Sport among the South African troops during the German South West Africa campaign, 1914-1915

Abstract

In the light of the forthcoming centenary celebrations in commemoration of World War I, this study can be regarded as topical – especially as this field was ignored by sports historians until recently. General secondary sources in which World War I is discussed in detail usually make no mention of sport and games and the significant role thereof at and behind the front lines as well as in the prisoners-of-war camps. The historic-scientific method of research was used to reconstruct and analyse the past as faithfully as possible. Priority was given to primary written sources in Southern Africa and England. Repositories visited were the JS Gericke Library in Stellenbosch, the National Library of South Africa (Cape Town Campus), the Parliament Library, the Cape Archive, the State Archive, the South African National Defence Force Documentation Centre, some Regimental Archives, the South African Museum of Cultural History, the South African National Museum of Military History, the Strange Library, the Cory Library for Historical Research, as well the National Archives of Namibia. It is evident in the study that boredom was one of the primary causes of the need for sport among the soldiers. Troops also had a need for a morale booster and sport served this purpose. As far as this campaign was concerned, the climate was a constraining factor. The heat, drought, sandstorms and barren landscape were not always conducive to sport. Nevertheless the soldiers made the best of the coastal conditions and swam and fished. Otherwise they played soccer and cricket, took part in athletics and enjoyed board and card games.

Keywords: South Africa, German South West Africa, Namibia, sport, World War I.