The Anglo-Boer War Museum (also known as The War Museum of the Boer Republics) in

Bloemfontein Bloemfontein ( ; ), also known as Bloem, is the capital and the largest city of the Free State (province), Free State province in South Africa. It is often, and has been traditionally, referred to as the country's "judicial capital", alongsi ...

is the only museum in the world dedicated solely to the

Anglo-Boer Wars The military history of South Africa chronicles a vast time period and complex events from the dawn of history until the present time. It covers civil wars and wars of aggression and of self-defence both within South Africa and against it. It in ...

of 1899 to 1902. The museum has a unique art collection, dioramas and exhibits but also brings the visitor closer to understanding the background against which the war took place. The

National Women's Monument The National Women's Monument () in Bloemfontein, South Africa, is a monument commemorating the roughly 27,000 Boer women and children who died in British concentration camps during the Second Boer War. The Monument is a Provincial Heritage Site ...

dedicated to all women and children is situated at the same location and was unveiled in 1913.

History of the museum

It was the National Women’s Memorial Committee which came up with the idea that a museum, solely dedicated to the preservation of the Anglo-Boer War history and objects be established. Frans Soff was the architect commissioned to design the building and on 26 April 1930 the cornerstone of the War Museum was laid by Senator W.J.C. Brebner with Reverend Professor Dr. J.D Kestell, a Boer chaplain during the Boer War and the person whom the town of

Kestell Kestell is a small maize farming town in the Free State (South African province), Free State province of South Africa. Town 46 km west of Harrismith and east of Bethlehem, Free State, Bethlehem. The new village was laid out in 1905 on the ...

is named after, opened the ceremony with a prayer. On 30 September 1931 the museum was opened by the first

prime minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

of the

Union of South Africa The Union of South Africa (; , ) was the historical predecessor to the present-day South Africa, Republic of South Africa. It came into existence on 31 May 1910 with the unification of the British Cape Colony, Cape, Colony of Natal, Natal, Tra ...

, General

J. B. M. Hertzog General James Barry Munnik Hertzog (3 April 1866 – 21 November 1942), better known as Barry Hertzog or J. B. M. Hertzog, was a South African politician and soldier. He was a Boer general during the Second Boer War who served a ...

References

Military and war museums in South Africa Second Boer War memorials in South Africa Museums in the Free State (province) Buildings and structures in Bloemfontein History of Bloemfontein {{SouthAfrica-museum-stub

History of the museum

See also

References