Ann Rabinowitz
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| Harry Spanier |
This story ends on December 11, 1899, with as American, the first Jewish casualty on the Boer side, killed needlessly on the field of battle during a night attack of Surprise Hill, at the siege of Ladysmith.
However, it begins fortuitously enough with a German Jewish boy, Harry Spanier, who came toAmerica with his siblings, Joseph and Pauline, as part of the mid-19th century German Jewish migration to America
It was difficult trying to make something of oneself.
However, Harry grew up as a hustler and always eager to find his niche. He kept up with current affairs and what was going on in the world. Eventually, he concocted the idea that he should become involved in South African-related commerce. South Africa was teeming with possibilities.
And so, Harry sailed across the seas and arrived in South Africa and immediately set about making connections. He was soon accepted in the halls of government in Pretoria.
At some point, Harry became a burgher of the ZAR and joined the Boer commandos. He, along with many others from Pretoria, left to defend Ladysmith. It is quite strange that Harry, a man who was considered elderly by most accounts as he was about 59-60, should have done so. It is true that there were older men who joined, but many took non-combatant roles. In addition, he had a wife and two young children who needed his support in America.
What prompted him to take this life-changing and subsequently fatal move which risked everything he had or hoped to accomplish?
However, it begins fortuitously enough with a German Jewish boy, Harry Spanier, who came to
It was difficult trying to make something of oneself.
However, Harry grew up as a hustler and always eager to find his niche. He kept up with current affairs and what was going on in the world. Eventually, he concocted the idea that he should become involved in South African-related commerce. South Africa was teeming with possibilities.
And so, Harry sailed across the seas and arrived in South Africa and immediately set about making connections. He was soon accepted in the halls of government in Pretoria.