TOPIC:

It is mentioned that 3 Boer Teenage Boys were taken prisoner by the Zulus. Does anyone know what became of these young men after they were taken prisoner?

Tim

I have not come across any mention of the fate of the three boys, but I suspect that they were soon released. Had they been ill-treated or killed, there would have been an even greater stir amongst the Boers about the event and any such ill-treatment would have become a major part of the Boer memory of the battle.

Regards
Brett

Brett,

I came across another picture today of the monument in Vryheid I believe.



Best wishes
David

Brett,

I haven't come across this incident before, that I recall and thanks for a very enlightening post albeit now old.

Iain

Hi I am new to the this site and have read an account during the 1970s about the Holkrans massacre as it was known. I read that two boys who survived the massacre were Francis Barry Pratt and a Fourie boy.
I subsequently wrote to the Borough of Vryheid enquring about the Pratt survivor and received a reply dated 22nd May 1973 The reply reads as follows; Sir your letter dated 17th May 1973 refers. Mr F.B.Pratt who is 91 years old is staying with his son Mr. George Pratt on a farm near Vryheid. Follows his sons address and a note that my letter had been forwarded to him . I wrote to him and as he was not related to me I lost contact with him.

Theo

I'm pleased the boys survived; I'm currently reading "The Red Soldier" about the Zulu wars of 1879. The Drummer boys who died at Islandwana were strung up and gutted, presumably for Muti. I actually thought the same fate may have happened to these boys. I know all the British soldiers were ritually disemboweled at Islandwana but quite a few accounts tell of the boys being butchered like sheep or chopped up.

Iain

Theo wrote: Hi I am new to the this site and have read an account during the 1970s about the Holkrans massacre as it was known. I read that two boys who survived the massacre were Francis Barry Pratt and a Fourie boy.
I subsequently wrote to the Borough of Vryheid enquring about the Pratt survivor and received a reply dated 22nd May 1973 The reply reads as follows; Sir your letter dated 17th May 1973 refers. Mr F.B.Pratt who is 91 years old is staying with his son Mr. George Pratt on a farm near Vryheid. Follows his sons address and a note that my letter had been forwarded to him . I wrote to him and as he was not related to me I lost contact with him.