Local History & Genealogy

The South African (Boer) War 1899-1902 is a key event in the military history of Canada. It was the first occasion Canada dispatched troops overseas. In total 8 300 Canadians and 12 Nursing sisters served in South Africa.

In commemoration, a few key battles that occurred 111 years ago on dates this month in 1900 include:

• May 17 1900 Relief of the Siege of Mafeking assisted by "C" battery Royal Canadian Field Artillery
• May 29 1900 Battle between Boers and the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment at Doornkop
• May 30 1900 Boers attack "E" Battery R.C.F.A. at Faber's Put: casualties one dead, eight wounded

Here are just a few useful resources at the North York Central Library Canadiana Department (6th Floor) you can find to help trace your ancestors who served in the Boer War:

• South African War (Boer War) 1899-1902 Index to Medal Registers.These microfilm records are organized alphabetically by surname. The microfilm reel #s are C-15731 and C-1863. These records are also searchable online at Archivianet Soldiers of the South African War
• Sessional Papers of the Dominion of Canada 1867-1925 vol. 35 no. 35a (includes lists of those killed in action, died of wounds, disease or by accident along with some cemetery information) – available on microfilm (Reel 594)
• The following books on the Boer War are available in the Canadiana Department:
• Carman Miller Canada's Little War : Fighting for the British Empire in Southern Africa, 1899-1902
•  Canadians in Khaki South Africa, 1899-1900 : Nominal Rolls of the Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers & Men of the Canadian Contingents and Strathcona's Horse, With Casualties to Date : and Also R.M.C. Graduates With the Army in South Africa
•  Daniel Johnson and Byron O'Leary The South African War, 1899-1902 : New Brunswick Men at War
• Gary Roncetti "The Canadians" : Those Who Served in South Africa, 1899-1902

The Special Collections Department at the Toronto Reference Library also has a number of resources related to the Boer War which include:

• Canada Dept. of Militia and Defence The 2nd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles and 10th Canadian Field Hospital, A.M.C. : Organized in Canada for Service in the Field in South Africa ; Roll of Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers and Men and Nursing Sisters
•  Steve Watt In Memoriam : Roll of Honour, Imperial Forces Anglo-Boer War, 1899-1902
• S.M. Kaplan  The Medal Roll of the Queen's South Africa Medal with Wepener Bar ,
• Canada Department of Militia and Defence The Royal Canadian Regiment of Infantry, 2nd (special service) Battalion, Canadian Contingent For Special Service in the Field in South Africa : Nominal Roll of Non-Commissioned Officers and Men
•  South Africa Field Force Casuality List, 1899-1902
•  The South African War, 1899-1902 : Service Records of British and Colonial Women : a Record of the Service in South Africa of military and Civilian Nurses, Laywomen and Civilians