South African War Memorial (South Australia)
| South African War Memorial | |
|---|---|
| Adelaide City Council | |
 |
|
| For the citizen soldiers of the state who fought in the South African War | |
| Unveiled | 6 June 1904 |
| Location |
34°55′17.45″S 138°35′58.06″E / 34.9215139°S 138.5994611°ECoordinates: 34°55′17.45″S 138°35′58.06″E / 34.9215139°S 138.5994611°E Adelaide |
| Designed by | Adrian Jones (Sculpture), Garlick, Sibley and Wooldridge (Pedestal) |
The South African War Memorial (also known as the Boer War Memorial or, prior to 1931, the National War Memorial) is an equestrian memorial dedicated to the South Australians who served in the Second Boer War of 11 October 1899 to 31 May 1902. It was the first war in which South Australians fought, and 1531 men were sent in nine contingents, with over 1500 horses to accompany them. Over 59 South Australians died in the war.
The memorial is located in front of the main entrance to Government House, one of the most prominent buildings in Adelaide, on the corner of North Terrace and King William Street. It was constructed with a budget of £2500 raised through public donations, and was designed by the London-based sculptor Adrian Jones. While the statue itself was not intended to represent any particular soldier, there is evidence suggesting that the head of the rider was based on that of George Henry Goodall.
The statue was unveiled by the Governor of South Australia, George Le Hunte, on 6 June 1904. It has since become one of the focal points for the Anzac day marches, as well as being regarded as one of the most "eye-catching" and significant statues in the city. As such, it was added to the national heritage listing in 1990.
In 1899, the Orange Free State and Transvaal declared war on Britain. South Australia, "fiercely" loyal to the British Empire and still "two years away from federation", joined the other Australian colonies in sending troops to support the Empire in the conflict. With the support of Adelaide's newspapers, nine contingents of South Australian troops were sent to the war during the three years of hostilities, totaling 1531 men and 1507 horses. Funding for the endeavor was garnered through the State and Imperial Governments in combination with funds raised through public subscriptions. In addition to the formal contingent, a number of Australians served as colonial troops, either having paid their way to Southern Africa after the conflict had begun or having already been present in the region prior to the outbreak of hostilities. By the time hostilities ended on 31 May 1902, at least 59 South Australians had been killed in the war.
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