‘An Act of Grace’: Reading Gender and Nationalism within Australian South African War Pension Provisions

Abstract

The South African War of 1899–1902 occurred during Australia's Federation era, a period that defined the future composition of the nation. It also marked a significant site of transformation in the provision of war pensions from charity alone to a coordinated response between charity and the state. During the conflict, pensions and benefits were deemed a privilege bestowed on deserving recipients, an approach in contrast with the inviolable duty felt by Federal authorities towards returned soldiers during and after World War I. This article examines ‘acts of grace’ within the surviving South African War pension and charity archive to determine how political and military authorities embodied ideas about Australian nationalism and gender in their consideration of those in need.