Rotherham in the Boer War

Rotherham Archives and Local Studies' Service new "Treasures from the Archives" is taken from the collections of the York and Lancaster Regiment Museum and focuses on one of their many far-away adventures.

The Boer War conjures up images of soldiers on horseback, vast dusty pains, and is as far from Rotherham's industrial heyday as you could get, but, as the men of the York and Lancaster Regiment discovered life was hard on both continents.

The York and Lancaster Regiment recruited from Rotherham, Sheffield and Barnsley, and therefore have strong local roots. The Regiment was created in the Army reforms of 1881 and was disbanded in 1968.

In its 87 years of existence it would have had a great impact on the people of the area. Most people would have had a relative or friend serve in the army, especially in the two World Wars.

The documents being displayed cover the period of the South African War of 1899 to 1902. This is when the Boer farmers, descendants of Dutch settlers, rebelled against Colonial rule. Troops were sent from Britain to help quell the rebellion and bring peace back to South Africa.

The York and Lancaster Regiment sent a full Battalion of Regular Army soldiers. These were topped up by two half Companies from the 1st and 2nd Volunteer Battalions who were from Sheffield and Rotherham respectively.

These local men spent two years in South Africa learning how to deal with the Boer's hit and run tactics, and highly mobile form of warfare.

By mid 1902 they had effectively stopped the free movement of the Boer's and captured the Boer leaders, bringing the war to an end.

It was a rapid learning curve for the British soldiers, as they adapted their training to beat the Boers with their own tactics. This included teaching some of the men to ride so that they could move around the country rapidly on horseback, before dismounting to fight a battle.

The first document on display is a written account of the 1st (Regular) Battalion's activities in South Africa. The second is an album of photographs taken as the events were happening. It is one of three photograph albums, held by the museum, taken by members of the Regiment during the Boer War.

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council's Heritage Services Curator, Karl Noble, said: "Fighting in South Africa was a massive culture shock to the proud men of the York and Lancaster Regiment, something which is documented in the new exhibit.

"The world they left in Rotherham, filled with giant steel mills, couldn't have been more different to the rolling plains they arrived to, but, in the tradition of the Regiment, they survived, adapted, and eventually helped to win the war.

"The collection of photography on display really brings to life how the soldiers saw their new environment and you can't help but get a sense of wonder and awe from them.

"We hope this exhibition, which touches at the heart of Rotherham, proves to be as successful as exhibitions of the past. Everyone is welcome to come and see this hidden slice of Rotherham history."

The display is on now and will run until December 24 in the Rotherham Archives and Local Studies research room, located on the first floor of the Central Library and Arts Centre.