Canada's first war a fading memory

By David MacGillivray

Courtesy of the South African War Virtual Library

Canadian soldiers, like those seen here cleaning a Colt machine-gun in 1900, returned with a strong sense of Canadian nationalism.

OTTAWA – "The Boer War? Shouldn’t you be talking to Greenpeace?"

It's the 100th anniversary of the Boer War this year, but apparently the Canadian Heritage Department could use a history lesson. When reminded the Boer War has nothing to do with saving wildlife, the department was kind enough to suggest a list of other agencies to call. But "The Boer War? Why would we be involved in that?" was the common response.

At least the Canadian War Museum is interested in marking the day when Canada made her first foray under arms on the world stage. A new exhibit called Imperial Adventure will showcase some of its Boer War acquisitions from June 10 until the end of the year.

October 14 will mark the 100th anniversary of Canada’s decision to send soldiers overseas for the first time. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, then Prime Minister, issued an order-in-council to avoid a debate in parliament.

The result? Canada would equip and send soldiers, and Britain would pay for them once they got to South Africa.

In the end, 8,300 Canadians served, with 242 killed in action, including the only son of Militia Minister Fred Borden. Canadian soldiers won four Victoria Crosses, Britain’s highest military award.

Jack Granatstein, chief executive of the Canadian War Museum, says the exhibit will highlight some of the unusual items from both the home front and the lives of the soldiers.

"We have the complete uniform of one of the soldiers who served overseas. The jacket, belts, even the boots. It may not sound like it, but these items are exceedingly rare," he says.

Rare because during the war the Canadian uniforms were poorly made of cheap canvas, which rotted quickly in the African sun.

The Boer War was a first in many ways for Canada. It was the first time we sent troops abroad. It was the first time French and English Canada fought over sending troops overseas, and it was a time when the Canadian military discovered Canadians are not born soldiers, but must be trained like everyone else.

"For the first time Canadians realized that war is destructive, chaotic and messy. In wars people do get killed," says Granatstein.

Granatstein says the War Museum won’t mark this year’s anniversary alone. The South African High Commission has approached the museum about holding a memorial service and exhibit in October to mark the beginning of the war, and Canada’s involvement.

Some of the Canadian Regiments that were born during the Boer War will also be quietly marking the anniversary in their own way. The Royal Canadian Dragoons are planning a small celebration to mark the day. The Lord Strathcona’s Horse will send their ceremonial riders, trained in Boer War-era drill, across the country.

And to be fair, the Canadian Heritage website does have one small mention of the Boer War buried at the bottom of a list of anniversaries in 1999. October 13, the day Wilfrid Laurier signed his order-in-council. Off by a day.

No one would comment on the mistake.

For more information about some of the issues covered in this story:

Canadian War Museum

South African War Virtual Library

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