Boer Prisoners of War Memorial in Diyathalawa (දියතලාව බෝයර් යුද සිරකරුවන්ගේ ස්මාරකය)

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The conflict known as the Boer War, alternatively referred to as the Anglo-Boer War or the South African War, took place from 1899 to 1902. This war was waged between the British Empire and the Boer states, namely the South African Republic (Transvaal Republic) and the Orange Free State.

The roots of the conflict were intricate and varied, encompassing tensions stemming from British imperial ambitions in southern Africa, disagreements over land and natural resources, and clashes between British settlers and Boer agricultural communities.

At the end of the war, the triumphant British sent most of the Prisoners of War to camps overseas, especially – St Helena, Bermuda, India and Ceylon. When St Helena filled up, Ceylon was chosen as a destination. A large camp was set up at the hill station at Diyatalawa in Badulla District.

Boer prisoners consisting of burghers captured while under arms first arrived in Ceylon on August 9th 1900 and subsequently others followed until 5,089 prisoners had landed with the last on 1901 June 1st. Diyatalawa was the main camp. Mount Lavinia was the convalescent camp that opened on 1900 December 17th. Dissidents and irreconcilables who would not sign the oath of allegiance to the British Crown were housed at Ragama Camp. Camps for prisoners on parole were also opened at Urugasmanhandiya on 1901 September 11th and also in Hambantota on 1901 September 19th. (Harman,2017)

For 4 years Diyatalawa was covered in tents made of corrugated sheets which housed the Boer Prisoners. With the peace treaty with the Boer nations, the last of the Boer Prisoners left the Diyathalawa Camp on the 24th of September, 1903.

On the southern side of the camp, there are 133 graves in six lines separated by pathways paved with white stones, where the Boers are buried. Each one of the Boer graves has the same Celtic cross above it and a board which bears particulars of the man lying underneath, together with a reference to a text from the Holy Writ. The cross and the carved inscription were originally of wood, the handiwork of the Boers themselves. It was possible to pick out the inscriptions which had been carved by one and the same unknown craftsman. More recently, a concrete cross and slab have replaced the wooden memorial (Brohier, 1947)

In 1913, just before World War I, the South African Government built an obelisk memorial on the Diyatalawa grounds to commemorate the 140 Boer prisoners who died at the prisoner-of-war of the Diyathalawa Camp.

It states: “In memory of prisoners of war who died at Diyatalawa camp who were buried near this stone, Erected by the Government of United South Africa-1913”.

On three sides of it, marble slabs with leaded lettering display a full list of all these Boer prisoners-of-war who lost their lives in captivity or on parole.

Another memorial close by states; “The Sailors and Soldiers Honoured here died during the years 1900-1914 or 1928-1933 and the civilians during the years 1909-1946”

Approval of the Army is necessary to visit these memorial sites as they are located within the Army camp.

References

Brohier , R.L. (1947) ‘THE BOER PRISONER-OF-WAR IN CEYLON (1900 – 1902)’, Journal of the Dutch Burger Union of Ceylon, XXXVIII(1), pp. 1–11.
Harman, M. (2017) POW camps in Ceylon during the Boer war, libcom.org. Available at: https://libcom.org/article/pow-camps-ceylon-during-boer-war (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.

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Map of Boer Prisoners of War Memorial in Diyathalawa

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Bandarawela in Kandy to Boer Prisoners of War Memorial in Diyathalawa

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References

Also See

Map of Boer Prisoners of War Memorial in Diyathalawa

Travel Directions to Boer Prisoners of War Memorial in Diyathalawa

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