TOPIC:

My great aunt Charlotte Laura Ellen Veal travelled to SA in 1900 with her father George Veal. She was an actress, supposedly to entertain the troops.
In 1901 she married Ernest St. George Alderton Hughes in Durban.
Any info on tracking entertainers?
Thanks.
Tony in Canada.

Hello Geneseek and welcome to the forum.

You have set a difficult initial question for us! I hadn't realised there might be people sent to South Africa to entertain the troops so will have to look into this.

Kind regards
David

I've just been asked to try find a Thomas Kieft, who was a musician from Wales who moved to Australia in 1898 about, and went to entertain troops in the Boer War. Given he had one wooden leg it is unlikely he was a soldier.

Anyone know if this type of thing was done?

Bands and entertainment was important back then, so from a society perspective I think it was very likely. There was no TV then! But I just don't know if the concept existed then.

I have been looking into this. I the newspapers, I can find many mentions of concerts in aid of the troops but no mention of local concerts. I guess I am looking in the wrong place.

This is from The Era (London, England), Saturday, January 6, 1900:

This is from the same issue of Era (The Radio Times of its day) on a play recently performed in Maritzburg.

Was the phrase 'long dearth of theatrical amusement in the colony' really necessary??

From The Era, Saturday, July 28, 1900: