Irene Concentration Camp Cemetery - Centurion, Pretoria
Irene was the site of a concentration camp where the British housed Boer women and children during the Second Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902) © LicenseIrene Concentration Camp Cemetery - Centurion, Pretoria
The Irene Concentration Camp, located in Irene, Centurion near Pretoria in Gauteng, is a historical site with significant heritage value related to South Africa’s colonial history. Established during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), the Irene Concentration Camp was one of several camps used by the British to detain Boer civilians and combatants. It was situated in the area now known as Centurion, which was once rural farmland.
The population of the camp increased rapidly and people were housed in tents under poor conditions. A camp census report for Boer Prisoner Populations (April 1901) stated that there were 3703 prisoners of which 317 were sick and 49 had died. In 1901 alone, 808 people died, and 973 of the total were children. On 6 April 1901 a team of nurses started a nursing corps. Henrietta Armstrong kept a camp diary that was published in 1980. The camp was later extended and this second camp was known as Nylstroom. By the end of 1902 there were about 5400 people in the two camps. Although peace was declared on 31 May 1902, the camps were only officially closed in 1903. The Irene Primary School, adjacent to the cemetery, was founded in September 1901 for the Boer children in the concentration camp.
The Camp Cemetery had more than 2000 people allegedly buried there, although the cemeterys name list only lists 1149 names. A name plate with a number of 2156 was discovered but only 850 heaps of soil, indicating graves, could be found. The original gravestones, which had generally been hand-engraved on slate as at the Cottesloe monument, were removed and placed under cover to prevent further weather damage. The grave sites were formalised with stone plaques on which the names of the 1149 persons buried in the cemetery were engraved.
Today, the Irene Concentration Camp Cemetery on Main Road in Irene is a national heritage site, under the protection of the SA Heritage Resource Agency.
Historical Significance:
Establishment: The camp was established as part of the British strategy to control the civilian population and cut off support to Boer fighters. It primarily housed Boer women and children who were displaced from their homes due to the conflict.
Conditions: Like many other concentration camps of the time, conditions at the Irene camp were harsh. Overcrowding, inadequate sanitation, and poor living conditions led to high mortality rates among the detainees.
Legacy: The camp is a stark reminder of the war's impact on civilians and serves as a historical point of reflection on the consequences of conflict.
Memorial and Museum:
Today, the site is home to a memorial and small museum, which includes a collection of historical artifacts, photographs, and documents related to the camp and the broader context of the Anglo-Boer War. The museum aims to preserve the memory of those who suffered and to educate the public about this period of South African history.
Contact Details for the Irene Concentration Camp:
Address: 11 Stopford Rd, Irene Security Estate, Centurion, Gauteng.
The site provides an important educational resource for understanding the impact of the Anglo-Boer War on the civilian population and serves as a historical landmark within Centurion.
Verblyf Naby Irene Concentration Camp Cemetery - Centurion, Pretoria
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- Irene Security Estate (0.18km)
- Irene Woods (0.89km)
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- Southdowns Estate (1.82km)
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- Cornwall Hill Country Estate (2.35km)
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