Vrouemonument - National Women's Monument
Bloemfontein,
Free State
Architect: Francois (Frans) SOFF
Sculptor : Anton VAN WOUW
| Vrouemonument - National Women's MonumentBloemfontein, Architect: Francois (Frans) SOFF |
 Detail of front north east elevation |
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Notes: ERECTION OF THE MONUMENT When President Steyn returned once more to his native land in 1905, his first and most fervent desire was to pay homage in some way or another to those women and children who laid down their lives during the Anglo-Boer War for the freedom of their country. On 20 July, 1906, a meeting was held at the home of Mr. J.W.G. Steyn. He was a brother of President Steyn, who presided at the meeting, the object of which was to devise ways and means for the erection of a monument. At the meeting were also present General Hertzog, Messrs Abraham Fischer, W.J.C. Brebner, C.H. Wessels, Rev. C.D. Murray, Rev Grosskopf, Mr. C.G. Fichardt and Dr. Stallreiter, all of them Free Staters. It was, however, readily realised that they were dealing with a matter of national importance, which was the concern of the whole nation. A conference was consequently held at Bloemfontein, once again presided over by President Steyn, at which were represented all the Dutch Churches in the various colonies of South Africa as well as different organisations, namely "Het Volk" in the Transvaal, "Oranje Unie" in the Free State, "Afrikaner Bond" in the Cape and "Het Kongres" in Natal. This joint conference minuted, inter alia, the following resolutions: "Resolution No. 1. This meeting feels that the time has arrived for the erection on South African soil of a monument in glorious memory of the mothers, women and children who died during the recent war or who suffered grievously in other ways in and outside the Concentration Camps. Resolution No 2. It is decided that a worthy monument shall be erected to give expression to the nation-wide feeling of admiration for the women and children who suffered in the Concentration Camps during the war. The Monument shall be in the form of a commemorative pillar or statue on which and through which expression shall be given especially to the suffering endured by the Africander Women for her motherland". It was further decided "that the Right Honourable the chairman be requested to issue a circular letter to the South African nation, exhorting them to support the noble undertaking" and ultimately "to call for plans, specifications and estimates for a monument costing approximately £10 000 " - no mean sum to collect by way of subscription lists in those years of poverty after the war. On the 7th of July, 1911, the working committee was able to report to the "South African Conference at Bloemfontein" that they had already in hand a sum of £10,236.19.2, that forty plans had been submitted to them and that a sub-committee consisting of the Rev. J.D. Kestell, Prof. A. Moorrees and Mr. T.N. de Villiers recommended as the best the drafts of Messrs. Anton VAN WOUW and Frans SOFF, and those of Messrs. McKINLEY and WHITE. The sum of £100 offered as a prize was divided between the two firms but the draft of Messrs. van Wouw and SOFF were ultimately accepted by the Committee. Messrs. Roco de Villiers, A.W. MacHardy and Gordon A. Fraser acted as secretaries for the Monument Fund. THE MONUMENT The monument is an obelisk 120 feet (36.58m) high, built of sandstone from Kroonstad and resting at the foot of two kopjes, a few miles out of Bloemfontein. Impressive in its simplicity, the obelisk overlooks the surrounding kopjes and distant plains. On the eastern and western sides of the column there is graphically depicted in bronze bas-relief a typical scene from the history of "mother's grief and children's woe". Immediately in front of and against the obelisk two striking figures of women are depicted. The inscription at the foot of the monument - below the sculpture of the two women - reads as follows (translated from the Dutch):
Four persons have been buried at the foot of the monument: President SteynMrs. President Steyn General Christian Rudolph de Wet Emily Hobhouse [Reference: Van der Merwe, Dr N J; The National Women's Monument, n.d. (circa 1956); Bloemfontein, Sentrale Pers. Booklet written at the request of the Committee of the National Women's Monument and translated by prof. D. P. Britz.] Text sent to us by William MARTINSON. |
References:
| Bakker, Karel A, Clarke, Nicholas J & Fisher, Roger C. 2014. Eclectic ZA Wilhelmiens : A shared Dutch built heritage in South Africa. Pretoria: Visual Books. pg 203 |
| Picton-Seymour, Désirée. 1989. Historical Buildings in South Africa. Cape Town: Struikhof Publishers. pg 125 |
| van Tonder, JJ. 1977. Fotobeeld van 300 Monumente, Standbeelde en Gedenktekens langs die pad van Suid-Afrika. Krugersdorp: JJ van Tonder. pg 7 |
 Axial approach from north east - axis now partially obscured by later Museum building  View from north  North east elevation  Elevation from north east  View of obelisk from the East  Unfortunate relationship of the modern museum extension encroaching on - and detracting from - the power of the axial approach to the Vrouemonument  Sandstone plinth with v-cut signage at entrance to Monument and Museum complex  Entrance stairs flanked by battered side walls  Detail of stairs showing pleasing step proportions created by minor risers and substantial treads  Apex of obelisk  Detail of base of obelisk  Detail of sculpture and obelisk  Sculpture  Detail of sculpture and inscription  Detail of inscription  Right hand bronze panel "VOOR VRYHEID VOLK EN VADERLAND" (for freedom, compatriots and fatherland)  Left hand bronze panel "IK ZAL U NIET BEGEVEN IK ZAL U NIET VERLATEN" (I shall neither forsake nor desert thee)  Detail from lhs panel showing child's head with bonnet  Detail from lhs panel showing child with pigtail  Frans Soff - Architect  A. Van Wouw - Beeldhouer [Sculptor]  Detail of date inscription - with later black paint applied for legibility  Bronze plaque commemorating Emily Hobhouse  Bronze plaque commemorating: CHRISTIAAN RUDOLF  Bronze plaque commemorating: MARTHINUS THEUNIS  Bronze plaque commemorating: JOHN DANIEL  Commemorative bronze plaque - Unveiled 16-12-1963  Detail of bronze bar inserted to form a drip on underside of stone lintel to each bronze panel  Detail of bronze panel  Detail of statue  Detail of statue  Grave of John Daniel Kestell  Grave of Marthinus Theunis Steyn and Rachel Isabella Steyn  Grave of Christiaan Rudolf de Wet |
 Tour of the Union of South Africa by the Empire Parliamentary Association (UK branch).  Tour of the Union of South Africa by the Empire Parliamentary Association (UK branch), October 1913.  Tour of the Union of South Africa by the Empire Parliamentary Association (UK branch), October 1913.  Cover of ’By die monument’ by Totius with woodcut by JH Pierneef  Rev Koos van Rooy laying a wreath at the foot of the monument on behalf of the Reformed Church's Synod 1939 |