Hendrik Prinsloo
Encyclopedia
As a twelve year old boy Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo was interned by the British
in a concentration camp during the Anglo-Boer War but served alongside the British in the South African forces during the two World Wars. He is best remembered for the humanitarian manner in which he, as Commandant
, ran the Zonderwater Italian POW camp.
Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo (1861–1900), who commanded the Carolina Boer Commando
at the Battle of Spion Kop
and was killed in action at Witkloof
and his wife, Cecilia Maria Steyn. In 1926, Boer
and Briton
erected a monument to commemorate his gallantry at Witkloof.
He is also a direct descendant of Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo (1784–1816), who was involved in the Slagter's Nek rebellion
in 1815.
As a boy of twelve he was taken prisoner-of-war by the British
while carrying arms in his father's Commando
(the Carolinaers) during the Second Boer War
. Because of his tender age, he was lodged in the Barberton
concentration camp with his mother.
After the war he became a magistrate
's court interpreter in Natal Province
and eventually farmed in the Carolina district.
of 1914 Prinsloo sided with the South African government forces. On 12 January 1915 he was appointed "honorary lieutenant, supernumerary list (Active Citizen Force
)". During his subsequent service in German South-West Africa
he became aide-de-camp
to Colonel Commandant
WR Collins from January to August 1915.
On 26 November 1915 he joined the 1st Regiment, Military Constabulary.
Although no specific reference to his service in France can be found, it would appear that he served with the South African Brigade which formed part of the 9th (Scottish) Division. In his address to a 1947 reunion of Middlesex Regiment officers, he mentioned that members of the regiment had served under his command. The 3/10th Battalion (The Middlesex Regiment) landed at Le Havre on 1 June 1917 and was attached to South African Brigade. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre
avec Palmes
On 31 December 1919 he resigned from the army and assumed an appointment with the Permanent Police Force as headquarters sub-inspector. Later he settled in Windhoek
where he became commander of the Windhoek Town and District Police.
In 1922, as a lieutenant
in the Military Constabulary in South West Africa
he took a leading part in ending the Bondelswart Rebellion
. He was the leader of the force which tracked down and killed the rebel leader Abraham Morris. This brought about the subsequent surrender
of the Bondel insurgents
.
At the outbreak of World War II, he was Commanding Officer
of the Regiment Botha
. As he was about to depart for North Africa with his regiment
, he was recalled at the instance of Field Marshal
JC Smuts who was the Prime Minister
and Minister of Defence and placed in command of the vast Italian prisoner of war camp at Zonderwater (also spelt Sonderwater).
In 1947 he represented South Africa at the Diplomatic Conference held in Geneva
for the purpose of revising the International Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners-of-War, that is, the Geneva Convention
of 1929.
On 28 August 1947 he was transferred to the reserve of officers.
On 12 November 1941 Prinsloo was posted to No 8 Prisoner of War Battalion, First Reserve Brigade
. In December 1942 he assumed duty as assistant camp commandant of the prisoner-of-war camp, Zonderwater, and in the following year he was promoted acting colonel
, an appointment he held until 1 April 1947, when he was released and taken on as supernumerary to the establishment.
Zonderwater camp, which can more accurately be described as a city, was the largest of the eighteen known World War II
Italian POW camps and held nearly a hundred thousand prisoners of war before it closed down on 1 January 1947. The appointment of Colonel Hendrik Prinsloo OBE
as commanding officer
was inspired. As a result of his efforts Zonderwater became one of the best functioning military camps in South Africa.
There was an improvement in living conditions, which included the establishment of an orchestra and a 10 000 book library, craft exhibitions and art classes. Illiteracy dropped from 30% to 2%. In short, life at Zonderwater was as close to civilian
life for the prisoners, all due to Colonel Prinsloo who cared for his charges.
avec Palmes and was mentioned in despatches for services in the First World War
. He received the Efficiency Decoration
on 11 April 1944 and was made an Officer of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire
on 14 June 1945.
His efforts were recognized by the post-war Italian Government on 25 November 1949 when he, as the Camp Commandant, and three of his officers were invested with the Order of the Star of Italy (Stella della Solidarieta). The award was made to those who had specially contributed to the re-building of post-war Italy. Prinsloo was further recognized by the award of the Order of Good Merit (Ordine di Bene Merente) by the Pope
.
in the Eastern Transvaal
district.
He was at one time president of the Eastern Transvaal Agricultural Union and distinguished himself at sport, particularly at horse-riding.
In 1940 he doffed his uniform to win the Provincial Council by-election
in the constituency of Carolina, and represented it in the Transvaal Provincial Council for six years.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in a concentration camp during the Anglo-Boer War but served alongside the British in the South African forces during the two World Wars. He is best remembered for the humanitarian manner in which he, as Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
, ran the Zonderwater Italian POW camp.
Early life
Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo was the son of CommandantCommandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo (1861–1900), who commanded the Carolina Boer Commando
Boer Commando
The Boer commando was the basic unit of organisation of the militia of the Boer people of South Africa. The term came into English usage during the Second Boer War.-History:...
at the Battle of Spion Kop
Battle of Spion Kop
The Battle of Spion Kop was fought about west-south-west of Ladysmith on the hilltop of Spioenkop along the Tugela River, Natal in South Africa from 23–24 January 1900...
and was killed in action at Witkloof
Battle of Leliefontein
The Battle of Leliefontein was an engagement between Canadian/British and Boer forces during the Second Boer War on 7 November 1900, at the Komati River south of Belfast at the present day Nooitgedacht Dam....
and his wife, Cecilia Maria Steyn. In 1926, Boer
Boer
Boer is the Dutch and Afrikaans word for farmer, which came to denote the descendants of the Dutch-speaking settlers of the eastern Cape frontier in Southern Africa during the 18th century, as well as those who left the Cape Colony during the 19th century to settle in the Orange Free State,...
and Briton
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
erected a monument to commemorate his gallantry at Witkloof.
He is also a direct descendant of Hendrik Frederik Prinsloo (1784–1816), who was involved in the Slagter's Nek rebellion
Slachter's Nek Rebellion
The Slachter's Nek Rebellion was an uprising by Boers in 1815 on the eastern border of the Cape Colony. The rebellion, which was small and local, was handled so badly that it acquired importance as an incident in the struggle of Afrikanerdom against British domination.Slachter's Nek is the Dutch...
in 1815.
As a boy of twelve he was taken prisoner-of-war by the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
while carrying arms in his father's Commando
Boer Commando
The Boer commando was the basic unit of organisation of the militia of the Boer people of South Africa. The term came into English usage during the Second Boer War.-History:...
(the Carolinaers) during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. Because of his tender age, he was lodged in the Barberton
Barberton, Mpumalanga
Barberton is a town in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa, which has its origin in the 1880s gold rush in the region. It is situated in the De Kaap Valley and is fringed by the Mkhonjwa Mountains...
concentration camp with his mother.
After the war he became a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
's court interpreter in Natal Province
Natal Province
Natal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese, was a province of South Africa from 1910 until 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. The Natal Province included the bantustan of KwaZulu...
and eventually farmed in the Carolina district.
Military career
During the Boer RevoltMaritz Rebellion
The Maritz Rebellion or the Boer Revolt or the Five Shilling Rebellion, occurred in South Africa in 1914 at the start of World War I, in which men who supported the recreation of the old Boer republics rose up against the government of the Union of South Africa...
of 1914 Prinsloo sided with the South African government forces. On 12 January 1915 he was appointed "honorary lieutenant, supernumerary list (Active Citizen Force
Citizen Force
The Citizen Force was the name of the general military reserve force of several British Commonwealth countries.-Australian:Since the Federation of Australia in 1901, the reserve military force has been known by many names, including the Citizens Forces, the Citizen Military Forces, the Militia and,...
)". During his subsequent service in German South-West Africa
German South-West Africa
German South West Africa was a colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South West Africa, finally becoming Namibia in 1990...
he became aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels...
WR Collins from January to August 1915.
On 26 November 1915 he joined the 1st Regiment, Military Constabulary.
Although no specific reference to his service in France can be found, it would appear that he served with the South African Brigade which formed part of the 9th (Scottish) Division. In his address to a 1947 reunion of Middlesex Regiment officers, he mentioned that members of the regiment had served under his command. The 3/10th Battalion (The Middlesex Regiment) landed at Le Havre on 1 June 1917 and was attached to South African Brigade. He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
avec Palmes
On 31 December 1919 he resigned from the army and assumed an appointment with the Permanent Police Force as headquarters sub-inspector. Later he settled in Windhoek
Windhoek
Windhoek is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Namibia. It is located in central Namibia in the Khomas Highland plateau area, at around above sea level. The 2001 census determined Windhoek's population was 233,529...
where he became commander of the Windhoek Town and District Police.
In 1922, as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the Military Constabulary in South West Africa
South West Africa
South-West Africa was the name that was used for the modern day Republic of Namibia during the earlier eras when the territory was controlled by the German Empire and later by South Africa....
he took a leading part in ending the Bondelswart Rebellion
Bondelswarts affair
The Bondelswarts affair was a controversial violent incident in South Africa's League of Nations Mandate of South West Africa.In 1917, the South African mandatory administration had created a tax on dogs, and increased it in 1921. The tax was rejected by the Bondelswarts, a group of Khoikhoi, who...
. He was the leader of the force which tracked down and killed the rebel leader Abraham Morris. This brought about the subsequent surrender
Surrender (military)
Surrender is when soldiers, nations or other combatants stop fighting and eventually become prisoners of war, either as individuals or when ordered to by their officers. A white flag is a common symbol of surrender, as is the gesture of raising one's hands empty and open above one's head.When the...
of the Bondel insurgents
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
.
At the outbreak of World War II, he was Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the Regiment Botha
Regiment Botha
Regiment Botha is an infantry regiment of the South African Army. As a reserve unit, it has a status roughly equivalent to that of a British Territorial Army or United States Army National Guard unit...
. As he was about to depart for North Africa with his regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
, he was recalled at the instance of Field Marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
JC Smuts who was the Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
and Minister of Defence and placed in command of the vast Italian prisoner of war camp at Zonderwater (also spelt Sonderwater).
In 1947 he represented South Africa at the Diplomatic Conference held in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
for the purpose of revising the International Convention Relative to the Treatment of Prisoners-of-War, that is, the Geneva Convention
Geneva Convention (1929)
The Geneva Convention was signed at Geneva, July 27, 1929. Its official name is the Convention relative to the Treatment of Prisoners of War, Geneva July 27, 1929. It entered into force 19 June 1931. It is this version of the Geneva Conventions which covered the treatment of prisoners of war...
of 1929.
On 28 August 1947 he was transferred to the reserve of officers.
Zonderwater POW camp
First Reserve Brigade (South Africa)
During the first two years of the World War II, South Africa raised a variety of military units. In order to cope with protection of vulnerable points and guarding prisoners of war, the First Reserve Brigade was formed on 29 February 1940 initially with six battalions but later expanded to twelve...
. In December 1942 he assumed duty as assistant camp commandant of the prisoner-of-war camp, Zonderwater, and in the following year he was promoted acting colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
, an appointment he held until 1 April 1947, when he was released and taken on as supernumerary to the establishment.
Zonderwater camp, which can more accurately be described as a city, was the largest of the eighteen known World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Italian POW camps and held nearly a hundred thousand prisoners of war before it closed down on 1 January 1947. The appointment of Colonel Hendrik Prinsloo OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
as commanding officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
was inspired. As a result of his efforts Zonderwater became one of the best functioning military camps in South Africa.
There was an improvement in living conditions, which included the establishment of an orchestra and a 10 000 book library, craft exhibitions and art classes. Illiteracy dropped from 30% to 2%. In short, life at Zonderwater was as close to civilian
Civilian
A civilian under international humanitarian law is a person who is not a member of his or her country's armed forces or other militia. Civilians are distinct from combatants. They are afforded a degree of legal protection from the effects of war and military occupation...
life for the prisoners, all due to Colonel Prinsloo who cared for his charges.
Recognition
He was awarded the French Croix de GuerreCroix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
avec Palmes and was mentioned in despatches for services in the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He received the Efficiency Decoration
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
on 11 April 1944 and was made an Officer of the Military Division of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
on 14 June 1945.
His efforts were recognized by the post-war Italian Government on 25 November 1949 when he, as the Camp Commandant, and three of his officers were invested with the Order of the Star of Italy (Stella della Solidarieta). The award was made to those who had specially contributed to the re-building of post-war Italy. Prinsloo was further recognized by the award of the Order of Good Merit (Ordine di Bene Merente) by the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
.
Civilian life
Between World War I and World War II he was a farmer in the ErmeloErmelo, Mpumalanga
Ermelo is the educational, industrial and commercial centre of the 7,750 km² Gert Sibande District Municipality in Mpumalanga province, Republic of South Africa. Mixed farming and anthracite, coal and torbanite mining take place here...
in the Eastern Transvaal
Mpumalanga
Mpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
district.
He was at one time president of the Eastern Transvaal Agricultural Union and distinguished himself at sport, particularly at horse-riding.
In 1940 he doffed his uniform to win the Provincial Council by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in the constituency of Carolina, and represented it in the Transvaal Provincial Council for six years.