Date: 1910 – 1920’s
Photographer/Publisher: The Colombo Apothecaries
Location: Diyatalawa, Sri Lanka.
Boer war prison camp Diyatalawa, Sri Lanka (ceylon)
Looking for Boer war prisoner information?
“Anyone looking for details of their relatives who were Prisoners of War in a Ceylon Boer POW Camp please contact Robin A Woodruff on waldmeister1@aol.com who will try to assist.”
I found the following details on the National Archives website:-
Diyatalawa Concentration Camp Cemetery, Ceylon.
Jan Johannes Brooks of Harrismith.
Died 26-11-1900. Aged 30 years.
If anyone can assist me with information on him, please let me know. It will be much appreciated.
Yolanda Sim
Hello Yolanda,
There is only one Boer POW listed that could be of interest to you.
POW N0. 11673
Johannes.J. Brooks
Age 30
From Harrismith
Captured and sent to Diyatalawa.
Unfortunately this gentleman is from an area of the records that are very short of information. Usually they contain the Commando he fought with, Date of Capture , Where Captured, sometimes the Date of Receipt and the Date Sent.
It would have been in August 1900 though I believe.
In the writings of R.L. Brohier in the Ceylon Dutch Burger Union Journals is listed those who died and were recorded on the Tombstones in Diyatalawa Cemetary. Here is listed Jan J Brooks Harrismith OVS Died 26 Nov (no year) but the way they are listed above 1901 and 1902 would suggest 1900. Age 32. The cemetary is located outside of what was the Diyatalawa POW Camp, but that is now used by the General Survey Dept. and is almost in the same condition as in 1900. Access to the camp is only by permission as their is a Military Camp now built next to it. The cemetary is up “Boer Road” that was built by the POW’s and runs up and along the right hand side of the camp. Unfortunately all of the original wooden crosses were destroyed and the area flattened to make way for a rifle range that is 500 metres away.(Sacrilegious!!) All that remains now is a Cairn erected by the South African Govt in the early 1900’s. If you email me waldmeister1@aol.com
I will send you two articles I wrote after my visit in Jan this year, for the Anglo Boer War Philatelic Society Journal also published in “Knapsack” the Journal of the Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein.
I hope this helps and look forward to hearing from you.
Robin A Woodruff
Yolanda, This was never a Concentration camp and nor were any of the others where the POW’s were held “off shore”
The term Concentration Camps refers to the camps where the women and children were held in South Africa after being driven from their homes(farms) that were burnt under the British Scorched Earth policy. Many thousands of woman and children died through malnutrition, disease etc. Some very sad stories eminate from this period of the war and especially as the men were sent thousands of miles away from their country and families.
I am not in full command of the facts of this episode in what was in my opinion a dreadful and unnecessary war, and you would be advised to visit the Museum in Bloemfontein where there is a Monument to the Women and Children and books and images on the subject. Or read their web page. I have been 3 times from England now and every time I visit I learn more, best wishes Robin
Having reread Anton Edema’s response to my mail at the beginning of the year he is corrrect in that to my knowledge also no POW was shot in Ceylon. However there was one shot in Bermuda whilst trying to escape and this is what i was refering to bt had not made that clear.
Apologies.
Robin A Woodruff
waldmeister1@aol.com
Hi, My great grandfather – Wilhelmus Hermanus Jooste was in the Diyatalawa Camp, Ceylon.
Where can I find more information about him and the camp.
Leon Dippenaar
Leon, contact me on my email address in the above message and I will assist as much as I can.
Robin
I am hoping to make a web site on Diyatalawa city. Prior to this attempt a collection of readings relating to the ancient city will be launch on 15 th October.
Open request made to send facts and writings from those who interested. Specially request to write boer descendants to inquire on your beloved relatives, so that the exposure will may gain unexpected results. Bharata Gunathilaka
Let me allow to publish my E mail
bharata.gunathilaka@gmail.com
The military camp next to the Boer cemetery is the camp where Boers were kept.When the Boers left it became the Ceylon Volunteer Force Camp or CVF camp.From the past historical data I found that Boers were guarded by the British and the Indians.The possible reason was that Ceylon Light Infantry consisted of many Burghers(Dutch descendants living in Ceylon)
The camp site map is well drawn and found in the Volunteer Gazette.I have photo copy.Boers were well treated especially their officers.You may find some names in the Diyatalawa Garrison Church.
i think my great grandfather, Johannes Willem Kok was also a prisoner here.
I would love to have a look at some of the poems and stuff that Radie speaks about.
Any information, please mail me at ebenvt@gmail.com
I have to 2 great-great uncles who died in Diyatalawa. Stephanus Johannes du Preez, 6 Dec 1900 and Philip Rudolf du Preez, 27 Jun 1902.
Any info regarding these two family members would be appreciated.
My greatgrandfather Hermanus Wilhelmus Wessels from Harrismith was POW in Dyatalawa. Do you have any info on him. i have a photograppppph which was taken of a group of prisoners
Thanks!
Ceyon camp artifacts
I have been given from my grandparents a Black ebony walking stick.
The handle is a horses hoof and foot. and the stem has criss cross markings at the top with sprial markings down a quarter of the stem with the words Boer Camp Ceylon 1902. i use this stick daily.
I wonder if you have any more information on the handycraft that was made in this camp.
Hi
I have just come across this website.
I am the curator of a museum in Parys, Free State, South Africa which was a centre of the Anglo Boer Wars.
I have many items of memorabilia from Boer POW camps in Ceylon, Bermuda and St Helena.
If anyone is interested I can send photos. I do not have much of the history and would be interested to have any comments on the items.
Regards
I would like Werner du Preez, C.Nel, Blandford to contact me at
waldmeister1@aol.com
so that i can give them information about their family members.
Also Iris Andrew to exchange details about memorabilia.
thank you and Seasons Greetings
Robin
To Radie Ferreria
Please contact me at email address waldmeister1@aol.com
as i would like to exchange informaton about the POW’s.
thanks
Robin
I have bought at a “Flea Market” an album with letters and memoirbillia of a prisioner called Michiel Christiaan Eloff , aged 41 and from the farm Poortje Standerton. He was put into hut 41. He was the father of 12 children.
I desperately need more info on this man in order to put up a Philatelic display of all his activity in the camp. I am prepair to pay for the information if needed.
His wife and children was at the Pietermarizburg camp.
Thank you
Pieter Meyer
044 2724600
0827763348
meyerpjj@mweb.co.za
Fax 044 272 2556
My husbands great uncle was a Norwegian prisoner in this camp during/after the Boer war.
He was a Norwegian seaman who had come to Transvaal (we do not know why). There he became a foreman at a sawmill, and when the war broke out he attended on the Boer side.
His name was Herman Adolf (do not know if he used his second name) Hansen, born in Egersund in Norway January the 9th in 1866. I wonder if he is mentioned in the newspaper.
Yours sincerely Bodhild Rødland
My great grandfather was interned at Diyatalawa Camp, Hut 54. I have in my possession a cigarette holder made from animal bone and wood with engravings “Van DJP van den Bergh aan zign vrouw” Reference of the Hut number and a Boer soldier on horseback.
Would Bodhild Rodland please contact me as her husbands relative is listed in the POW Roll but as being on St Helena.
thank you
Robin A Woodruff
waldmeister1@aol.com or on +447747737745