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 have a small (6 x 7 cm base, 5 cm high) hand carved wooden presse-papier with inscription :
Boeren Kamp / Diytalawa / Ceylon / 1900-1901-1902.
It must be made by a person who was kept captive there but I have no clue who it was.
I made 5 photos of it that I can share with you when you are interested.
my e-mail is pe0wdm@ziggo.nl
Can anyone assist.
I am a lifetime B/W enthusiast,since hearing stories from my grandfather who served in the British army during the conflict.
My question being what british regiments were guards at Diyatalawa camp as my grandfather brought back many p.o.w crafted items.
Many thanks
I have a walkingstick made of a dark hardwood with a Yellow wood handle. CV Theron, 12 december 1900, Baneling op Ceylon, voor vryheid en recht has been carved out on it. It would appreciate it if anybody has any information for me.
I NEED DETAILS ON BORE PRISONER’S OF WAR CAME TO DIYATALAWA IN HMS FOX IN 1913. THE CREW HAD COME TO DIYATALAWA ON AN EXCURSION AND PLACED THE INSIGNIA OF THE SHIP ON A MOUNTAIN (PRESENTLY KNOWN AS FOX HILL). NEXT YEAR WILL BE THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY. PLEASE UP DATE IF U HAVE ANY. THANKS
MANY OF YOU THAT ARE LOOKING FOR INFORMATION ON THE POW’s or CAMPS ARE PUTTING THE QUESTION ON THIS SITE BUT NOT GIVING AN EMAIL ADDRESS.
MY DETAILS ARE GIVEN AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE AS BEING ABLE TO HELP.
I CANNOT DO THAT UNLESS YOU CONTACT ME DIRECTLY ON waldmeister1@aol.com
I WILL TRY TO HELP YOU BUT COME TO ME DIRECTLY AS WELL AS LEAVING THE MESSAGE ON HERE. and PUTTING YOUR ADDRESS IN YOUR MESSAGE.. PLEASE..
Please let me know whether I could find any contact details of Major Anton Edema to find out details from him of Arthur and Duncan Unwin who were stationed at Military Camp at Diyathala.
Another Unwin who is presently residing in UK, who is not related has found out the above details and wanted me to check from here. Im from Sri Lanka and these Unwin’s are my husbands GG Fathers. Hope to hear from you with a positive answer. Thanks.
Hi Robin,
I have in my posession and have had for the past 50 years, a atamp box carved from a black timber with the following details engraved on 3 sides.
“made by Pris of War, Boer Camp, Ceylon 1902.
The concave hinged lid has elaborately carved flags and an eagle and shield and 3 banners with the words:
EENDRACT MAAKT MACT
When I bought the item in a curiousity shopin Hervy Bay Queensland Australia as a youth, I remember the lady in the shop telling me that it was a stamp box carved for the camp commander.
Wopuld you be able to give me some idea of the value of this item and how I would go about selling it for its unique value.
Regards
Paul Miller
Hi,
My great grandfather Stephanus Andries Fourie (B 29/11/1858) & his son Ockert Fourie were apparently prisoners first in St Helena then Ceylon – I have two black carved serviette rings from that time. My wife & i are visiting Sri Lanka in March ’13 & would love to know if the site at Diyatalawa is visitable & where further info can be found!
Leon Ferreira
Does anyone know anything about Christiaan Frederick Schoeman. He was shot in his shoulder, captured and sent to Ceylon. Where and when unknown. D.O.B 28.10.1869.
Any information to: bester@easyscript.co.za
Hi,
I am a collector of Old Notes issued in Ceylon during British Period. Recently I came across “Prisoners Notes” issued in Ceylon for Boer inmates of Diyathalawa and Ragama Camps. If anyone has these notes I would like to get some notes or photos of same for my collection. This info is part of the history of Ceylon long forgotten by many. Many will not believe when I say there were “Prisoners Notes” issued during British Period in Ceylon.
You may contact me on email – dilhanf@yahoo.com or Mobile 0777227771
I see that some time ago, Radie Ferreira mentioned his/her grandfather, who was a prisoner of war. My grandfather, Jozua Francois Naudé, also a teacher when he joined the Boer army, afterwards studied at Stellenbosch to become a Dutch Reformed minister. His best friend during these years was CR (Neels) Ferreira, who became his brother-in-law when they married the two Van Huyssteen sisters, Ada and Letsie, on 25 December 1906 in Knysna. I know that “oom Neels” (later also minister at Koppies in the Free State) had at least one son, called Natie, who lived in Bloemfontein. I would love to make contact with Radie to find out how he/she fits into this family tree!
Hi,I am doing research on the life of my grandfather Johannes Theodorus Schonken during the Anglo Boer War. He joined Scheeper’s Commando on 18th Jan 1901 at Oudshoorn and then became member of Fouche’s Commando. During a battle near Aliwal-North with 5 sections of White’s men on 8th June 1901,he was captured by the Brittish. On 18 th April 1902 he wassentenced to death by the military court in Graaff-Reinet. The sentence was changed to life imp and then to 3 years by the Royal Commission. He was granted amnesty in 1903. I am trying to find out where he was in custody( in prison) Can someone please help? My e-mail is chris@interiorimages.co.za
Hi, I only discovered this site today (15/7/2013) and have missed out on the most interesting parts of Robin Woodruff’s discussion. I hope he has not lost interest in his project.
My grandfather Jacob Johan (Japie) Strating was a P.O.W. in Diyatalawa Camp until the last P.O.W. had left. Along with 19 other P.O.W’s. he refused to sign the Oath of Allegiance to the Crown and they were interred in the Walikadi Prison in Colombo for some time. They were later transferred to a farm in Java from where some of them gradually returned to SA. My grandfather befriended a local and returned to SA disguised in Indian garb.
I am particularly interested to find out more about his friend Mot (Lafras) Smit who was a real legend around the camp. I want to compile some more notes on him with the prospect of writing a book. Can anybody help, please.
stratingjacob@yahoo.co.nz
Hi,
My grandmother and her brother was in Ceylon. Van Wilpe. Does anyone have information. I have a Christmas program for a concert in Regama ,Ceylon date 1901.
Thanks.
I am trying to find out if The Queens Own RoyalWest Kent Regiment were at the Garrison here from Dec 1902 to Dec 1904, as i have a relation who was posted to Ceylon with the regiment during this period. When did the concentration camp close? If before these dates, why would the regiment have been there? He was posted from The Boer War in South Africa to Ceylon. To look after the prisoners? Can you help please. Thanks.
It is remiss of me not to have visited this site for a considerable period but if all of those wishing to learn more about their relatives and a Boer war “Ceylon” connection please contact me directly on the email address herewith. thanks Robin waldmeister1@aol.com
Hello,
My paternal great-grand father, Frank Francis Samuel Telling, came to Ceylon from SA with the Boer POWs around 1900. He married and had 3 children one of which is my grandfather. He died in1910 or 1912 and was buried in Ceylon at the Madampitiya Cemetery. Unfortunately I cannot find details. Can you help me please? Thank you
My paternal grandfather Daniel Strijdom was sent to Ceylon, I would like as much information as possible please. I would also appreciate any addition mention in the Camp publication. ‘De Strevers’
I’m a target shooter in the UK. Recently I had the extreme good fortune to be able to purchase a lovely Lee-Enfield .303 rifle that was manufactured in 1897. The reason I mention this is because of the butt of this special rifle are inscribed the words “Jim Holloway 1st Adjutant to General S Du Toit Commando”.
I have since been doing some looking around the internet and discovered that Jim was a prize fighter of some note. I’ve also discovered that he spent time in Ceylon as a POW but they let him out to box on special occasions. Indeed, he even taught boxing to the fellow inmates at the camp.
Do you have any other info on Jim from your files?
Kindest regards,
Robin
My great-grandfather was in Diyatalawa in Hut 15. I have postcards and letters from and to him.
Is there any way of finding out who were in his hut with him?
His name was J.H.C. Oosthuizen