Diyatalawa Camp

The picture of the Boer Camp Postmaster is interesting. He was a pure-blooded Burgher of the Free State, named Van Olst, a Justice of the Peace in his district, who was called up to fight like the rest of his countrymen when the time came. It was his daily duty to collect the letters for the prisoners which had been passed and censored in the Camp Commandant’s Office, and personally to deliver them to the addressees. Considering the large population he served, he seems to have faithfully performed his duties to the satisfaction of one and all.

Subject to the censorship referred to, the prisoners-of-war were permitted to communicate freely with their friends in or out of Ceylon. Apparently comparatively few letters or publications had to be detained or suppressed by the authorities. Among those which did not pass the Censor was a fiery little pamphlet, dated 1900, entitled “Our beloved South Africa in Fetters”.

It is beyond the power of the pen to describe the thousand and one odd incidents of camp-life brought to the notice of visitors in the course of a day spent in these temporary “laagers”. When we recall that nearly all the veldt-born Burghers must have led very busy lives in their home-land, it is not unusual to expect they found time hanging very heavily.

Source: Boere Krygsgevangenes in Ceylon