‘Now, what has become of our prayers and supplications?’ Faith in an Anglo-Boer War concentration camp of 1901

Abstract

Christian faith played a significant and decisive role in the concentration camps of the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). This article focuses on the diary of A D Luckhoff (1874-1963) who, after completing his theological training, volunteered for the ministry  in the concentration camp at Bethulie. The anguish, distress and trials of this inexperienced young clergyman are disclosed by allowing the diary to speak for itself, thus ensuring that its profound spiritual and emotional character is retained in the exposition. Alongside this exposition, observations and historical notes are appended, as well as questions concerning the diarist’s underlying theological convictions, which are compared and contrasted with those evinced in the contemporary diary of a young female resident of the camp, Rensche van der Walt (1878-1948). The ensuing analysis aims to demonstrate that Christian faith was a more complicated and complex issue during this war than has yet been realised.