• Home
• Database
• Camps
• Contact
• Links
• FAQ
• Login

Persons Browse Persons Search Persons Camps Browse Camps Search Camps Farms Browse Farms Search Farms Unique ID Search

THE DATABASE

Sources of information

This database consists mainly of information from the following sources:

• The camp registers of the white camps, which are preserved in the DBC series, National Archives, Pretoria and the SRC series, Free State Archives. Although the majority of the registers have survived, some (like Kroonstad) disappeared at the end of the war, while others (like one of the Irene registers) have vanished relatively recently. The registers vary greatly in quality. In particular, the Orange River Colony registers appear to have been rewritten in 1902, probably at the request of the second Chief Superintendent of Refugee Camps, Colonel Wilkins, and the originals have not survived. Clerks were of varying competence and the information they recorded varies in accuracy and legibility.
• The government gazettes of the Transvaal and Orange River colonies, which listed deaths in the camps. Although these were full and accurate, some deaths were not recorded. There is a gap, for instance, in the Balmoral camp records, unfortunately at the height of the epidemics there. In addition, the typesetters appear to have been English-speaking and often had difficulty with Afrikaans names, so mistakes did occur in the printing.
• The lists from the RS series in the National Archives, Pretoria. These lists were compiled by P.L.A. Goldman, at the request of General Louis Botha, to provide information on all the deaths in the Boer republics during the South African War. His lists of deaths in the camps provides the basis for the numbers of deaths listed on the Vrouemonument in Bloemfontein. Goldman's techniques were old-fashioned and there appear to have been many duplicates included in his lists.

Information available

The following information is provided in the database:

• Surname. The spelling of surnames varies greatly and it may be necessary to search under a number of variants. One such example is Coetzee, Coetsee, Coetzer, Coetser, Coetsen. Kotze, Kotzee. Where variant forms are known to exist, they are entered under Other names.
• First names. The same problem exists as above, of variant spellings. In addition, first names may be entered only under initials or they may be abbreviated. Where variant forms are known, they are entered under Other names. In the case of the black camp inmates, it should be noted that the terminology used in the registers is sometimes offensive.
• Title. The use of the title may seem somewhat odd, especially in its English form, but it was introduced for the convenience of the research project. We have retained it on the website since it continues to have some value. Please note that the term 'Master' applies only to boys of 15 years and younger. The term 'Ms' was used when we were not sure whether or not adult women were married.
• Gender. Where known, inmates are entered as male or female. In a few cases women are given male names. This is usually noted under Other names.
• Race. The main reason for retaining this category arose because we wished to identify black camp inmates.
• Nationality. Nationality is rarely given in the registers if the inmates came from the Boer Republics. It is assumed, unless other information is provided, that the inmates were residents of the republic with which the camp administration was associated. British, Russian (Jewish), Dutch, German or other subjects are occasionally listed.
• Civilian occupation. Many registers mention the occupation of the head of household, the great majority being farmers, landowners or bywoners.
• Status. The registers frequently mention the position of the adult males of the family, whether or not they are in the camps. This includes men on commando, prisoners-of-war (pow) and men who had taken the oath of neutrality. Occasionally other information is provided.
• Farm or family. The farm, or district from which inmates came, is almost invariably listed. There are, however, many variants in the spelling of farm names. In some cases families owned more than one farm and there are also many cases, especially with deaths, where inmates are associated with several different farms.
• Births and deaths. Where provided, as much detail as possible is given. The government gazettes usually published the causes of deaths, although diagnoses varied greatly and are not always reliable.
• Camps associated. The information on the camps includes, where available, the dates of arrival and departure, and the age of arrival. In addition, the final destination is also sometimes listed. Camp inmates were transferred regularly from camp to camp, as individuals, as families or in groups. Where possible these movements are traced and included. It should be noted, however, that the information is not always internally consistent. It is likely, as with Pietersburg camp, for instance, that some individuals went to reside in the local town for a time and would later return to the camp. In many cases the husband joined the family after some months, often after he had been taken prisoner and sent to Green Point in Cape Town.
• Sources associated. All the sources associated with an individual entry are listed.