Twee briewe in die Irish Times | Orania Blog
19 Januarie 2012 ~ 5 Kommentare
Twee briewe in die Irish Times
Anniversary of Boer War
Sir, – I refer to Anthony Jordan’s letter (January 16th), regarding the “anniversary of the Boer War”. The centenary of the Treaty of Vereeniging on May 31st this year marks the end of the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902.
He mentions the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. They only got the “Royal” added to their regimental title after the hammering they took at the Battle of Colenso where the Transvaal Irish Brigade were on the opposing side.
The Commonwealth Graves Commission maintains the graves of those British soldiers who died in that and all wars.
Those Irish who fought and died on the side of the Boers are commemorated by a monument that used to stand in the suburb of Brixton in Johannesburg. It was erected by money subscribed by people of Irish birth or descent and also subscriptions from the South African and, I think, the Irish governments. The plaque was inscribed in Irish and Afrikaans.
Sometime after 1994 it was removed to the all Afrikaner town of Orania in the Northern Cape Province, where it is in a place of honour. – Yours, etc,
A chara, – In response to Colin Blake’s letter (January 7th), regarding the 110th anniversary of the Anglo-Boer War, I wish to point out that many Irish soldiers died on both sides of that war. Three regiments of Irish soldiers fought on the side of the Boers against the British.
It would also be remiss of me to allow the suggestion that those Irishmen who fought on the side of the British should be recognised, supposedly for bravery, fighting an army of farmers, much smaller in numbers to the British army. The main reason the British won that war was because they burned and pillaged the farms of the Boers, slaughtered their animals, and kidnapped their women and children, whom they put into concentration camps, where 30,000 of them died from disease and hunger. The Boers surrendered in order to save the remainder of their women and children.
These figures do not include the thousands of black people were also put into concentration camps and who also died in these camps at the hands of the British. Is this a legacy that we should be proud off? I would go so far as to suggest that that the Fusiliers Arch in St Stephen’s Green should be removed with immediate effect so that we do not give credence to the belief that we commemorate or support the murder of innocent women and children by any so-called Irish man, either at home or abroad.
Perhaps it should be replaced by a memorial to the Irish Pro-Boers!
It may also be of interest for your readers to know that a memorial to the Irish pro-Boer soldiers had been erected in Boxburg, near Johannesburg. Subsequent to 1994, it was due to be destroyed by the ANC. It is now to be found on a hilltop overlooking Orania in the Northern Cape, in a place where the Irish are considered as heroes and will always be welcome. – Is mise,
NIALL Mac AIBAICIN,
Milford, Co Donegal.
5 Reaksies op “Twee briewe in die Irish Times”
Rudolf Herbst 19 Januarie 2012 at 14:59 Permalink
“The main reason the British won that war was because they burned and pillaged the farms of the Boers, slaughtered their animals, and kidnapped their women and children, whom they put into concentration camps, where 30,000 of them died from disease and hunger.”
Vandag weet ons hoe anders die geskiedenis sou wees indien hierdie nié plaasgevind het nie.
“The Boers surrendered in order to save the remainder of their women and children.”
Baie waar, anders sou die bittereinders seker nog ‘n paar jaar in die veld kon aangaan met die konfrontasies.
Ongelooflik om te dink dis al 110 jaar gelede.
Gelukkig staan die monument nou op ‘n veilige plek, nadat dit gesloop sou word, volgens wat ek verneem het, om plek te maak vir ‘n “taxi” staanplek.
Word daar iets spesifieks in Orania beplan rondom die mondigwordings feesvieringe en skou vanjaar om dié herhinneringe te herdenk en hulde aan almal wat aan Boere kant geveg het te bring?
Quintin Diederichs 4 Februarie 2012 at 08:26 Permalink
Die Iere se lang en hartseer geskiedenis bied ook talle voorbeelde waar hul taal, kultuur en lewens vernietig was deur die Engelse. Geen Ier met enige vorm en mate van selfrespek sal die Britse “oorwinning” oor die Boererepublieke vier nie, soos geen Afrikaner in sy regte kop ooit Laudabiliter sal herdenk nie!
JAN HUMPATA 6 Februarie 2012 at 20:00 Permalink
Dit is voordiehandliggend maar heeltemal korrek. Bravo aan Jaco Kleynhans, hy is ‘n ware leier en dit is puik om te sien dat daar darem 2 ANC Afrikaner handlangers is wat hom steun.
Paul 28 Februarie 2012 at 09:21 Permalink
Ek was al daar in Dublin waar by St. Stephen’s Green se een ingang waar ‘n gedenkboog vir die “Royal” Dublin Fusilliers opgerig is. Dis nogal interessant – talle van die Iere noem dit die “Traitors’ Gate”, omdat dit Iere herdenk wat vir die Engelse geveg het. Mens moet baie van daardie jong Iere tog nie noodwendig te erg beoordeel nie – talle van hulle het aansluiting by die leër gesien as die enigste uitweg uit ‘n armoedige en hopelose situasie.
In die militêre museum in Dublin is daar ook interessante uitstallings oor die Anglo-Boereoorlog, met toerusting en inligting van Iere van beide kante. Daar is onder-andere ‘n Mauser-geweer met ‘n afbeelding van Paul Kruger op die kolf uitgekerf, kompleet met sy pyp in sy mond. Daar is ook aansteekknopies met foto’s Paul Kruger en Piet Joubert op, wat deur Iere in Ierland gedra is om hul ondersteuning van die Boere te toon.
Ook het ek op ‘n afgeleë klein kroeg afgekom doer in die weste van Ierland, met die naam “Kruger’s Pub”. Dit is blykbaar destyds bedryf deur ‘n Ier wat die bynaam “Kruger” gekry het op laerskool omdat hy baie bakleierig was, en sy klasmaats het gedink dat hy soos Paul Kruger is, wat bereid was om met die Engelse te baklei.
Jaco Kleynhans 28 Februarie 2012 at 13:49 Permalink
Baie interessant! Dankie Paul.