The Second Anglo-Boer War, fought between the British troops and the Afrikaans speaking Dutch farmers, who had settled the provinces of Transvaal and the Orange Free State, lasted from 1899 to 1902. During the war about 26,000 prisoners taken by the British and they were despatched to a number of prisoner of war camps in the Cape and Natal as well as to destinations overseas. About 5,000 were sent to 2 camps on the island of St. Helena, in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean and a similar number to Ceylon. Fewer were sent to India and between 4,000 and 5,000 to 6 small islands in the Great Sound of Bermuda. In August 2013 Warwick and Warwick sold a collection of 11 covers and 1 front addressed to Boer prisoners of war in Bermuda.
Camps were established on the islands of Tucker’s, Darrell’s, Burt’s, Hawkin’s, Morgan’s and Hinson’s. The first contingent of prisoners arrived on June 28th 1901 and they were not returned to South Africa until late 1904, despite the cessation of hostilities in May 1902. Darrell’s Island was the most closely guarded of the camps and contained those prisoners who believed that the war should continue. On the other islands, as long as the prisoners adhered to military rule, they had relative freedom to conduct their own affairs. The biggest enemy was boredom and to combat it they engaged in activities such as gymnastics, fishing and farming.
On an initial inspection of the covers the majority appeared untidy and somewhat dog-eared, but on reflection it must be appreciated that English was an unfamiliar language to many of the Boers and literacy rates were low amongst Boer farmers. Given the fact that many of the letters had to be redirected, it is not so surprising that they showed a worn appearance. It appears that there was no system in place for knowing exactly in which camp a prisoner was located. Indeed, other than 4 censor handstamps, the only handstamp known used in Bermuda on incoming Boer correspondence was the “NOT TUCKER’S” re-direction handstamp. The incoming mail was censored either in South Africa and/or on arrival in Bermuda.
The interesting range was offered as a single lot and it found a buyer at £1,092, including the buyer’s premium.
This 1902 cover was sent to a P.O.W. at “tuckers eyland”, having been censored at Johannesburg. The pink markings at the top are the remains of an “opened under Martial Law” re-sealing label. However the prisoner was not at Tucker’s and the cover received the “NOT TUCKERS” handstamp. Also underneath that, in manuscript, is “Not Darrells”, indicating that the cover did the rounds before being correctly delivered.
This is a 1902 mourning envelope to a prisoner in Bermuda. It bears the precise address “Sqn. A, Tent No. 3, Darrells Island” and the circular handstamp of Bermudan censor no. 2. This censor handstamp is rare on incoming mail.
Another 1902 re-directed cover, this time addressed to a prisoner on Morgan’s Island, re-directed to Burrells. The censor handstamp was applied in Johannesburg.
By Colin Such