While they were in a camp just outside Ladysmith waiting for transport that would take them to an overseas prisoners of war camp; the following scene played out: “…On a certain evening, some of the guys treated the camp community to a concert and hinted a little too tight on the enemy, that the following week we were transported to warmer quarters. We were loaded in one of the infected transport ship from Durban Bay, where some of us almost died due to Durban’s oppressive summer climate, and poorly ventilated undersea, eat and sleep cabins.” “It was my worst experience and the difficult time during the whole war period. In the end we were transported on a third ship of the same calibre to India and we landed in Madras. There, we were in different camps with other prisoners-of-war… “In India we enjoyed wonderful times that one Rev J P Liebenberg #The prisoners-of-war Rev Liebenberg’s diary tells of his experiences as a prisoner-of-war after he was caught at Oshoek on December 4, 1901. Below are some excerpts: “The 4th of December was one of the important days, but the Scriptures says: “All things work together for good, and there are other sheep of the flock – the prisoners of war – that must be cared for spiritually…The first night of our imprisonment, we slept on one of the blockhouses…tied together and over one another. Our shoes were all in one heap outside the wire fort.” The train ticket issued to Mr C D Kleynhans of Bethal, during his prisoner-of-war journey, to St Helena. can exchange with nothing on the world: regular, two services per day – morning and evening. The school was established for the large number of child prisoners-of-war and young people. Brave boys! So early in the war mill! A regular catechism class was held and an Endeavour Society was formed… “When mail was delivered in the camp, there were always tears of sorrow and heart pain, because sickness and death of women, mothers and children from the concentration camps in South Africa, was the order of the day. Even the minister was not immune from this, because he had to give up one of his two young children.” From the diary of Daniël Dirk du Plooij, on 10 December 1901 on the farm Rotterdam, Bethal district; who was taken captive; the following excerpts comes as he originally wrote: #translated roughly Commandant H S Grobler 36
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