This document was sourced courtesy of "Government Archives in Jamestown " and Wilf Vevers
Translation to English via J Marsh

DE KRIJGSGEVANGENE NO 11 St Helena, SATURDAY 19 October, 1901.

(Author's copyright reserved)

In a previous issue we stressed the need to exercise our minds – the grey matter – daily in one or other direction – in order to prevent paralysis setting in; no less than the need for exercise for the body. We understand that some of the very sad sudden death cases which we have experienced recently have been ascribed by the doctor as being due to insufficient physical activity, or “exercise”(sic). But it is unnecessary for any of us to do without exercise. All sorts of “sports” are on the go daily, and if none of them take your fancy, or you are too old, what stops you from going for a walk? Walking up and down in the camp may not be so attractive, even if it is a good form of exercise; and if one walks in good company and talks about pleasant subjects, it is quite possible to walk a mile daily without being aware of it.

And there are so many facilities presently available to walk outside of the camp. So many officers have parole and may take four others with them four times a week – the line captains are allowed to take twelve men with them – and there are so many passes handed out to old and sickly – that everybody has the opportunity to go out now and then. If the matter was regulated, we dare to say that every PoW could go out once a week. But how many make use of this? Some we believe do not often get the chance to go out, but many more can and do not want to. No, they would rather sit in their huts or tents, carving penholders and other items, forgetting that their bodies are weakened thereby and their muscles waste although their purses are filled with a few more shillings. We do not have anything against the making of curios, to the contrary we do everything within our powers to increase the market for them and enable our PoWs to sell much more than they are currently able to do; we only want to say that constantly sitting and carving without taking enough exercise with it, will eventually have a deleterious effect on our bodies – and that might be at the exact time when we need to use all our powers to provide food and shelter for ourselves and our loved ones.

And those who go out too much – what do most of them do? Do they go for a brisk walk, to loosen and strengthen their muscles? No! you can find them behind the first bush or stony ridge, lying on their backs without work or even thoughts. The kettle gets boiled, very little gets poured, they smoke, maybe catch a nap – and back to camp! What do you have from such a day? Neither your body nor your mind has undergone any exercise and the day is even more useless than if you had stayed working in your tent: and still it gets called pleasure! Yes, even when it rains, many go out to have a “picnic”, sitting the whole day on the wet ground, while getting soaked from above and asking as if amazed “where could I have caught cold?”

No, friends, that is not what we mean by “physical exercise”. Go out, take a brisk walk, eat and drink what you brought with you, walk back briskly, take a good bath, and you will suddenly feel you have done well. If you are unable to go out, take exercise from somewhere else. If you can do nothing else, walk a certain distance every day in the camp, and make it a habit; and then when we get home – which we all hope will be within not too long a while – you will be able to jump into work immediately, without getting pains in your back, arms and legs, and you will feel just as strong a man as before your imprisonment. Take our advice, and you will never regret it!

A MUSEUM

The St Helena Guardian has published a description of the celebrations in our camp on 31st August the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Wihelmina of the Netherlands. The piece is signed “A prisoner of war” but we doubt that the writer was present at the celebrations; in any case he made mistakes in his description, and could not even tell the difference between an “Admiral” and a “Drum-Major”. Let’s leave it there.

Amongst other statements the writer gave a word of praise to the painters and decorators and specifically the backdrop [scherm] about which he said “would be given as a gift to the Museum. Many are asking which museum and we are able to divulge to our readers that a plan is being discussed to create, in due course, a “PoW Museum” in Pretoria or elsewhere , to which the backdrops, paintings, decorations from “Nut en Vermaak” and those of the German Club would be donated.

The plan is to have an example of every kind of curio made by the PoWs in the Museum. Such a collection would be of great interest to ourselves, our friends and family members and in due course the whole world, and if this plan comes to fruition, we recommend to our readers to support it wholeheartedly. We have no doubt that if the establishing of such a museum were to be ensured, each curio maker would give of his best items to it. We hope that a start thereof would soon be made by one or other of the officers.

NUT EN VERMAAK
On 28th September last a competition was held in the Club building in which about twenty competitors held forth in declamation. There were three divisions - Serious and Humourous, Recitations and Singing. There seems to be an opinion among the audience that the last should also have been divided into two divisions, serious and comic songs; maybe that can be done in a second competition.

The difficult task of adjudicating was placed in the hands of a jury, consisting of Capt. De Witt Hamer, Commandant Glaeser, and Messrs Houtzager, Parker and Prak.
Results were as follows:
Serious division - 1st prize, H Everitt, 2nd, J.Teengs
Humourous division - 1st prize, J.Teengs, 2nd, J. van der Kwast
Singing division - One prize, G. Dalmeyer.

The prizes take the form of artistically painted diplomas painted by Mr H.C. van der Kwast.

DEBATING SOCIETY
On the 21st September the combined branches A and B held a sociable evening. A long and varied programme was presented, consisting of singing, recitation, readings, choral speaking etc. and most of the numbers were extremely well performed. During interval refreshments - in the form of coffee and chasers [stormjagers] - were provided to members and guests.

One of our PoWs has reportedly entered in marriage with a lady from St Helena and others are going to follow his example. We do not have full details and so do not want to comment.

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
The birthdays of their excellencies President Steyn and Kruger were celebrated in different ways: we give a short description of each.

GERMAN CLUB
At 11 am on 10 October a concert was held in the German Club The building was beautifully decorated and the programme, while short, was good, consisting of singing, reciting, speeches etc. Since sports were in full swing at the same time attendance was sparse.

SCHOOL
The new school building was opened on Thursday evening 10 October. A concert was held and we are told that a very good programme was presented by the pupils, but we are sad to say that since we were unable to attend we cannot describe the proceedings.

SPORTS
This is the second time that sports have been held here in a similar fashion and we hope it will be the last. Luckily we had quiet weather, which is very seldom the case here. A very good array of prizes shows that Sport is still well loved among us; this was also shown by the large number of entries received. We are disappointed to have seen so few participants and spectators from our sister camp at Broadbottom, but maybe they have been hindered in some or other way.

The best subscribed events were those of running (track) which were also of greatest interest for the public. The mile and half-mile were won by E. Pienaar; we regard this young man as one of the best runners of long distance in our camp; he runs with ease, takes long strides and can always bring out a "spurt" at the end. We will hear more about E. Mijnhardt, who won the 120 yards, because he has the making of a first class sprinter.

Great interest was also shown in the fencing bouts for beginners using both long and short sticks, since they have only been learning for ONE month; they bring great credit to their coaches, Messrs de Haas and Valks. W. van der Westhuizen is going to become a dangerous opponent. The exhibition by six, and the match between Messrs de Haas and Valks, were also watched with interest.

Here is the programme:-
120 yards sprint (handicap)--- 34 entries. 1 E Mijnhardt, 3 yards; 2 C.D.Lombard, 6 yards; 3 T. Mijnhardt, 6 yards. A hard battle won by 3 yards.
Shot put---1. C Bester, 33 foot 3 inch
Cricket ball toss--- 1. A Pretorius, 97 yards
120 yards sprint (handicap) under-18--- 1 C Albertijn, scratch; 2 P.M. Loggenberg, 7 yards
Standing long jump--- 1. C.D.Lombard, 9 feet 9 inch
120 yards hurdles (Handicap)---1. G.S. van Biljoen, owes 8 yards; 2. E.Mijnhardt, owes 6 yards. Good race with 2 yard margin
Long jump with run-up--- 1. P.J.Blignaut, 18 feet 9 inch.
One mile run (Handicap)--- 30 entries. 1. E Pienaar, 10 yards; 2. R.F.Botha, scratch; 3. J.J.Loots A well contested event. In the third round Botha was ahead, but 100 yards from the winning post Pienaar caught up with him and they ran neck and neck until nearly the end.
Wheelbarrow race (Blindfolded)--- 1. Nel and Blignaut
High jump (with run-up)--- P.J.Blignaut, 5 ft 2in A hard fought competition between the winner and H Webb who jumped 5ft 1in
Potato race.--- P.J.Blignaut, A strange sight. Not as easy as it might seem.
120 yards handicap (for veterans)--- J waldeck, 2 yds; 2 Rijk Mijburgh, B.A. 14 yds Easily won but Oom Rijk was very unhappy.
Horse wrestling - G.S. van Biljon (jockey) and G Schoeman (horse). A hard contest which it looked like Nel and Pretorius would win again
Pole vault - 7ft 6 inches. Winner jumped very well and with a longer and lighter pole could have jumped much higher.
Fencing ( for beginners) - Long stick, S Zagt; short stick, W van der Westhuizen.
Two mile walk - G van Niekerk, 30 yards; 2 W A E Schultz, scratch; 3 P Swanepoel, 70 yards. Another good contest. The three stayed with one another until near the end when the winner pulled ahead.

SECOND DAY
Running 220 yards, (handicap) - 28 entrants, G Vermeulen 12.5 yards; 2 E Mijnhardt, 4 yards. Eddie had almost caught Vermeulen when the latter reached the tape.
Cock fight - S Biljon
High jump from standing - P J Blignaut, 4 ft1 inch.
Tortoise pulling - 1 P W Botha
880 yards (handicap) - 25 entrants, E Pienaar, 10 Yards; 2 J Muller, 30 yards. Just as in the mile Pienaar finished a lap ahead of the others.
Tug-of-war - 1 M Genis' team. Eighteen teams contested this and all teams pulled very hard. The winners had a lot of trouble dragging away I Minnaar's team.
Hop, step and jump - C.D.Lombard 38 ft 3 ins.
440 yards (handicap) - 18 entrants, J.J.Loots, 5yds; 2 J Vermeulen 12.5 yards. A good run with them very close at the end.
Police trophy [Rust en Orde] - 1 J van Buuren; 2 L Erasmus; 3 J J Kruger.
Committee trophy (handicap) - Compulsory for all management - W Wagner, 2 P J Blignaut, 3 A Pretorius. If the honourable de Vos had not fallen he would have been able to win easily.
Consolation trophy - J Carlitz, T Mijnhardt.
Obstacle Race - J Carlitz;2 E Mijnhardt. Such a spectacle was last seen long ago - competitors had to find their shoes in any direction, their jackets in another, their caps in another place.

Once the programme had finished Capt de Witt Hamer gave a short speech and handed out the prizes.

Everything went well and we can call these Sports a success. All thanks to the Committee especially the Secretary, Mr J.P. Nel, and his Assistant, Mr I.J. Minnaar, as well as the groundsman, Mr A Preetorius. We must also on behalf of the Committee thank the residents of the Island who provided the necessary poles etc for free and our Camp Commandant, Colonel Hind, who gave all opportunities for collecting this material.

NUT EN VERMAAK

On 12th of this month a concert was held in the Club building in honour of the two Presidents. As usual the hall was beautifully decorated with flags and trophies, flowers and greenery, while at the back of the stage were the portraits of the two Presidents rendered artistically and life-like by Mr Lindberg.

The programme was opened by the two National anthems, played by a string quartet of Messrs Rau, Bosman, Ernst and Sausenthaler; they also played other pieces of which "Die Heinzelmanchen" of R. Eielenberg and Bach's "au Petit Trianon" seemed to be most to the taste of the audience. Mr Tom Moodie recited a good, self-written piece, entitled "My land, my people, my language". A Borcherds' reciting of "the Gambler's Wife" and some songs by Messrs Louw and Bosman were loudly applauded.

The Prologue from the Chairman, Mr J.F. Houtzager, was delivered as usual in flowing words, whereafter Capt de Witt Hamer added his bit, making the audience aware that this was also the first birthday of the Society; he spoke about the success which had been achieved by the Society in attempting to keep her members and the public amused and to be useful. Then Mr N Prak came forward and presented, on behalf of the members, a chairman's gavel [hammer] to Mr Houtzager as a token of appreciation for his year's service as Chairman. The gavel was made in the camp and provided with a silver plate with a suitable inscription.

The second part consisted of a farce in three acts, with singing, from the pen of our playwright J.F. Houtzager, entitled " The Chess Problem" [Het Schaakprobleem]. The plot of this piece is as follows: an old uncle, a Hollander, visiting the Island, who is besotted by chess, learns from the PoWs Chess Society "The Watchful Night Owl" [De Wakende Naguil] to solve a particularly difficult problem; while his nephew Frans, helped by the servant maid Jetje, also solves a problem, viz. how to win the hand of Mina before Doris Zoetjes does.

The Uncle - played by Mr Goudklip - had decided that he would only allow a very good chess player to marry her, of which Doris knows nothing: "Chess sharpens the intellect" which would seem to be a highly necessary effect in his case. Mr van der Kwast as the timid, stupid lover, played his part magnificently as did Mr Russenaar as Mina and de Haas as Jet, while Mr Teengs as the Uncle left nothing wanting, Gert van Niekerk as the Professor, and finally, all the cast. The costume maker deserves all praise because the women's costumes and the togas of the jury were artworks in their own right.

The third section consisted of Living Statues. The group was well arranged and attentively watched but the long pauses in between lessened the good effect of this section.

The first group was plastic statues depicting "Roman Gladiators" in three poses, "ready for action", "of life and death" and "the victory" which spoke for themselves.

Then came "Fishermen love and sorrow", depicting a fisherman's family, at the moment they were called out to help at a shipwreck.

The third was "Same old song" [Het oude liedje], in three parts. First a young pair recently fallen in love and surprised by her parents. Then the same couple in mid-life, sitting at the dinner table surrounded by their children; and finally the death bed of the older spouse surrounded by sorrowing blood relatives and a preacher.

The singing of the Anthems of the two Republics brought a festive evening to an end with the management to be congratulated on its success.

PHOTOGRAPHIC

We were invited to, and recently paid a visit to the newly opened photographic studio here of Prak and Heyink. We were surprised to find such a well-equipped studio in our camp. Supplied with good-looking rustic furniture, with good lighting and first class apparatus, we can expect excellent work from these gentlemen, based on the example of portraits of PoWs and faces on the island [we have] already seen. Their prices are very reasonable and we recommend that everybody pay them a visit.

Football (Rugby)
Having given detailed accounts of each game, we have now only to publish the points scored.

          Krugerites | Eendracht| Mausers |  Total
Round      | 1 2 3      | 1 2 3   | 1 2 3  
Krugerites | 0 0 0      | 0 2 2   | 2 0 1      7
Eendracht  | 0 0 0      | 0 0 0   | 0 2 0      4
Mausers    | 2 2 1      | 2 0 2   | 0 0 0      7

Association
This Tournament was postponed on account of bad weather. We do not know whether it will be taken up again, but we fear not, as the game does not seem to be a favourite one in this camp, presumably owing to the prevailing high wind. However, if our boys do not practice, we should not advise them to accept another challenge from Broadbottom, as that camp is decidedly too good for us.

Billiards
It never runs but it pours, is an old but true saying, and in the case of billiards is exemplified here. We do not mean to say that it actually rained billiards tables, nor even billiard balls --- which would have had a very sad effect upon some of our some of buildings. But Messrs Young and Nel have set up another table, a full sized one, which is good enough to allow that foolish game called "Mug's pool", a game that no true sportsman can enjoy, though we might while away an hour or two at it. We hope, however, that this will soom be barred, and only legitimate games, such as billiards, pyramids, and black, life, snooker, or skittle pool will be allowed.
We hope Messrs Young and Nel will reap a good harvest in return for their continual endeavours to cater for the amusement of the inhabitants of Deadwood Camp.

Quoits
We hear that a match was played some weeks ago between a team from Broadbottom and a team of our players; but strange to say, no one seems to know who the competing parties were, nor how the game resulted.

The images on this page are high resolution to preserve contents. Save the images and view with a viewer if more resolution needed.

Return to home page

Copyright (2022)