Retha Fitchat
A local Midvaal based television production company has just completed a three episode documentary about the forgotten stories and participants in the Second Anglo Boer War.
The three hour documentary series is a wholly South African production, using a local crew and cast.
“Black, White and Khaki deals with what is not well known about this war, for example, it could not have been fought if it were not for the involvement of tens of thousands of black, coloured and Indian people of the region at that time,” says Robert Waldron, Creative Director of Wild Dog Productions in Henley-on-Klip.
“Over 29 000 of them died in combat or in concentration camps during this war.
They were the transport riders, the ‘agter-ryers’ (support riders), scouts, trench-diggers, bridge builders, guides, spies and combatants who helped both sides fight the war,” says Robert.
“Their women and children were also held in concentration camps, often under appalling conditions, during Lord Kitchener’s ‘scorched earth’ campaign.
“Among those involved were none other than Mohandas Karamchand Ghandi, who was an under fire stretcher bearer for the British, later his great foe. Also, Sol Plaatje, a founder member of the African National Congress was aide de camp to General Baden-Powell, who later founded the Boy Scouts’ Movement.
“Also little known was that no less than 29 nations were involved in this war. It was truly the first ‘First World War’. These other nations fought for either one or the other side. Many of the European Nations were incensed that Britain had precipitated in the war, and Germany, France, Scandinavia, Russia, even Spain and Portugal, sent volunteers to fight for the Boers as well as nurses to help in their field hospitals. The USA and Canada sent volunteers for the British, and some USA citizens, such as Capt. John Blake, a Wespoint graduate, headed the Irish Brigade, fighting for the Boers,” says Robert.
Black, White & Khaki tells the lesser known stories of the often forgotten heroes and heroines of this major war, often known as the ‘white man’s war’, which was anything but, as it also shaped the future fate of black people under apartheid, as documented in the final peace treaty.
Filmed on the actual battlefield sites of Talana Hill in Dundee, Spioen Kop, and Magersfontein, this series aims to correct some imbalances of the past, and involve all South Africans in an important and valuable part of our history.
The 3 x DVD sets are available from wilddogs@icon.co.za at a special pre-Christmas price of R399 excluding postage. (There is a secure R99 service anywhere in the country through Postnet.)
The producers are giving away a DVD set to three lucky readers in an easy competition. SMS “WAR” and the name of the documentary to 45534 to reach us not later than December 5. An SMS will cost R1-50.
