Army Museum - Boer War Memorabilia: In the Adelaide City region of South Australia

From 1899 to 1902 thousands of Australian servicemen made their way to South Africa to serve Queen and Country during the Boer War.

Photos on display at the Army Museum at Keswick on Anzac Highway are proof that many South Australians crammed the footpaths outside Beehive Corner and the Town Hall to give them a rousing send-off.

The troops included the likes of Breaker Morant, a young horse breaker from Paringa Station near Renmark. He enlisted with the Second South Australian Mounted Contingent.

But as one of Adelaide's most prominent monuments, the Boer War Monument on the corner of King William Road and North Terrace attests, many paid a heavy price for their patriotism. Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), Seven Kuusk explains:

“On the sixth of June, 1904, the Boer War Memorial was officially unveiled to the general public and this year (2004) we're going to mark the event by having a short service to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the magnificent piece of work.”

In keeping with life in the army, the soldier who modeled for the work had little choice in the matter.

“During Edward the Seventh's coronation, South Australia had a contingent of twelve soldiers over there and at that time Warrant Officer Goodall, who was one of the members of the South Australian contingent, was "volunteered" to be the model for the English artist who crafted the bronze sculpture.”

On June 6, 2004 it will be one hundred years since the crowd's gathered for the official unveiling of the monument, which was funded by public subscription. “A number of years ago the War Memorial wanted to replicate it for Canberra and a quote to cast the same bronze statue and ship it to Canberra was $500,000.”

We asked Seven Kuusk why the Boar War was so significant.

“It was the first of the major wars that the infant Colony of South Australia offered its services to the Motherland. And in those days there was great patriotic fervor for Queen and Country. So the South Australians saw that as their way of contributing towards the Empire.”

The 100th Anniversary of the unveiling of the Boer War Monument on the corner of King William Road and North Terrace will be commemorated with a short service at 11am on June the 6th. 2004. It will be followed with a display of Boer War Memorabilia at the Torrens Parade Ground Drill Hall.

The Boer War Monument
Cnr of King William Rd and North Tce
100th anniversary commemoration
Sunday June 6
11am
Memorabilia Display at Torrens Parade Ground