South African Memories

Join us as we delve into the remarkable story of Lady Sarah Isabella Augusta Wilson, the aunt of Winston Spencer Churchill and the first female war correspondent. In 1899, during the tumultuous Boer War, she was tasked with covering the Siege of Mafeking for the Daily Mail. Alongside her husband, who served as aide-de-camp to Colonel Robert Baden-Powell, Lady Sarah faced the threat of the Boer forces as they approached the British garrison. For her safety, she was advised to leave, setting off on a thrilling journey through the South African landscape with her maid. Their adventure took a dramatic turn when they were captured by the enemy and later exchanged for a horse thief. As food supplies dwindled and a malarial outbreak struck, the situation grew dire, yet the British forces held strong against the relentless assaults from the Boers. Experience this gripping tale of courage, resilience, and the harsh realities of war through the eyes of a pioneering woman.