Women at war - NZ units in South Africa 1899-1902

The South African War began just six years after New Zealand women had gained the right to vote, and provided further opportunities for them to assert their independence. Many did this by actively participating in fundraising, while some expressed public opposition to the war. A small number of women played a more direct role, choosing to leave behind a life of comfort to serve as teachers and nurses in South Africa.

Teachers

The 'Learned Eleventh', 1902

As a result of their imprisonment in concentration camps, Boer children were initially deprived of any education. In response to this concern the British authorities allowed for the establishment of schools. Edmund Beale Sargant, the acting director of education, believed that British teachers could influence Boer children to accept British culture and become better citizens of the British Empire. With the headmaster positions already taken by men, female teachers were recruited from the colonies.

New Zealand's Education Act 1877, which granted free education to all children, including girls, had led to a steady increase in the number of female teachers in New Zealand. By 1902 they outnumbered male teachers. When New Zealand newspapers started to advertise for female teaching positions in South Africa they received 222 applications.

The women who applied did so out of a sense of adventure rather than career advancement. Unmarried and without children, they were all over the age of 25 and many were what would have then been considered middle aged. In total 20 women were selected. Their group was named the ‘Learned Eleventh’ by Acting Premier Sir Joseph Ward in reference to the ten military contingents that had gone before them. They departed for southern Africa on 4 May 1902 aboard the SS Westralia.

Painting of a British concentration camp

Upon arrival in Africa they were deployed to the camps of Merebank, Jacobs Siding, Pinetown, Wentworth and Volksrust. Although the conditions in the camps had improved the teachers were still forced to endure hardships unlike any they would have encountered in New Zealand. During the day the rising temperatures would cause the camps' tents to become intolerably hot; at other times strong winds caused tents to collapse. The teachers were forced by Victorian modesty to dress suitably at all times, and soon found that the red dust constantly stained their white clothing.

Once the camps were dismantled the teachers found jobs working at schools in the towns or countryside. Most decided to remain in South Africa after finishing the term of their appointment. Only six of the 20 teachers returned to New Zealand and those that did found that their lives had been forever changed by their experiences in South Africa.

Nurses

First New Zealand nurses to serve in South Africa

The war took place at a time when the profession of nursing in New Zealand was undergoing changes. Nurses had long been stereotyped as either incompetent old ladies or young society women who were looking for a ‘hobby’. By the end of the 19th century untrained nurses in New Zealand were being replaced by those who had received training in hospitals under the supervision of British-qualified superintendents.

The British government therefore only allowed New Zealand to send trained nurses to South Africa. Officially the New Zealand government only sent 13 nurses to serve, choosing to cover the cost of travel for only six from Christchurch. The remaining Otago and Southland nurses had to receive community sponsorship. Other New Zealand nurses who were already working in England made their own way to South Africa as part of the Army Nursing Service Reserve (ANSR).

While serving as part of the ANSR the New Zealanders would wear the emblem of a fern leaf above their red cross armbands to distinguish themselves from nurses of other nationalities. Due to incomplete service records, the total number of New Zealand nurses who served in South Africa is difficult to confirm but is estimated to be about 30. Although a few of the nurses did fall ill to disease, none lost their lives while serving in South Africa.   

Despite the British nurses receiving a gratuity payment upon completing their service, the New Zealand nurses were forced to write appeals in order to claim their entitled £37 10s. This was remedied by 1903 when the New Zealand nurses were finally compensated with their gratuity. Having gained field experience in South Africa some of the nurses later went on to serve in the First World War.