The following is a brief description of some of the historical events and major battles of the Boer War (South African War).

 

  • Sarnia and Lambton had sixteen men participate in the Second Boer War, one of whom would make the ultimate sacrifice.

 

  • The word “Boer”, comes from the Dutch word for farmer. The first European settlers in South Africa were Dutch immigrants from the Netherlands in 1652. By 1806, the British Empire had seized control of the Cape territory. By 1836, many of the Boers, descendants of the region’s first Dutch immigrants, had left the Cape and established two independent republics: the Orange Free Sate and the Transvaal Republic.

 

  • The discovery of diamonds (1867) and gold (1886, in Transvaal) brought about rising tensions which led to war between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics in 1880 and again in 1899.

 

  • The First Boer War had been fought from December 16, 1880 to March 23, 1881. The Second Boer War (South African War) was fought between October 11, 1899 and May 31, 1902.

 

  • Participation in the War by Canadian soldiers was a very divisive issue in this country. Pro-Empire Canadians urged the government to help, while most French Canadians and many recent immigrants were opposed to sending troops overseas.

 

  • Prime Minister Laurier found a compromise to the split opinion in Canada by offering to send soldiers who volunteered, to send military equipment, as well as to arrange for transportation to South Africa. In turn, the British would pay the Canadian soldiers’ wages and arrange for their return home upon completion of their service.

 

  • Sarnia citizens learned the details in the mid-October, 1899 Sarnia Observer (a weekly paper then), with the headline reading, “The Orders Issued – Moblization of the Canadian Force Proceeding – 1,000 Volunteers to be Taken.” Some of the local details provided in the Observer that day included;

– the Canadian contingent would mobilize at Quebec and sail from there.

– the volunteers would be organized into eight companies of Infantry for active service in South Africa.

– one thousand volunteers would be accepted.

– rations, clothing and equipment would be provided free.

– enrolment centers were in Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, London, Toronto, Ottawa, Kingston, Montreal,

Quebec, St. John, N.B., Charlottetown and Halifax.

– volunteers had to have minimum height of 5 feet 4 inches, age between 18 and 45 years, and be able to pass

certain physical requirements.

 

  • The recruiting of soldiers from south western Ontario was conducted by the Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry out of Wolseley Barracks in London, Ontario. The companies of this Regiment were designated the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry. Most of the Sarnia-Lambton County volunteers enlisted within a few weeks of the outbreak of the Boer War.

 

  • Shortly after the information became known that several local boys had enlisted, a number of Sarnia citizens formed themselves into a committee and drafted the following letter:

Sarnia, Oct. 23rd, 1899

Capt. Gorman, Wolsely Barracks, London

Dear Capt. Gorman,

Your fellow townsmen who admire the spirit and pluck which have impelled you, Kenneth Johnston and Dan McMillan of No. 7 Company, to volunteer for active service in the Transvaal, wish to show by a slight token, their regard for you and their appreciation of your courage. Will you accept the enclosed cheque and apply the money for the purchase of something for each of your trio, which will remind you of home and the friends here who will watch your course with pride. Wishing you health, safety and a happy return.

It was first intended to purchase some memento for the brave Sarnia boys, but owing to the time being so short it was decided to send the subscription direct to them at Wolseley Barracks at London, with the request to use it as best they see fit. To make the offering a public one subscription lists have been opened at the office of the Traders’ Bank and the office of the Huron and Lambton Loan Company, where subscriptions can be handed in by all citizens who desire to do so, and thereby show their appreciation of the courage displayed by the boys from the Tunnel Town. All subscriptions received up to 10 o’clock tomorrow morning will be wired direct to Wolseley Barracks, London, and all subscriptions received after that hour will be sent direct to South Africa. Is it necessary for us to state that the gifts from Sarnians should be liberal? We think not.

 

  • As with the soldiers of later wars, the Boer War volunteers left Sarnia amid speeches, a parade and general fanfare. However, uniquely, these soldiers left Lambton County with money in their pockets – “testimonials” collected from the grateful citizens. Further financial security was provided from two sources: the Patriotic Fund, for soldiers and their dependants as established nationwide with Sarnia as a contributing chapter and employers’ guarantee of employment upon the soldiers return home.

 

  • The first volunteers to leave Sarnia, Kenneth Johnston, Dan McMillan and Fred Gorman, would first travel to London, Ontario in late October 1899, to be sworn in. While there, the three young soldiers were each presented with a twenty dollar gold piece on behalf of friends in Sarnia. Four prominent Sarnia citizens came to London to say farewell to the three Sarnia volunteer soldiers: Lieut. Col. Ellis, of the 27th Battalion; Dr. Thomas Johnston, M.P. of Sarnia (father of Kenneth); Mr. Henry Gorman, of the Observer (father of Fred); and Mr. Mackenzie. Sir Wilfred Laurier, on his way to Sarnia, had stayed in London prior to the troops leaving. At the Tecumseh House, the Sarnia delegation and three soldier volunteers were presented to and had the opportunity to speak with Sir Wilfred Lauier.

 

  • In late October 1899, the citizens of Western Ontario, including Sarnia, bid farewell to the members of B Company, Canadian Contingent as they left the city of London, Ontario. The streets were decorated with flags, bunting and streamers of red, white and blue and were dense with people, traffic at a standstill. Before leaving Wolseley Barracks, the officers in command, including Sergeant Fred Gorman of Sarnia, were presented with wrist watches by Alderman Graham, acting for the citizens committee. To the rank and file, including Sarnians Kenneth Johnston and Dan McMillan, Alderman Graham presented hunting knives and pipes. The men then marched from Wolseley Barracks to Victoria Park and then to the train station. During the entire march, Dr. T.G. Johnston, M.P. of Sarnia, accompanied by his youngest son Jeff, marched in the procession with his son Kenneth Johnston, and the other Sarnia boys, Sergt. Fred Gorman and Dan McMillan, and never left them until the last moment. The enthusiasm of the crowd was described as having no bounds; nevertheless, there were tears as well as cheers when the time for saying good bye to fathers and brothers and friends arrived. Archdeacon Davis of London, came into the train car with the three Sarnia boys, shook hands with all three heartily and bid them goodbye, Godspeed and wished them a safe return. As the train pulled out amid deafening cheers, the band played “Auld Lang Syne,” and the boys were off.

 

  • A thousand men were quickly recruited from across Canada to form the First Contingent that sailed from Québec City on October 30, 1899, including those local Sarnia men who had volunteered. The Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry would be re-designated as the Royal Canadian Regiment in November of 1901.

 

  • The British suffered serious setbacks in the opening battles of the war, and made urgent requests for Canada to supply more troops. In response, more Canadian troops would follow including horse-mounted troops, artillery batteries and even a field hospital. Not all Canadian soldiers saw action. Some performed garrison duty in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

 

  • The 1899-1902 Boer War was the first time Canada dispatched troops overseas to fight in war. Over the 2 ½ years, more than 7 400 Canadian volunteers, including twelve nurses, would serve in South Africa.

 

  • The Battle of Paardeberg, February 18-27, 1900 was the first major Canadian action of the South African War. Canadians distinguished themselves in this first significant British victory of the war; however the cost was high, as 18 Canadians were killed and 68 wounded on the first day of the battle – the country’s bloodiest single day of fighting in the war.

 

  • Canadians would fight in key battles such as Paardeberg, Israel’s Poort, Zand River, Mafeking, Doornkop, Leliefontein and Harts River. As the war progressed and the Boers refused to surrender, they turned to a guerrilla war of ambush and retreat. Grueling mounted patrols sought to bring the enemy to battle, and harsh conditions ensured that all soldiers struggled against disease and sniper’s bullets.

 

  • The war finally ended with the signing of the Treaty of Vereeniging on May 31, 1902. The Boers surrendered their independence in exchange for aid to those affected by the fighting and eventual self-government, among other terms. On June 2, 1902, Sarnia citizens read the details of the declared peace in the Sarnia Observer. On June 1, Lieutenant-General Lord Kitchener cabled the Canadian War Office that the terms of surrender had been signed by all the Boer delegates, announcing it to the world. An official message of congratulations was forwarded to England on behalf of the Dominion Government. News of the signing of the terms of peace was received with general rejoicing throughout the Dominion, with ministers referring to the subject from the pulpits and public demonstrations in numerous places.

 

  • The Canadian soldiers returned home, although some chose to remain there, serving as members of the paramilitary South African Constabulary. Five Canadian soldiers earned the Victoria Cross during the war, the highest award for military valour. Approximately 270 Canadians lost their lives during the Boer War, about half of them were victims of disease, principally enteric fever.

 

  • When the Sarnia and Lambton men returned home from war at Christmas of 1900, they were treated as heroes. They were met at the Cromwell Street train station by members of the City Reception Committee and local citizens. A procession made up of committee members, military officials, social organizations, local dignitaries, the fire department, city and county citizens and the Sarnia Band paraded them up Front Street which was decked in flags and streamers, to George St., Vidal St., and Davis St., to Victoria Square. Then there were speeches and presentations of gold watches. The next evening, a celebration in a packed Boys Brigade Hall was held with more speeches, short reminiscences and music from solo artists through to choirs. Appropriately, the Boys Brigade sang, “Praise God, From Whom all Blessings Flow”.

 

  • The Boer War was noteworthy for other prominent reasons: the British exercised a scorched earth policy and introduced “concentration camps”; the Boers waged guerilla warfare tactics of ambush and retreat; Canadian author John McCrae, author of “In Flanders Fields”, started his military service as an artillery officer; approximately half the Canadian mortalities were due to disease; Sam Steele, a famous member of the North-West Mounted Police during the Yukon Gold Rush, served as a commanding officer of the Strathcona’s Horse mounted infantry unit in the Boer War; Winston Churchill, working as a war correspondent, was captured, held prisoner and later escaped to join the British army; and Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant-general in the British Army, wrote “Aids to Scouting” for soldiers, which led to the structure and founding of the Boy Scouts movement worldwide based on his military experiences.

 

  • The Boer War Memorial Fountain in Sarnia was erected in Victoria Park in 1908 (located outside and on the south side of Sarnia Library). Engraved on it are the names of sixteen men from Sarnia and Lambton County who participated in the Boer War, along with the South African locations where they served. Of the sixteen names on the Boer War memorial, only one man, Daniel Crone, died while serving.