BLOEMFONTEIN – Additions to the War Museum of the Boer Republics in Bloemfontein always give visitors to this award-winning museum something new to look forward to.
The building of a life-sized three-storey blockhouse from the Anglo-Boer War (1899 to 1902) on the grounds is almost complete and will give a new perspective on the living conditions in and around these buildings erected by the British forces to protect the railway lines from Boer attacks.
Lord Roberts, who was the British commander-in-chief in the field from January to November 1900, believed the war would end once the capitals of the Boer Republics were captured. The Boers, however, were determined to continue their struggle after the fall of the capital cities.
The Tierpoort structure was one of around 8 000 blockhouses of different sizes across the country and housed around 85 000 soldiers at the time of the war. The Boer attacks − by means of guerrilla warfare − targeted the British supply lines which were mainly the railway lines. This led to the blockhouses being built all along the railway lines.
This blockhouse is a replica of a blockhouse at Riversford (Tierpoort) about 50km south of Bloemfontein. It was one of two eight-sided sandstone blockhouses built to protect the railway line from Cape Town to Bloemfontein.
Bloemfontein artist Hennie van Zyl drafted the basic plans for the blockhouse. He also started on a scale model of the terrain on which the blockhouses were situated. Van Zyl delved into the historic facts and photos available on the lives of the soldiers. It included their water and food sources, their routines and recreational activities at these lone outposts that criss-crossed the country.
Van Zyl spared no trouble creating the finest detail − from the grass patches of the southern Free State to the shiny river, tents that provided additional accommodation and soldiers cooking food or tending to the horses.
The blockhouse and its exhibits will be opened on 27 November.
The museum is open on weekdays from 08:00 to 16:00, and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 17:00. On Sundays the museum is open from 11:00 to 17:00, and on public holidays from 09:00 to 17:00.
Guided tours are provided on appointment. Be sure to visit all the museum attractions. Call 051 447 3447 for more information.
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