SARIE MARAIS It seems as if this popular South African song comes with a somewhat chequered history depending on who was writing it. Most of us understand that it – originated during the Boer War probably the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1900. It – is thought the tune comes from an American Civil War song, Ellie Rhee’, ‘Sweet sung by American workers on the Transvaal gold mines of the time. Susara Margaretha, born 15, 1869 was the eldest daughter of Jacob Maré and Cornelia Erasmus; Voortrekkers who had settled on the farm Eendracht, Suikerbosrand along the Mooi River near to where Potchefstroom is today. Sarie (Maré) Marais. At the tender age of 16 she met and married Jacobus Petrus Toerien, to become the editor of Patriot.’ They had 16 children of which only eight ‘Die survived. Toerien had heard the American mine workers singing Sweet Ellie Rhee and translated the words to talk about his wife, Sarie Maré. Over time the surname Maré was misspelt to become Marais. The song quickly spread due to soldiers coming back from the Boer War. was a very religious woman, and tried her best to disassociate herself from the song. When Jacobus died in 1920, she moved her daughters to Bloemfontein. She died on 22 December 1939 at the age of 73. During the Second World War, there was an army unit called Marais ‘Sarie calling’. The South African army, as well as the French foreign legion, play this march during parades. There’s no doubt that Sarie Marais played on the bagpipes is the quintessential South African marching tune. It is also the official song of the Girl Guides of Sri Lanka ( Ceylon ) who heard the Boerekrygsgevangenes (Boere prisoners of war) perform it during their incarceration in Ceylon at the beginning of the last century. Germans cultivated a pink rose called Maries which is planted at the Armoured School in Tempe, Bloemfontein
SARIE MARAIS It seems as if this popular South African song comes with a somewhat chequered history – depending on who was writing it. Most of us understand that it originated during the Boer War – probably the Second Anglo-Boer War of 1900. It is thought the tune comes from an American Civil War song, ‘Sweet Ellie Rhee’, sung by American workers on the Transvaal gold mines of the time. Susara Margaretha, born 15, 1869 was the eldest daughter of Jacob Maré and Cornelia Erasmus; Voortrekkers who had settled on the farm Eendracht, Suikerbosrand along the Mooi River near to where Potchefstroom is today. Sarie (Maré) Marais. At the tender age of 16 she met and married Jacobus Petrus Toerien, to become the editor of ‘Die Patriot.’ They had 16 children of which only eight survived. Toerien had heard the American mine workers singing Sweet Ellie Rhee and translated the words to talk about his wife, Sarie Maré. Over time the surname Maré was misspelt to become Marais. The song quickly spread due to soldiers coming back from the Boer War. was a very religious woman, and tried her best to disassociate herself from the song. When Jacobus died in 1920, she moved her daughters to Bloemfontein. She died on 22 December 1939 at the age of 73. During the Second World War, there was an army unit called ‘Sarie Marais calling’. The South African army, as well as the French foreign legion, play this march during parades. There’s no doubt that Sarie Marais played on the bagpipes is the quintessential South African marching tune. It is also the official song of the Girl Guides of Sri Lanka ( Ceylon ) who heard the Boerekrygsgevangenes (Boere prisoners of war) perform it during their incarceration in Ceylon at the beginning of the last century. Germans cultivated a pink rose called Maries which is planted at the Armoured School in Tempe, Bloemfontein
THE-BULLYTIN-APRIL-2016.docx