Boer War Ceylon Contingent Memorial in Kandy (බෝයර් යුද්ධයේ මහනුවර ශ්‍රී ලාංකික බලඇණියේ ස්මාරකය)

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Boar War Ceylon Contingent Memorial in Kandy
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The Boer War, also known as the Anglo-Boer War or the South African War, occurred between 1899 and 1902. It was fought between the British Empire and the Boer states of the South African Republic (Transvaal Republic) and the Orange Free State.

The underlying causes of the conflict were complex and multifaceted, including tensions over British imperial expansion in southern Africa, disputes over territory and resources, and conflicts between British settlers and Boer farmers.

Early in January 1900 the Legislative Council of Ceylon unanimously agreed to send a contingent of 125 mounted infantry raised from white men in the Colony. This squadron sailed on 2nd February 1900 and a second contingent of Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps, 103 strong, sailed from Ceylon on 23rd April 1902, but peace was declared before they took the field (www.angloboerwar.com).

After the end of the war, a memorial celebrating the contribution of the Ceylon Contingent to the Boer War was planned. The memorial depicts a trooper of the Ceylon Mounted Infantry giving the signal “enemy in sight” and was designed by Geraldine Thomas nee Blake, the sister-in-law of Lt. Arthur H Thomas, one of those killed in that conflict who is commemorated on this memorial; the names of the other fallen men are W Max Kelly, C Campion, QMSGT Cheyne, AS Hopper, K Hamilton, Claude C Bell and NW Smellie. It was unveiled by Field-Marshal HRH Prince Albert, the Duke of Connaught, KG, GCMG on 18 March 1907 (Perera, 2023).

Two bronze/ brass tablets have been affixed to the plinth of the memorial (in February 1910) with the following inscriptions:-

Tablet 1 : This memorial was erected in commemoration of the services of the Ceylon Contingent in South Africa, 1900 – 02, and unveiled by Field –Marshal H.R.H. the Duke of Connaught, K.G., G.C.M.G. March 18th, 1907.

Tablet 2 : In Memorial.
Lieut. Arthur H. Thomas.
W. Max Kelly.
C. Campion.
Q.M. Sergt. Cheyne.
A.S. Hopper.
K. Hamilton.
Claude Bell.
N.W. Smellie.

(Perera, 2023)

In the early 1970s, efforts were underway by the Town and Country Planners to restore the surroundings of Sri Dalada Maligawa to their pre-colonial state. As part of this initiative, the Boer War Memorial was relocated from its original site near Sri Dalada Maligawa to Wales Park, also known as Royal Palace Park or Raja Wasala Park, situated atop a small hill in the heart of Kandy City.

In 1974, Captain AMB Amunugama, SR, with the approval of his Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. C.N. Panabokke, determined that the Boer War Memorial should be situated in a military setting rather than a leisure park. Following orders from his Commanding Officer, Captain Amunugama oversaw the transfer of the memorial from Wales Park to the Drill Square of the Second Volunteer Battalion of the Sri Lanka Singha Regiment on Brownrigg Street, Kandy (Perera, 2023). Thus this magnificent monument has been hidden from the public eye for the last 50 years.

The beautifully crafted monument is visible from the Brownrigg Steet behind a high wall of the Army Barracks.

Boer War Ceylon Contingent Memorial on its original location in front of Temple of Tooth

References

Anglo Boer War – ceylon mounted infantry (no date) AngloBoerWar.com. Available at: https://www.angloboerwar.com/unit-information/indian-units/1990-ceylon-mounted-infantry (Accessed: 26 April 2024).
Perera, K.N. (2023) ‘ War Memorials In Sri Lanka – Boer War (1899 -1902), First World War (1914 – 1918) And Second World War (1939 – 1945)’. Colombo: Sri Lanka Ex – Servicemen’s Association.

Also See

Map of Boer War Ceylon Contingent Memorial in Kandy

Please click on the button below to load the Dynamic Google Map (ගූගල් සිතියම් පහලින්)

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Travel Directions to Boer War Ceylon Contingent Memorial in Kandy

Route from Temple of Tooth in Kandy to Boer War Ceylon Contingent Memorial

Distance: 550 meters
Travel Time : 2 hours
Driving Directions : see on Google map

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References

Also See

Map of Boer War Ceylon Contingent Memorial in Kandy

Travel Directions to Boer War Ceylon Contingent Memorial in Kandy

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