Prints
PEI African Contingent - c1899
PEI African Contingent - c1899
Title: Members of the Prince Edward Island Transvaal Contingent
Artist: Robert L. Cotton, Charlottetown (Archives Canada attributes the group image to Westlake Brothers.)
Publisher: The Guardian, Charlottetown, P.E.I.
Description: Half-tone engraving on paper. Page measures 10 x 14 1/4". Shows minor edge wear, and soiling from handling.
In November 1899, 32 Islanders set sail for Africa. They were part of a 1000-man contingent sent by Canada to help Great Britain defeat the Transvaal and Orange Free State, two Boer republics in South Africa. The Company Commander was Islander, Major William A. Weeks. By the end of the conflict in 1902, a total of 125 Prince Edward Islanders would take part in the conflict. Two died - Private Roland Dennis Taylor on February 18, 1900, in Paardeberg, South Africa, and Private Alfred William Riggs on February 27, 1900, also in Paardeberg. Several more Islanders were wounded in action.