| Personal Details |
| Name: | Dr John Bernard Voortman |
| Type: | Staff |
| Born in camp? |
No |
| Died in camp? |
No |
| Gender: | male |
| Race: | white |
| Marital status: | married |
| Nationality: | British |
| Occupation: | doctor |
| Notes: | Medical Directory, 1903, p.1593: Overseas: Fauresmith ORC; LRCP, LRCS Edin, LFPS Glasg 1896.
26/12/1901: Voortman, Edinburgh, to Under Secy of State: Re his applicaton as MO to ORC camps, suggested by Prof Wyllie to write to you. In my application I state that I was born in the ORC and was at the time the war commenced practising my profession in Fauresmith ORC. On 12/10/1899 I was commandeered to proceed to the seat of war in charge of the ambulance of the South Western districts of the then FS which duty I performed up to th time of the occupation of Bloemfontein by Lord Roberts when I left the commando and went back to my home in Fauresmith which now came under British protection. Here I remained until last June when with the kind permission of Colonel Byng I was allowed to come away under his protection to the British lines.
The town of Fauresmith which (from October to December 1900) was garrisoned by the Seaforth Highlanders, was attacked by the Boers on 19/10/1900 and as there was no surgeon in charge of the troops at the time, I was asked by Capt Stewart CO to take charge of the sick and wounded. Turned his private residence into a hospital for the occasion. Also supplied the troops with medicine during the 3 months of the occupation. On evacuation of the town in December 1900, was advised by Capt Steward to remain behand and try and protect the property against destruction by the Boers. Succeeded.
On 4/3/1901 General Plumer's column passed through and again took care of sick and wounded.
Took oath of neutrality in March 1900. Has never been asked to take the Oath of Allegiance but would be willing to do so as a future citizen of the ORC. Has in the meantime lost everything in this war and is almost penniliness.
De V ms: Dr Voortman was present at the Belmont battlefield, caring for the wounded.
4/1/1902: Appointed to a post in the camps.
De V ms: Was ds at Fauresmith at the time that war broke out, and accompanied the Fauresmith and Jacobsdal commandos as MO. As a member of the OVS ambulance he took care of the wounded at the battles of Belmont, Graspan and Modder River. With other OFS and ZAR doctors, he was taken prisoner after the battle of Modder River, and sent to CT, but could return in time to be present at the battle of Magersfontein. He worked the Jacobsdal hospital prior to the arrival of the German Red Cross ambulance, and remained on active service with the Boer forces in the OFS until Lord Roberts' proclamation. Back in Fauresmith he started a hospital where he treated Boer and British in the war. |
| Unique ID: | 1956 |
| Camp History |
| Name: | Bethulie RC |
| Date departure: | 24/2/1902 |
| Reason departure: | transferred |
| Destination: | Aliwal North RC |
| Notes: | 6/2/1902: From Parwana: left for Bethulie 5/2/1902 |
| Sources |
| Title: | SRC 38 |
| Type: | Correspondence: appointments |
| Location: | VAB |
| Reference No.: | 38 |
| Dates: | Feb-Mar 1902 |
| Notes: | A884, 24/2/1902: CSRC to SRC, Bethulie and related correspondence |
| Title: | SRC 42 |
| Type: | Correspondence: appointments |
| Location: | VAB |
| Reference No.: | 42 |
| Dates: | June-July 1902 |
| Notes: | A1525, 27/6/1902: Voortman to CSRC |
| Title: | SRC 44 |
| Type: | Correspondence: appointments |
| Location: | VAB |
| Reference No.: | 44 |
| Dates: | Aug-Sept 1902 |
| Notes: | A1957, 10/9/1902, Voortman to CSRC and related correspondence |
| Title: | SRC 58 |
| Type: | Appointments register |
| Location: | VAB |
| Reference No.: | 58 |
| Dates: | Jan-May 1902 |
| Notes: | File 744, 6/2/1902 and later correspondence |
| Title: | GOV 251 |
| Location: | National Archives, Pretoria |
| Reference No.: | 251 |
| Notes: | 9/11/1901: Hime, Bethulie to JC |
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British Concentration Camps