Ceremony honours Tasmanians who served in the Boer War

A pared-back ceremony has been held to remember Tasmanians who lost their lives in the Boer War, as a Hobart historian continues to ensure the war is commemorated.

Gracie Ryan, 9 and her grandfather, Tasmanian historian Reg Watson laid a wreath to commemorate the Boer War at the memorial on Queens Domain. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

A PARED-BACK ceremony has been held to remember Tasmanians who lost their lives in the Boer War, as a Hobart historian continues to ensure the war is commemorated.

Forty-two Tasmanians died in the war between the British Empire and South African settlers from 1899 to 1902. The official commemorative day is usually the last Sunday in May.

Historian, author and ceremony organiser Reg Watson said a small number of people attended to lay flowers at the Boer War Memorial on the Queen’s Domain in Hobart.

“It was welcome to see them,’’ he said. “It was the 18th time I’ve held it and it was important for the event to go ahead in some form.”

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Mr Watson said while the Boer War was often overlooked due to the world wars that followed soon after, it was the third-largest conflict Australia had been involved in.

“Two Tasmanians were awarded a Victoria Cross, they being the first Australian-born [soldiers] to receive the medal,” he said.

Mr Watson is the author of Heroes All, a book on Tasmania’s involvement in the war. His grandfather, Trooper Frederick Watson, was part of the Boer War unit the 2nd Tasmanian Imperial Bushmen.