Songs - New Zealand in the South African ('Boer') War

The South African War led to an outpouring of patriotic sentiments on the part of New Zealanders. There were songs, verse and dramatic productions supporting the war.

Over 20 patriotic songs and productions were copyrighted in the names of their authors or composers during the war. Many songs had a distinctly New Zealand flavour. Boys of the Southern Cross, copyrighted in 1900, had a rousing chorus line proclaiming 'We are the boys of the Southern Cross/ Our stars shine on our flags/ Emblazoned with the Union Jack/To show we're Empire lads.'

Other melodies fuelled the sometimes jingoistic elements of New Zealand's expression of patriotism. Sons of the Colonies , copyrighted in 1900, warned extravagantly of 'England in Danger!' and urged colonial sons to make haste to defend the motherland.

The dramatic productions could be elaborate affairs. 'The Relief of Ladysmith', written by Mr G. H. Goodall, had a 60-strong cast of actors and musicians. Set in a military hospital in the besieged town of Ladysmith, the play was a tale of love, death, sacrifice and betrayal. Goodall and his cast toured the Wairarapa in mid 1900. The performance in Greytown was preceded by considerable patriotic activity. The gun squad of St Matthew's Church Lads Brigade and the three corps of the Wairarapa Cadets paraded through the town, with the gun detachments firing off salutes. Before the production, the Greytown Band played a selection of military tunes, and the play ended with a 'picturesque tableau' of 'Britannia and Her Defenders'.

It was, according to the reporter for the Featherston Advocate, a 'pleasing drama, of which the dramatist and all those taking part may well feel proud'.