Date/Time
Date(s) - 03/11/2021
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location
Zoom
Categories
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/8416119688463/WN_i6d2H8yhQSCso3T5ychwzQ
Prisoners of the Boer War on St. Helena and Freemasonry with Robin Woodruff
Freemasonry or Masonry a “mysterious” organization that traces its origins to the 14th century local fraternities of stone masons that from the end of the 14th century. The Masons have been the subject of numerous conspiracy theories throughout the years
The Boer War (1899-1902) a ware that pitted about 50,000 Dutch South African farmers against nearly 500,000 British Empire troops in the first modern gorilla style war. It was fought over the vast diamond and gold discoveries of that region. In the three years of war 24,000 captured Dutch fighters were interned in overseas Prisoner of War Camps including one on the remote St. Helena Island in the South Atlantic Ocean. Dutch civilians and African supporters were put in civilian concentration camps with poor sanitary and food conditions resulting in 46,000 deaths making this Britain’s most unpopular war.
The British Empire Study Group hosts Robin Woodruff in a free presentation of the fascinating story of Freemasonry and the Dutch Prisoners of War on St. Helena. March 11th at 6PM (NY Time) Membership in the BESG is not required nor expected to attend our events.
About Robin Woodruff
Robin A. Woodruff is an Englishman residing in middle England who has a considerable interest in the activities of the Prisoners of the Boer War and particularly the Handicraft items they made in the Camps. This was to “Pass the time away.” as is recorded on one piece. Also, to generate an income that was contributed to the “Women & Children’s Fund”.
Following a Technical College education, Robin joined a local Printing Company as an Apprentice Bookbinder and attended the London College of Printing where he learnt to hand-bind books in leather. This no doubt contributed to his later appreciation of the variety of handicraft work produced by the Prisoners of War.
A lengthy career of over 40 years as Director of International Sales, providing the Airline Industry, and others with specialist printed materials has given Robin the opportunity to travel to 105 countries worldwide. Now retired, the majority of his travel is Boer War related in his search for information about the Prisoners of War that were incarcerated in South Africa, or “Banished” to overseas locations namely St. Helena; Ceylon; India and Bermuda. He has previously written the book “Prisoners of the Boer War in Ceylon and the Dutch East Indies”that was published in December 2015.