TOPIC:

Paper knives, also referred to as page turners or letter openers feature prominently among the handicrafts produced in Boer prisoner of war camps. Paper knives originally were used for cutting open book pages where the folding of printed sheets created closed edges that needed to be cut before reading. The knives from the camps, however, were produced mostly as decorative mementos to alleviate boredom and earn some money.

The most common among the paper knives produced in the Boer POW camps is made of wood, rectangular in form, usually about 33 cm in length, 3 to 4 cm in width and about 0,3 -0,5 cm thick. These knives have a pointed or rounded tip on one extremity and a carved handle on the other. The knife is rounded on one side only, creating cutting edges on both sides; the opposite side is usually flat.

The reason why this instrument was a popular POW art item was probably because it was relatively simple to produce. Even marginally skilled workers were able to shave and polish the wood into shape to leave the carving to specialist engravers. In many instances the carved lettering was filled-in by gold coloured paint.

The vast majority of Boer War era POW paper knives were produced in the Diyatalawa camp on Ceylon (Sri Lanka) from noble woods such as ebony and mahogany.

Paper knives form a rewarding ABW-collecting category. Many thousands were produced and although most have simple carved inscriptions such as “Ceylon” with year of production, there are plenty around with more elaborate carvings. Some even feature carvings on both sides, dedicated messages and/or show the name or initials of the prisoner who made or gifted the item. Because of the quality of the base material, a large number of Boer War POW paper knives survive to this day and still can be obtained at reasonable prices.

To start off the thread, below a few examples of simple paper knives produced in Ceylon by Boer prisoners.

Diyatalawa 1902. Mahogany, 31 by 4 cm


Ceylon 1902, Palisander or Walnut, 34,5 by 3,8 cm


Boerenkamp Diyatalawa Ceylon, 1902, Ebony, 37 by 3 cm



Detail showing the craftmanship of the fretwork in the above knife.

Stunning example of delicate fretwork, Everhard. It is amazing that it has survived intact.

My very first piece of POW work was one of these Ceylon "page turners". Picked it up for £12 at a weekly bric-a-bac market in Bath.

Below is an interesting example from St Helena, presented as a "bending race" prize during a gymkhana held on Longwood Plain on 23 April 1901. We are fortunate in that a report of this event was published in the Cheltenham Chronicle on 8 June. The gymkhana was held in commemoration of "Oaksey" – until 1914, the Vale of the White Horse Hunt held their annual steeplechase at Oaksey Park, Wiltshire. Along with other "not only useful but also ornamental articles", this page turner was presented to Lieutenant Robinson by Lady Bathurst. The correspondent goes on to give details of the "costume race", which shows that the officers had a penchant for dressing up as young ladies ....

Inset with an 1894 Kruger gold pond, and inscribed with the Gloucester Regiment badge, and the words "23RD APRIL1901 / GYMKHANA HELD ON LONGWOOD PLAIN ST HELENA" "BENDING RACE 1ST PRIZE / MR J.B.W. ROBINSON'S BRIDGET".

Lieutenant J.B.W. Robinson, 4th [Militia] Bn. Gloucestershire Regiment, arrived at St Helena on 21st April 1900.












Cheltenham Chronicle, 8th June 1901

THE MILITIA AT ST HELENA.

The 4th Gloucesters had a good time at Deadwood and Longwood on April 23, the occasion of a gymkhana held by the officers in commemoration of Oaksey.

Some lively scenes were witnessed. In the first race competitors had to hit a ball round a post 200 yards from the starting point and finish between two goal posts; in the second to ride the same distance, light a cigar and open an umbrella, and return; and the other races included a polo scurry, hurdle race (about five furlongs), ladies’ race (in which the ladies had to wait at a given point for gentlemen to thread their needles), bending race (in and out of a line of twelve posts), Victoria Cross race, a costume race, and the “St Helena Derby”. The latter event was won by Mr Herbert Smith's “Colonel”, which also won the hurdle race. First places in the other events were secured by Captain Gouldsmith’s “Gypsy”, the same owner’s “Ruby”, Colonel Earl Bathurst's “Silvertail” (two), and horses belonging to Miss Boileau and Mr J. Deason. In the ladies’ race, Lady Bathurst, on “Silvertail”, was unfortunate in going out of the course, and finished too late to be of any use.

With regard to the costume race, a correspondent says: “The first was Mr Deason, who wore a lady’s gown, but one which buttoned like a coat, and we would point out that he ought to have got into one made in the orthodox manner. The second was Captain Harding, who returned a blushing damsel of uncertain age, but to make that uncertainty as young as possible, wore a very short frock, which of course heightened the effect of the blushes. The whole getup was improved by a wreath of roses on her alabaster brow. The third was Lieutenant Craven, whom we really mistook for a schoolgirl with a beautiful head of golden hair of the 1s shocker type. The prize for the best costume was awarded to Lieutenant Hicks Beach, who turned up as a Pierrot, and his late arrival was generally attributed to his kissing the above-mentioned schoolgirl. Lady Bathurst designed and made this costume, and it thoroughly deserved the prize. Several other competitors arrived at the post very late, and it is understood that their late arrival was caused by their inexperience in matters of female attire. At the conclusion Lady Bathurst gave the prizes, which were not only useful but also ornamental articles. It was very amusing to observe her ladyship presenting herself with a prize, which she of course gratefully acknowledged”.

Another gymkhana was held on May 3. On the 27th April a smoking concert was held under the presidency of Earl Bathhurst, when the “hit” of the evening was an extraordinary character song by Captain Gouldsmith.





This 1986 letter from the Leicestershire Museum and Art Galleries Identification Service makes for an interesting read .... It seems the page turner was found in an old factory.











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Many of these pieces would have originally had the lettering highlighted with a gold paint infill. In period black & white photographs this shows as white, as can be seen in the Christmas card below. Occasionally page trurners come to the market with traces of this gold intact. The example shown is inscribed "GEMAAKT DOOR / A. DU TOIT, K.G. / Gedachtenis / Boeren Kamp / Diyatalawa / Ceylon / 1901" (Made by A. Du Toit, P.O.W. / A Souvenir [from the] Boer Camp, Diyatalawa, Ceylon, 1901). An Albertus Du Toit is listed as having been captured at Fouriesburg on 30/07/00. He was sent to Diyatalawa, Ceylon, on board the City Vienna. The POW database shows that he was 31 years old and came from Fontein, Ficksburg.













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Unfortunately not all paper knives come with a clear and straightforward text as shown by the marvellous example in Neville's post. Below a paper knife produced in Ceylon with a rather puzzling engraving.

This ebony paper knife (34,5 x 3 cm) was made in Ceylon in 1901 and was a present to a Mr and Mrs J. H (?) Barker by “Sgt J.C. Oliver”. The engraving is of high quality with gold filled lettering.



detail:


It appears that the knife was made by a Boer prisoner for a Sergeant J.C. Oliver (possibly a camp guard) to be used as a gift to the Barker couple. There is one J.C. Oliver on this site (19th Hussars) but he was a private and discharged for misconduct in 1905. Perhaps the discharge also involved a demotion in rank?

The mention of “R war R” below the name Oliver is puzzling. There are 5 Boer prisoners with the surname Oliver mentioned on the Bloemfontein Museum website, but none of them has matching initials. There is one Boer prisoner by the name of Jeremias Cornelis Olivier of Cilliers Hoogte, Bethlehem, aged 47 who was captured in August 1900 with camp unknown. A spelling error in the surname is feasible but that still doesn’t explain the rank of Sergeant. Any ideas?

Postscript: R war R Royal Warwickshire Regiment?

Everhard,

I had come to the same conclusion before you added your postscript: R war R = Royal Warwickshire Regiment. However, none of the RWR battalions were stationed in Ceylon during the ABW. In 1901 the 2nd Battalion was sent to Bermuda to guard Boer POWs there.
And, like you, I can't find an obvious contender for "Sgt J.C. Oliver". Very puzzling.

This short reference appeared in the Shepton Mallet Journal of 18 May 1900, but I cannot find anything that corroborates the statement that the Warwicks were to act as guards.






Here is a similar example, carved by a POW for 4132 Private Alfred Steff, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry. He was stationed at Diyatalawa from 22/12/1900 to 27/11/1902. Inscribed: "to Miss Florence Sinclair from Pte. Alf. Steff / Boer Camp". Again, the lettering retains much of its gold infill.




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I have now found a reference to a Sergeant Oliver of the Warwickshire Regiment, who was stationed at Diyatalawa in 1902. This must be Sergt. J.C. Oliver. Perhaps he was posted from Madras to help with the running of the camps.

His name is mentioned in a report of a wedding held at Pettah, Ceylon, on 24 September 1902.


Kidderminster Times, 1st November 1902

CHAPMAN – COOPER.

A quiet but pretty wedding took place on Wednesday, September 24th, at St Philip Neri’s Church, Pettah, Ceylon, the contracting parties being Sergeant G.N. Chapman, of the Gloucester Regiment, only son of Mr and Mrs John Chapman, late of Norton Barracks, Worcester, and Miss Elizabeth Cooper, daughter of Corporal Cooper, of the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, at present stationed at Diyatalawa, Ceylon. The service in church was a short one, and was attended by a large gathering of the military of the station, with whom the young couple are very popular. The bride was given away by her father, and was accompanied by the Misses Violet and May Collins as bridesmaids, while Sergeant J. Matthews acted as best man. The bride, who was attired in a dress of white silk trimmed with silk embroidery, with a wreath of orange blossom and veil, looked charming. Her ornaments were a gold necklet with a heart pendant set with diamonds, the gift of the bridegroom, and also a gold brooch set with pearls, the gift of the best man. The bridesmaids looked exceedingly well and were retired in dresses of white muslin over yellow and had on white Leghorn hats trimmed with chiffon, buttercups, and streamers, festooned with gold initial brooches set with turquoise and pearls, the gift of the bridegroom. As the newly married couple left the church, the comrades of the bridegroom crossed swords and the wedding party passed underneath. After the ceremony a reception was held at the Galle Face married quarters, and was largely attended. Cake and wine were served on a lavish scale. The band of the Gloucester Regiment was in attendance, and contributed in no small way to the enjoyment of the afternoon. Dancing was started and kept up till the early hours of the next morning. Sergeant Oliver, of the Warwickshire regiment, and Sergeant Hasler, R.A.M.C., contributed several duets on the banjo, which were very much appreciated.


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