Jasper Petrus Cornelis was die seun van Jacob van der Westhuizen en Sara Magdalena Kock.
Heidelberg was one of the oldest camps and was probably already in existence in October 1900, when families harbouring Boer commandos were brought into the town, although there may also have been substantial numbers of destitute Boers for whom the British had to provide. By February 1901 there were over 1,200 people living there but the camp was never very large. At the end of June 1901 there were only 751 inmates and the number remained at under 1,000 for most of the period of the existence of the camp. Later a number of the families were moved to the Natal camps. Unusually, the superintendent for the entire life of the camp was a local Heidelberg man, Arnold Allison. A number of Free State families had fled to Heidelberg as the British army advanced and they also found themselves in the camp. In May, however, they were returned to Kroonstad. The camp soon outgrew its original site and a second camp was established towards the end of May 1901, linked by a deep sluit and a bridge of poplars and stone. The site a good one on high ground, well supplied with water. The camp seems never to have been fenced. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
While the tents were always clean, the appearance of the camp was scruffy. A number of people lived in sod houses, roofed with galvanised iron and others remained for some time in their wagons with tents pitched at the side. As the camp expanded, however, tents were pitched in the approved style in neat rows. Facilities tended to be rudimentary. There were no washing facilities for the women at all and only rough provision for the men. The people preferred nursing their own children, until it became necessary to send them to hospital. The low rate of sickness during the early months made this laissez faire attitude possible. In July 1901 there were only eleven deaths, nine of them from measles. When measles struck in July 1901, the epidemic was a severe one, although mortality was not as high as in some camps, 38 dying out of 728 cases, the MO reported in August 1901. As so often, the doctors were critical of the nursing of the mothers whom they considered neglected the children. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
Sterftes
in die Heidelberg Konsentrasiekamp
Van
der Westhuizen, Jacobus M 0.75 Modderbult Heidelberg
Van
der Westhuizen, Pieter
Hendrik M 2 Modderbult
Heidelberg
Van
der Westhuizen, Johana
P V 0.17 Diaree
Van
der Westhuizen, Cornelia
ME V 0.75 Modderbult
Heidelberg Longontsteking
Van
der Westhuizen, Peter
H M 16 Masels
Van
der Westhuizen, Maria
Aletta V 52 Kafferkral
Heidelberg Koors
Van der Westhuizen, Christiaan Petrus M 2 Modderbult Heidelberg Siekte
Gradually the camp was brought into the sort of order that the British esteemed. A camp matron was appointed and a daily inspection of the tents instituted. A bootmaker was employed to make boots for the destitute. Some thirty to forty police were on duty to patrol the camp, generally to keep order and prevent people from entering the camp without permission. Roofed latrines with concrete floors were built. A solid hospital replaced the marquees which were then used as a hospital for the black labourers. By May 1902 amenities also included two tennis courts, two football fields and a croquet ground, all of which were much appreciated, Allison reported. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
By the end of the year the main problem was a persistent diarrhoea, probably from using contaminated water which had not been boiled. The mothers were also careless about ensuring that their children changed their damp clothing when they had been playing in the rain, giving rise to pneumonia. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
The arrival of the peace led to jollifications. A picnic in a nearby kloof was enjoyed by the children, who were plied with cakes, sweets and mineral waters, while a dinner was held for the old people and camp employees. In the evening they were entertained with a gramophone and the evening concluded with cheers for the King. By July 1902 repatriation was under way, 239 families leaving in that month. The inmates were anxious to get home before the start of the sowing season. Unfortunately the departures slowed in the next couple of months, largely because of the lack of seed and stock There was ample stock available but the people lacked the resources to buy. By November he was becoming increasingly anxious on their behalf since the sowing season was rapidly passing. Others lacked land and left only after the Land Settlement Board provided them with ground. Since November was the last report, the camp was, presumably, closed during that month. (https://www2.lib.uct.ac.za/mss/bccd/Histories/Heidelberg/#)
Op 8 Julie 1902 gaan Maria Elizabeth terug plaas toe.
Personal Details
|
|
Name:
|
Mrs Maria Elizabeth van der Westhuizen
|
Born in
camp?
|
No
|
Died in
camp?
|
No
|
Gender:
|
female
|
Race:
|
White
|
Nationality:
|
Transvaal
|
Unique
ID:
|
120707
|
Camp History
|
|
Name:
|
Heidelberg
RC
|
Age
arrival:
|
66
|
Date
arrival:
|
01/07/1901
|
Age
departure:
|
67
|
Date
departure:
|
08/07/1902
|
Reason
departure:
|
to farm
|
Destination:
|
farm
|
Tent
number:
|
490, 767
|
Farm History
|
|
Name:
|
Modderbult
/ Moorderbult
|
District:
|
Heidelberg
|
Relationships
|
|
Mrs Maria Elizabeth van der Westhuizen
|
|
is the relationship unknown
of Mrs
Nicholaas George van der Westhuizen
|
|
Sources
|
|
Title:
|
DBC 59
Heidelberg CR
|
Location:
|
Transvaal
|
Notes:
|
p.W 03
|
Title:
|
DBC 60
Heidelberg CR
|
Location:
|
Transvaal
|
Notes:
|
p. 030
|
