LISTEN: A Boer on Burt’s Island and the Reflections of August Carl Schulenburg - The Bermudian Magazine

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LISTEN: A Boer on Burt’s Island and the Reflections of August Carl Schulenburg

Translated from Afrikaans by Dr. C.A.R. Schulenburg and edited by C.H. Benbow

On the 8th of May 1901, thirty-two of us in Area 2 were surrounded by the British and taken prisoner. I had little with me, except my rifle and the clothes I was wearing. Our pockets were emptied by the enemy. I had a notebook with entries in Dutch shorthand. For three successive days, I had to appear before the general for interrogation, especially about the notes in my diary. I persistently refused to say anything and, as they could not make out what I had written, they refused to give it back. This was a great loss to me.

We were taken to Klerksdorp and were herded on foot through the main street to the local gaol where we spent three days. Then one morning we were taken to the railway station and placed in an open coal truck ahead of the engine for removal to Johannesburg. It was bitterly cold. In Johannesburg, we were locked up underground in the “Fort”. The Reverend Martins visited us every day and with his help, I was able to buy myself a small handbag, a towel, soap, comb and a shirt.

After ten days, we were taken to the station again and placed in a coal truck to be transported to Durban at the coast. This time we were behind the locomotive which was welcome for it was May and very cold. In Durban, we were marched to the Point and then taken out on a small boat to a large ship (the S.S. “Armenian”) that lay outside the harbour. They used a big basket and crane to get us up on deck, four at a time. On the ship, we learnt that we were to be taken to Cape Town, where a further six hundred prisoners on war would be embarked and then on to Bermuda.

The weather was stormy and most of us were seasick. The dining room and sleeping quarters were in the hold of the ship. Our beds consisted on hammocks and we moved to and fro like bats in the air. All the mats and blankets were crawling with bed bugs, and I am surprised to this day that an epidemic did not break out.

After three days, we arrived at Table Bay and more than 600 prisoners were taken on board. Most of these men had been captured with General Cronje at the beginning of the war and had been kept in the POW camp at Green Point. The trip from the Cape to Bermuda lasted thirty days and was most boring, especially in the tropics. There were a number of Hollanders aboard, as well as other volunteers from foreign countries who had fought for the Boers. These decided to hijack the ship, but I knew nothing of this plan. I later learned that the idea was to take over the vessel near the Azores and then carry on to Portugal. But, because of squealers, the plan did not succeed, and the ring leaders were locked up until our arrival in Bermuda.

On Sundays, Dirk Postma of Burghersdorp held religious services on deck. There was a good library aboard and were allowed to take out books. I read many, mostly German and English ones. Draughts was a popular game. On the 11th of June, we saw flying fish for the first time. They reminded us of locusts and mad us long for home. On the 16th we touched at the Cape Verde Islands to take on coal. In the early morning of the 28th, we saw land again; this time it was Bermuda!

The Bermudas were thickly wooded with cedar trees. The Boer prisoners of war were accommodated in tents on the following islands: Darrell’s, Burt’s, Morgan’s, Tucker’s and Hawkins’. Later, another island housed the children prisoners of war. A prison hospital under canvas was situated on Port’s Island and some of our men lie buried in a cemetery close by.

On the 1st of July, we were taken to Burt’s Island. It was pleasant to be on land again, even though so far from home. The island was very small, about 500 square yards in size, and it was divided in two by a high barbed-wire fence with a gate in the middle. We were on one side and the English guards on the other. Two warships also guarded us, illuminating the island at night with their strong searchlights. At first, we numbered 430 men. The English guards were under the command of Major G.D. Armstrong. The tents were erected in rows and these were known as “lines”. There were nine “lines” at first, but this was soon reduced to seven when some men were transferred to Morgan’s Island. Seven men shared a tent. Each row chose its “Line Captain” and each tent had a “Corporal” who was responsible for the cleanliness of the tent and its surroundings.

Our camp had its own “Commandant” who was responsible for discussions between us and the English Guard Commander.

Rox call was held twice a day on the parade ground: mornings and evenings at six o’clock. Each “Line Captain” was responsible for his men, but officers were not counted.

Rations had to be drawn each day and every tent inhabitant had to see to his own preparation and cooking. Barend Swanepoel was our cook from the beginning to the end. Daily rations for each man on Burt’s Island were:

1 ¼ lbs. bread or 1lb biscuits

1lb fresh meat

¾ lb. preserved meat

2/3 oz. coffee

½ oz. salt

½ pound lb. fresh vegetables

1 oz. preserved vegetables

Lime juice with sugar was issued if fresh vegetables were not available, or on the recommendation of the medical officer

In the whole island group, there were no rivers and no fresh water, except rain that was caught or else de-salted sea water.

There were five marquees in our camp; three were used as school tents, one as a library and one as a mess for officers. A large wood-and-canvas building was erected for use as a church. Dirk Postma held services here in the beginning, and later we had visits from Reverend Albertyn and Reverend van Blerk.

The boring, soul-killing life on the island was made bearable, and enjoyable to a certain extent, by the friendly help of American and Bermudian residents who sympathized with us, and by the efforts of The Boer Relief Committee which consisted of the following persons: Captain and Mrs. Recht, Captain and Mrs. Meyer, Mr. Willie Meyer and Miss Outerbridge. The Committee also included the Reverend and Mrs. Albertyn and Reverent van Blerk. These three had free access to the various camps and were kept informed of the requirements on the islands. It was through this Committee that we were presented with a large marquee that was used as a library. Many books were sent to us from America, mostly English ones but also a number of German, Dutch and French. In the beginning I was librarian, a post which was later taken over by my friend Melt van Niekerk of Pretoria.

I was also secretary of the “POW Industrial Association”. This was started by the makers of curios and toys. Hundreds of these items were made out of cedarwood at the request of Americans and other visitors/ We had to concoct a plan to get these items away to Hamilton.

Through the English Commander, I was able to contact Miss Katherine Elwes at Government House, and she undertook to receive the curios, sell them and let me have the money to divide among the makers. A large wooden box with padlock was given to me; I had one key and Miss Elwes had the other. I received the objects, supplied each with a label and price and packed them into the box. When the box was full, the OC had it sent over to Miss Ewles.