TOPIC:

My great grandfather (Dr Charles Homer Doering) brought his wife, two sons aged 6 and daughter aged 5, to Joburg in 1898. He practiced dentistry in his uncle's practice in Pritchard Square.

They all lived in a house in Jolly St. in Bellevue. Could the kids have gone to school?
I think he came at a very bad time! He went off to help in Military Hospitals in Natal, Bloemfontein, and later around Joburg.

How did his wife cope - the city was virtually deserted, gangs of robbers roamed around, boarded up houses were robbed, food was very scarce . . . . .

My question is do any members know of any books, diaries, papers, magazines, published letters etc. that would describe the harsh housewife's life during the war?

Thank you in advance,
baobab

Hi Baobab,

You could try Diana Cammack's 'The Rand at War'?

Did they stay in Johannesburg or did they join the exodus to Natal and the Cape?

Best wishes,

Justin

Baobab,

There must be such account but I have not come across any to date.

There was a C Doerning who served in the Railway Pioneer Regiment. Was that the same man?

Kind regards
David

Dr C Doering and his uncle Dr FE Doering were dentists in Joburg, and later also in Pretoria. The family lived in Joburg during the War, and I want to know what THAT was like!
King regards,
baobab