Lessons of War.
Heroes Remember - South African War
Lessons of War.
Transcript
Picture of six soldiers standing or on a fence.
Interviewer: What was the saddest thing that you remember? Well, I don't know that I had many sad things to remember. No, I can't say that, I never had any sad, ya know, a young fella when you were going around the world. You don't have much sadness. Interviewer: What do you think was the lesson the Boer War? What do you think was the lesson of the Boer War? Was there something to be learned? Well yes, I, I think they should have learnt a lesson, now, to give and take. Before, before committing themselves to,Soldier holding his rifle on horseback.
to a war like that, they should sit down and consider everything. Both from a human standpoint of what the suffering, the suffering and the inconvenience and the, the trouble it's causing for millions of people. I think both sides antag, two antagonists should get together, or a body, no matter whether its one antagonist or two or twenty. They should get together and solve things out, in the proper manner. Interviewer: Do you remember all these things on November 11th, every Armistice Day. I mean this is November 11th of the First World War but it's a military occasion that's celebrated every year. Do you remember all these things? What do you think of on Armistice day?Soldier posing with rifle slung.
Well, I never thought very much of it, ya know, I never give it a thought. I never give it a thought. It's, it's very nice, I pay respect to the cenotaph over there in the square and over in the avenue. I think that should be commemorated. I think that every body should pay there respects to the place like that. It's only in honor of some fella that went out there and he done his best and failed. (I don't know maybe he was one of the lucky ones.) Well he could have been one of the lucky ones too. Interviewer: Because war has changed a lot since 1899, since the Boer war. Today it's not a matter of inconveniencing or hurting aPicture of a man standing and a woman sitting, holding flowers.
few million people.It could be a matter of the end the world. That's very true, as I've often said here now, I often say to people, scientists have got hold of a thing today that they've created and they can't handle. Scientists that manufacture these here goods can't handle them. It's got out of hand. Interviewer: Do you care to make any predictions about what's what's going to happen. Well I, I would and I think these big powers if they've got any sense at all, would sit down altogether and get their headsThree Veterans standing in front of war memorial.
straight. And come to some conclusion to live right, to live right, and cut out all this here devilry that's going on. Both in the upper brackets and in the lower brackets too. Interviewer: That's such a simple solution, it's too simple. Why can't people do that? And they're not and they never will. You see the example of the Paris Peace talks that has been going on for the past four years, or six years or whatever it is. They had, they had, they had this here, this here body and nation got together was going to stop wars and all that other but it'sBoer War Veteran talking with current service men.
as simple as ABC. You don't be have to be a cutthroat or a gangster because everybody knows right from wrong today from a little toddler up. But if it's driven into him by his parents, that's what he's going to be. It's the parent of the people today that should be showing an example to the younger generation coming on. But there not doing it, by a long shot.And it's just the same with nations. Now there's these big nations that get together and they could, they're intelligent people and theyBoer War Veteran sitting on a chair, holding a document.
should get together and thrash these things out in a proper manner. And these head, the heads of governments and the heads in nations should get together and live right and do what's right. By the rest of humanity under their charge, them people are just paying these people with a whip on with a shambock, to drive them. Interviewer: That's very well said. (What?) That's very well said, and it's true. Well it's true. We, it's absolutely, we see it, we see it here today with, we've got it, we've got it right here in, in your own town, your own government, your own nation. We've got it all overPicture of six soldiers standing or on a fence.
It's the higher up, look you can't, you can't, you can't lay all the blame on the poor individual that can't help himself. He's brought up that way. But the higher up, that poor man goes conscientiously to the polls and he casts his vote for Jim. Well they come along and vote for Harry, and I come along and vote for Phil and all this. Them fellas go up there and say ho ho ho hoo. We got, we got the goods now on them. We'll keep them in order. What are they doing, are they keeping us in order. We're paying their,we're paying them to travel all over the world, at our expense, bear in mind. Interviewer: Are you making any specific reference to Pierre Trudeau (No, no, no) who does a lot of traveling?Soldier holding his rifle on horseback.
If the boots fits you must wear it.Description
Mr. Weaver gives his point of view on lessons learned from the Boer War.
Frank Weaver
Frank Weaver was born in England, April 7th, 1881 and moved to Canada following his service in the South African War. At the time of this interview Mr. Weaver was 97-years-old. This interview was recorded in Saint John, New Brunswick on August 13, 1971 as part of the Living History Project completed by students and faculty of Military and Strategic Studies, Department of History, University of New Brunswick. This interview is used with permission of the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick. Mr. Weaver's interview was taped outdoors. VAC apologizes for the sometimes poor audio quality of these clips.
Meta Data
- Medium:
- Video
- Owner:
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- Duration:
- 06:37
- Person Interviewed:
- Frank Weaver
- War, Conflict or Mission:
- South African War
- Branch:
- Army
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