Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark

Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark was the youngest child and second daughter of King Paul of Greece and his wife, Queen Frederica. She was the younger sister of Queen Sofía of Spain and King Constantine II of Greece. In the 1960s, she briefly had a career as a professional pianist.

Women’s clothing scarcity after the war

Following the war, clothing shortages were so severe that many women owned only the single dress they wore to the concentration camps. These women often had to wait by water sources for their only dress to dry after washing it before they could resume their daily tasks.

Ceremonial dress for men and women

During ceremonial dancing performances, men wore full gear including authentic Scottish kilts, white boxer shorts, white tennis shoes, and headdresses adorned with ostrich feathers and goats' horns. Women performing traditional Pedi dress dances wore layers of coloured cloths, embroidered smocks, and leg-rattles made from plastic milk-bottle containers.

Boer home music and dance parties

Boer farmers in the early 20th century were passionate about music, often playing the violin and concertina by ear at home. They frequently hosted dance-ball-parties that lasted for up to 24 hours.

Dusty dance floors and refreshments

Indoor dances were often held on mud floors smeared with bullock's blood or on greased wagon sails to create a surface for dancing. The atmosphere became thick with dust, causing dancers to retreat to the porch for refreshments like Boer brandy, sweets, and cookies.

Distance to railway stations

Railway stations were often located far from towns, sometimes requiring a journey of several days by post-cart to reach one's final destination.

Slow travel by car and cart

In 1912, a motor car journey from Johannesburg to Durban took several days to complete, and travel by post cart from Hopefield to Hoetjies Bay covered 45 miles in eight hours.

Farm Kitchens and Water Sources

On many South African farms, water was collected from nearby streams or ponds, sometimes shared with livestock, and kitchens often lacked windows, relying on an open door for light and ventilation.

Schooling Arrangements in Rural Areas

Due to the scarcity of schools, families often improvised by sending children to boarding arrangements at neighboring farms or hiring rooms in villages for children to stay while attending school.

Coffee was the national beverage

Coffee was the national beverage, and families often drank many cups throughout the day. Visitors were frequently welcomed with a cup of coffee upon arrival.

Common farm food staples

On many rural farms, mutton was the standard meat, while beef was rare and often described as tough and tasteless. Pumpkins, potatoes, rice, and boiled mealies (maize) were common vegetable staples.

Wages and rent for garment workers

Garment workers in the 1920s earned starting wages of 17s. to 20s. per week, while cheap but poor accommodation cost 12s. to 15s. weekly.

Survival tactics of poor families

Poor families in urban areas often made clothing from washed flour bags and used candle boxes as chairs to survive on limited incomes.

Factory wages for women and men

By 1926, white women working in factories were starting at a wage of two-rand per week, which was the same rate earned by black men in the same industry at that time.

Mine worker wages and benefits

Mine workers in the Transvaal were paid between 1s. 6d. and 2s. 6d. per day, in addition to free housing, rations, and medical care. In 1923, the cost to the employer for these rations and housing was approximately 1s. 1d. per native per day.