In The Years To Come
The Boer war influenced the future of New Zealand Military and relations between South Africa and New Zealand in both positive and negative ways, the war saw a quarter of a million New Zealand troops deployed for the two world wars for the empire resulting in victory,valour and honor for troops but also a death toll of 1 in every 150. New Zealand and South Africa are now able to abide peacefully together with little resentment towards one another, except for a bad rugby game now and then. The two countries share a mutual respect for each others commitment to the Anglo-Boer war which took place over a century ago, memorials still stand in both South Africa and New Zealand honoring the troops sent off to their first war and helping to shape the military identity of New Zealand.
The Anglo-Boer war brought New Zealand as a country closer together in a time of loss and grieving for many families and communities, the acts of the government also strengthened New Zealand's national identity as a country able to come together in remembrance of their fallen, able to look to the future instead of dwelling on the past.
The Anglo-Boer war brought New Zealand as a country closer together in a time of loss and grieving for many families and communities, the acts of the government also strengthened New Zealand's national identity as a country able to come together in remembrance of their fallen, able to look to the future instead of dwelling on the past.
Memorials sourced from community fundraising are still present a century after their erection, able to instil pride, admirations and knowledge about the Anglo-Boer war upon a new generation who might take for granted the sacrifices made by the ten contingents from New Zealand fighting in the war. The names of the fallen are forever carved in marble displayed at the Auckland War Memorial Museum as a reminder to any relative or person connected to the war that those who fought will not be forgotten for their role gaining victory in 1902 and bestowing upon New Zealand a strong and trustworthy military reputation.
After a century in use the largest and most notable memorial the Ranfurly Veterans Home is still in use today, the home has now been renovated to house more veterans with a dementia unit added, the main entrance feature plaques with the names of every soldier who was a resident along with medals donated by soldiers past and war memorabilia including, soldier packs, cigarettes,post cards and uniforms from various wars that New Zealand troops were involved. The home has housed veterans from both world wars and wars in asia, it’s a continual haven for any member of the public or veteran of war, this monument lives on through renovation and the classification as a historic landmark to continually provide home for veterans of war and provide knowledge for any visiting parties about the achievements and struggles that the past and present residents were faced.
The Government of New Zealand encourages historians and the public to visit the memorial sites in South Africa as there were 40 monuments erected in commemoration, with renovations undertaken on monuments as a sign of respect from both the public and the government. On the New Zealand Embassy website it state the exact GPS location of each memorial along with who to contact if you wished to visit, as many of the memorials are on private land it’s stated that the owners are more than happy for any New Zealander to come and visit as long as it is planned, showing a mutual respect from one country to another.
A main memorial for the 23rd of February 1902 in Bothasberg, the most costly encounter for New Zealand troops in the Boer war is given, the government renovated this memorial with the dedication taking place on the 22nd of February 2009, along with this staff from the high commissioner visited the site on the 110th anniversary of the battle in 2012 showing a lasting effect the Anglo-Boer war had on the people of New Zealand as they still choose to commemorate the soldiers achievements and losses after a century.