In the shadow of Paardeberg: Anglo-Canadian Identity and the South African War, 1896-1911

Abstract

The Boer War was a significant moment in the development of Canadian identity and had a profound legacy for Anglo-Canadians. Though smaller in scale than the First World War, the South African War was Canada’s first foreign engagement and the largest military action since the War of 1812. This thesis looks to expose how the forces of imperialism and nationalism worked both in competition and conjunction in the wake of the Boer War to develop the Anglo-Canadian identity. It examines three key areas of impact: political, military, and cultural in order to demonstrate the significance of the war on the evolution of Canadian identity. The war was a massive political challenge for Prime Minister Laurier when it broke out in late 1899, with imperialist and nationalist factions having the potential to rupture the country irrevocably, and as such required a deft political solution. Following Canada’s involvement in the war, the dominion was able to be a major part in the renegotiation of Empire through the colonial conferences and by contributing to imperial defence. Defence became a vital space for inter-dominion and inter-imperial cooperation during the decade. Nationalism and imperialism worked collaboratively as the growth of Canada’s defence capabilities in both the Militia and fledgling navy were nationalist achievements for imperial ends. Finally, the experience of the war had profound cultural impacts. It both provided evidence for previously held beliefs and myths about national identity, while the memorialisation of the war was vital in identity construction. The war demonstrated to Anglo-Canadians the truth of the Militia Myth, that they were naturally good soldiers and important victories like Paardeberg were vital to this. However, the losses incurred in the fighting meant that the nationalist achievements of the soldiers were memorialised in imperial rhetoric to give greater symbolic meaning. Through memorialisation and experience in South Africa the British connection was maintained. The thesis tackles the standard nationalist narrative of colony-to-nation by reinserting the Boer War and elaborating on how the forces of imperialism and nationalism operated.