Netherlands: Boer War: Concentration Camps and Burning Farmhouse

Form:

Circular

By:

W. Vort & Zonen of Haarlem, Holland

Date:

1901

Ref:

AM: 91; Hern: 208.; Laidlaw: 0053;

Variations:

Size	Metal	Mass	Value
33.6 mm	Silver	15.0 gm	$250
33.6 mm	Bronze	16.1 gm	$200

Edge:

Plain.

Obverse:

In the centre above, two mounted knights in armour, swords drawn, engaged in combat and below that, two foot soldiers fighting with swords and shields. The soldier to the left is recognisably Spanish. Around: “1568 – 1648 . DE . SPANJAARDE . IN . DE . VER . PROVINCIEN”. Outside a beaded border and within a cable round the rim, the legend: “HET . IS . BETER . TE . STRIJDEN . VOOR . HET . VADERLAND”. An ornamental cross with stops on each side at the top.

Reverse:

In the centre, a burning Boer farmhouse. Around: “. . . 1899 - 1901 . . . DE . ENGELSHEN . IN . ZUID . AFRIKA”. Outside a beaded border and within a cable round the rim, the legend: “. . DAN . DOOR . EEN . GEVEINSDE . VREDE . TE . WORDER . BEDROGEN”.

Notes:

The silver medal comes inside a circular, lined, cardboard box with the maker’s name embossed in gold letter on the outside: "W. VORT & ZONEN / Anegang 15. / HAARLEM.".

The Dutch legends on the obverse and reverse need to be read together. Translated into English: "1568-1648 the Spanish in the distant provinces ... 1899-1901 the English in South Africa. It is better to fight for ones fatherland that to be cheated by a sham peace treaty”.

After the end of formal hostilities in 1900 with all of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State under British occupation, guerrilla warfare continued for two further years. The new Commander-in-Chief, Lord Kitchener, adopted a scorched-earth policy, burning farmhouses and crops, and imprisoning Boer women and children in concentration camps. This method of warfare was abhorred throughout Europe. Even in Britain, opponents of the war such as Emily Hobhouse were instrumental in making the British public aware of the brutalities inflicted by their country’s military actions.

This medal was produced in Holland by W. Vort & Zonen of Haarlem. It was commissioned by the Mayor of Bennnebroek, P.N. van Doorninck, whose intention was to raise funds for the relief of the women and children in the concentration camps.

The sentiment of the medal harks back to the time when the Dutch had to defend themselves against Spanish occupation during the 80 year’s War and makes the analogy between this period of history and the Boer War.