Ending The Anglo Boer War
The South African war was concluded in May 1902 at the signing on the Treaty of Vereeniging, New Zealand send a total of 6,495 troops in 10 contingents along with 30 NZ nurses and 20 teachers, of these men 58 would be killed in battle, 11 would die later from wounds, 136 would die from disease,26 would die from accidental deaths and 109 would be wounded in action. The men served with distinction and fought with bravery, when they returned home on the 17th of july 1902 they had built for themselves a reputation second to none, the reputation influenced the mountain regiments formed in four military district covering the country and the participation in wars for the next century.
Immediately New Zealand had gained a reputation as formidable soldiers and were highly regarded by senior British officers who had served in South Africa, General Plumber thought the New Zealand troops were generally better educated and superior to both Canadian and Australian troops. The praise from superiors gave New Zealand pride in their war achievements, enhancing their sense of national identity through their gallant efforts in war which lead to the increasing desire for New Zealand forces to serve in distinct national units.
The war also set the pattern for New Zealand's involvement in the two world wars where New Zealand would dispatch a tremendous amount of support through troops and supplies in defence of the Commonwealth's interests. Although it did little to improve the weakness of New Zealand home defense forces it did encourage many men to enlist in the Volunteer Force swelling it’s numbers allowing for a larger better trained group of men for any future conflicts, also many Boer war veterans joined the permanent force or volunteer force providing useful experience of modern warfare techniques and person experience of war which would contribute largely to New Zealand's efforts in the first world war.
"None have a higher reputation for steadiness under fire or for that dash and gallantry when the moment arrives"
The Times History of the War in South Africa
Throughout the war NZ contingents were told to whenever possible mark the spot where a New Zealand soldier had been buried, after the war the NZ government paid for more than 40 monuments to be erected over the graves of soldiers in South Africa. A family with a deceased father or son left a serious financial implication on the family as men were the main income in the early 20th century, however the government granted a very generous sum of up to $3000 to citizens who were not eligible for grants under British regulations, including widows and the sick or wounded soldiers coming back from war.
The Government also sent next of kin a photograph of their relations grave in South Africa along with a heartfelt and sympathetic letter commemorating their achievements and loyalty to the war effort. The Government showed great sympathy and generosity towards New Zealanders who were in anyway affected by the Anglo-Boer war.
As the government didn't have enough grants to provide memorials for each soldier on New Zealand soil community fundraisers took place to commemorate their soldiers in any way possible, fundraising was usually done in a community of small town to commemorate a specific man who went to war rather than the entire troop, in many cases fundraising was very successful. In Rotorua the town council and local residents erected a memorial to sergeant Fred Wylie who was killed after single handedly capturing a Boer gun. I memorial in Amberley was erected for Farrier-Sergeant Owen including an inscription of “to thine own self be true” a phrase found on her person. The memorials generally reflected the pride people took in New Zealand's contribution in order to encourage patriotism such as a soldier in a fighting stance, a soldier aiding a fellow comrade and a saluting soldier .
One of the largest monuments to the war was the establishment of the Ranfurly Veterans Home in Auckland, Lord Ranfurly pushed for a national monument to unite the country alongside the local memorials in the form of a veterans home for any who had fought in imperial wars. It was anticipated that New Zealand would participate in many more wars for the Empire thus the government saw the home as a haven for veterans in their old age. THroughout New Zealand fundraisers were held attracting as much as 3500 people for fortune-telling,cricket matches and horse rides through these fundraisers 8000 pounds was raised and on the 10th of December 1903 Lord Ranfurly opened the Ranfurly Veterans Home which still stand today.