OT - The British Boer War

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John303

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This isn't about WW 1 / 2 but I thought this would be a good a place as any to put this.

I collect the odd old book and have come by the book: South Africa & The British Boer War - Vol # 1, by Hopkins & Halstead in the year 1900.

The interesting thing is it has in the back a list of Canadian Contingents in South Africa which lists all the personal
within these contingents and so on.

Should anyone out there have a past family member / friend that served in this war need some info. / confirmation
as to unit etc. I will look for the info. on these folks / anything else of interest to someone.

Interesting book, some 450 pages including pics. - I'll just have to read this one.

--- John303.
 
Thank you Sir.

One thing that I always find strange come Rememberance Day in Canada.

There is never any mention of the Boer War or even the Fenian Raids into Canada.

Enjoy your read.

I have family that served in the Boer War but they served in the Coldstream Guard in England.

My Great Grandfather,

Lance Corporal Charles Arthur Parks
Served 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards (18 Feb 1890 - 24 May 1902)
Buckingham Palace Guard,
South African War 1899 - 1900.
Awarded War Medal with clasps: Belmont, Modder River, Dreifontein
Back row - 2nd from right

CStreamers.jpg
 
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My Regiment, the Princess Louise Fusiliers (hence my CGN handle) perpetuates the Halifax contingent that fought in the South African campaign and we carry the Battle Honour on our Colours. As well, on Nov 11 we parade at the Halifax Boer War Memorial which is on the grounds of the NS Provincial Legislature. So the war and our sacrifice for the Crown in that war isn't entirely forgotten.

I bet your book would make a great read. Thanks for sharing.
 
Fusilier - Your Regiment would be the 66th PLFs, is that correct. No doubt you have the list of those of the 66th that served in the Boer War.

There is a list in the book - I could put it here if you wish. I would like to find Vol. # 2 but that is a needle in the haystack no doubt. --- John
 
John:

That would be us. We've changed names a few times, now just going by the PLF but at one time we were the 66th Regiment of Foot (or some version of that title). I would love to have a copy of the list as you offer. I can PM my home e-mail address or if you want to you could post it up here.

Thank you for the kind offer.
 
My Great Grand Uncle Joseph Plamondon served in the RCRI First Contingent., he enlisted in Quebec City. He also served in France in 1915.
 
machman said:
+1...and Canadian Spanish Civil war volunteers.
Click to expand...

There has been some writing on Canadians who volunteered in the International Brigades in the Spanish Civil War but that was in no way sanctioned by Canada so it is unlikely it will ever be commemorated officially.

The Gallant Cause Canadians in the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939 by Mark Zuehlke published by Whitecap Books, Vancouver/Toronto 1996


On the Canadian effort in the Boer War I can recommend Our Little Army in the Field: The Canadians in South Africa 1899-1902 by Brian A. Reid, Howell Press 2000

by Brian A Reid
 
cigar_man said:
One thing that I always find strange come Remembrance Day in Canada.
South There is never any mention of the Boer War or even the Fenian Raids into Canada.
Click to expand...
There is also littler or no mention of Canadians in Korea, Vietnam or even much attention paid to Canadian military successes in Afghanistan. Ever hear that the term stormtroopers was what the Germans called Canadian troops in WW1? Hell, my kids can't even spell Fenian let alone know what it means. The social engineering of Canada has been rolling along for a long time and its not over yet.
 
machman said:
+1...and Canadian Spanish Civil war volunteers.
Click to expand...

You mean the fellow travellers with communists and anarchists?

Yes, I know the other side was facist but, imho there were no obvious good guys in the Spanish civil war. In some ways this war was just an extention of the Carlist wars of the 19th century and the best thing would have been for all foreigners to stay out and let the Spaniards sort it out.
 
bdft said:
There is also littler or no mention of Canadians in Korea, Vietnam or even much attention paid to Canadian military successes in Afghanistan. Ever hear that the term stormtroopers was what the Germans called Canadian troops in WW1? Hell, my kids can't even spell Fenian let alone know what it means. The social engineering of Canada has been rolling along for a long time and its not over yet.
Click to expand...
I also read somewhere that the Germans referred to the Canadian Scottish regiments as the "terror Ladies" .
Fierce fighters that wore "skirts" into battle.
Scared the hell out of many of them.
 
762shooter said:
You mean the fellow travellers with communists and anarchists?
Yes, I know the other side was facist but, imho there were no obvious good guys in the Spanish civil war. In some ways this war was just an extention of the Carlist wars of the 19th century and the best thing would have been for all foreigners to stay out and let the Spaniards sort it out.
Click to expand...

Also check out "Renegades, Canadians in the Spanish Civil War" by Michael Petrou. Not all were Commies & Anarchists...A lot were trade unionists who were fighting the Fascists before Neville Chamberlain declared "Peace in our time!". The didn't do it for the money. They weren't conscripted. They got scheissed on more then Vietnam vets did upon their return. They did it because of an outmoded belief in honour and the hope of making the world a better place. Being a commie back then meant something quite different then in does today.
 
leadslinger said:
I also read somewhere that the Germans referred to the Canadian Scottish regiments as the "terror Ladies" .
Fierce fighters that wore "skirts" into battle.
Scared the hell out of many of them.
Click to expand...

Ladies from Hell indeed. Not just Canadian Kilties, any Highland Regiment in WW 1. Most of them wore Kilts as battle dress, however some Scottish and Canadian East Coast Regiments wore trews (trousers) in both Battle and Dress uniform. Apparently the bagpipe musical commands used to scare the hell out of them...then their snipers figured out that the Piper makes for a damn fine target. :-0! It was practice for the British army NCO's to blow whistles in the trench to sound "over the top advance" command...In a Highland Regiment the Piper was the first over the sand bags and once over began playing to sound the advance...a Piper had dual duty during a battle as they were also stretcher bearers.
 
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