it.
The Captain agreed, but Kitchener’s orders were we women must all be removed, or the Boers
would not give in.
Mrs. Combrink, who had been a widow for 19 years, was held responsible for her son, a man of
50 years, who was fighting. She had everything taken from her—she had not ever dress. Everything
was also taken from me. I have still two children, who it is very necessary should be at school.
It is dreadful how the armed Kaffirs teased us on the farm when my lands were destroyed by
troops and Kaffirs.
In September I had a letter from my son from Derdepoort, where they had Kaffirs fighting against
us, with white officers. Isn’t it dreadful for the great British nation—isn’t it terrible?—and old people
who were never in a fight seized and put on a waggon—everything taken from them—put on a bare
truck and taken to Kimberley.
(The writer of the above is a widow, and born a British subject of the Colony. Her husband was
an Englishman born in Chelsea.)
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