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Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903 Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903 Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903 Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903 Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903 Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903 Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903 Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903 Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903 Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903

Rare Anglo-Boer War POW made Carved Cedar-wood Box – Bermuda 1903

Here on offer is a very rare example of an Anglo-Boer war POW carved cedar-wood hinged box, made in one of the POW camps on Bermuda in 1903.

This large and impressive box that is I believe, made from cedar-wood that now has a beautiful rich patina finish to the wood.

It has a hinged lid that has been deeply hand carved with ornate, fan and pyramid shaped patterns. It is also engraved with:


POW Bermuda 1903


The main body has undecorated sides but shows wonderful dovetail joints that have been used on the corner joints.

The original brass lock is still in place but the key is now missing.

The box is in excellent condition with not cracks that I can see, just a “knot hole” on the front edge of the lid where the “knot” has fallen out over the years.

The box measures 16.1” (41cm) wide, 8.5” (21.6cm) deep and 4.3” (11cm) high.

It weighs a heavy 1.7Kg.


During the Anglo-Boer war more than 5,000 South African prisoners of war (men and boys) arrived on HM ships and were transported to exile on various islands in Bermuda from 1901 to 1902.

Bermuda was one of the places selected as a prisoner of war camp for the Boers because of its distance from South Africa.

Five of the Bermuda Islands were used and the internees where split on their attitude to the war and were physically separated on this basis. Those who believed the war should be continued were sent to Darrell's Island and closely guarded. Morgan's Island held 884 men, including 27 officers. There was 809 on Tucker's Island, 607 on Burt's Island 607 and 35 on Port's Island where the hospital facilities were located.

The Boer War Cemetery in Bermuda was built by Boer prisoners. Unfortunately for the local civilian population, HM ships and the British Army garrison, the POWs brought with them an outbreak of enteric fever.

To amuse themselves and to make pocket money, the Boers carved toys and implements, usually out of cedar-wood. This was because cedar was the most common wood on the Islands. However, they would also use anything they could get their hands on: pieces of old furniture, bones, coins, anything.

By 1903 very few prisoners were left in Bermuda, so whatever has that date on it, like this box, is very scarce and command a high premium!

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

Code: 51082