The Second Boer War had started a few months earlier, on 11 October 1899, after Britain rejected the untimatum issued by the Transvaal, which led to the South African Republic and Orange Free State declaring war. The ultimatum demanded all disputes between the two states by settled by arbitration, that British troops would be withdrawn from their borders, and the solders headed for South Africa by ships would not disembark[1].
The Calne contingent of Volunteers under the command of Lieutenant Woodward attended and were played to at the church by the Calne band. "Eternal Father, strong to save" was one of the hymns song with special reference to the troops en route to South Africa by sea.
The vicar of the time felt that this war was 'unavoidable' and that an honourable peace would soon be established. A positive outcome of this service was the creation of the Transvaal War Fund however the war would continue for another two years, ending with a British victory (although there were many deaths on both sides), on 31 May 1902[2].
References:
[1] BBC - History - The Boer Wars. 2019. BBC - History - The Boer Wars. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/boer_wars_01.shtml. [Accessed 19 December 2019].
[2] 'Calne' Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser, Saturday 30 December 1899 [ONLINE] Available from: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001557/18991230/152/0006 [Accessed on 19 December 2019]
