Magyari Márta szerk.: A Debreceni Déri Múzeum Évkönyve 2008-2009 (2010)

TÖRTÉNETTUDOMÁNY - Szabó-Zsoldos Gábor: Egy debreceni a búrok oldalán

EGY DEBRECENI A BÚROK OLDALÁN 73 ISMERETLEN 1901 Fényes ünnepély - az ingyen kenyér javára. Debreczeni Lljság. V. évf. 53. sz.:4 1901 Az ingyen kenyérosztásról. Debreczeni Újság. V. évf. 55. sz.3 1901 Karczolatok. Debreczeni Újság. V. évf. 57. sz.3 1901 A bur parancsnok felolvasása. Debreczeni Újság. V. évf. 57. sz.:s 1901 Felolvasás és hangverseny az ingyen kenyér javára. Debreczeni Újság. V. évf. 60. sz.:2-3 Kéziratos források Levelek: PÉCHY TIBOR 1900.01.19. Út közben Oranje Szabad Államon keresztül Colesbergbe, a fronthoz 1900.01.29. Hoofdlager, Colesberg 1900.02.18. Hoofdlager, Colesberg SPICK NÁNDOR 1900.11.06. Budapest Gábor Szabó-Zsoldos A man from Debrecen on the Boer side According to present research, in the Second Boer War (October 1899 - May 1902) there were 13 Hungarian men taking part as soldiers, mainly on the Boer side. One of them, the focus of this study, was Tibor Péchy, who stayed in South Africa from May 1896 to November 1900. During that period he kept up an intensive correspondence with his family members at home. The sources of my research were his letters along with the manuscripts of his lectures given on his experiences in South Africa after his return. This study is centred around his talk at a charity event for free bread in Debrecen, on 28 February 1900. The first of the two major units of the talk introduces pre-war South Africa, with a special emphasis on Transvaal. It gives a general picture of Boer mentality and marriage customs, followed by the depiction of the contrast between the two large Transvaal cities, Pretoria and Johannesburg. The second unit focuses on the war itself with details on the training of the Boer army, life in the military camp, officers and privates. Besides, there are episodes from his own military activity. In many respects, Tibor Péchy is an outstanding figure among his fellow countrymen fighting in the Boer War. Whereas the other Hungarians spent only a few months in South Africa during the war, he experienced civil as well as military life there for nearly four years.