What is the story here?

In the late 1880s, Dr. James O'Reilly and his wife, made an exciting move from Scotland to Heidelberg. A proud graduate of Edinburgh, he took on the role of District Surgeon in 1888. With his stylish goatee and steel-rimmed glasses, he made quite an impression as he visited patients in his elegant black "Spider" horse and carriage—the ultimate luxury of the era. To ensure his seriously ill patients could reach him at any moment, he cleverly equipped them with a homing pigeon. When they needed his assistance, all they had to do was let the bird fly and it would zoom back to his garden, letting him know he was needed. What an innovative way to care for his patients!

Dr James O’Reilly 
(28 August 1856 – 29 September 1938)

He with his wife, Catherine, moved to Heidelberg, from their native Scotland, in the late 1880s. He had studied at Edinburgh. He was appointed District Surgeon in 1888. He had a goatee beard and steel rimmed glasses.

He would visit his patients on a black “Spider” horse and carriage. The Rolls Royce of carriages at the time. To enable his serious ill patients to contact him in an emergency, he would leave them with a homing pigeon. They were instructed to release the bird, when the Doctor was needed. The bird would fly back to the doctor’s garden and he would know that he was needed.

One evening, a young burgher fell off a moving truck outside of Heidelberg. Dr O’Reilly was summoned. The young man was carried to the old gaol, which also served as a hospital at the time. He amputated the left arm at the shoulder and bandaged the crushed right arm.

At the outbreak of the second Anglo-Boer war it was realised that there was little medical attention for injured Burghers. The Waverly Hotel that was next to Dr O’Reilly’s house (It has since been demolished) was offered for use as a hospital by the widow of Mr McLaren.

Assuming that “Cassie” had medical attention was voted onto the Hospital Committee and given the nursing portfolio. Various problems (political) arose. The only trained nurse that was English was forbidden to work. Cassie’s position was also questioned and she was forced to resign. Realizing that they had lost an asset, they presented her with a petition to return. She agreed on condition that the gossiping stopped.

Dr O’Reilly even went with the Boer Ambulance train on the 10th November 1899 to the Natal front. 
With the occupation of the British in June1900, the O’Reilly’s were able to continue their work at the hospital. O’Reilly was placed in charge, but had to resign as District Surgeon as he could not work for the British, while still under oath of the Transvaal Government. When the Boer woman and children were sent to the Natal Concentration Camps in open train carriages, he would hand out soda-water to them.

General Hart was the Commander of Heidelberg for a short while and became friends with the O’Reillys. General Cooper replaced Hart and they also became friends with the O’Reillys, often playing tennis on their court. 
A shadow of doubt to the general’s intentions began taking shape when he would often complain about his own quarters and stated that he would like to live in “such a charming house as theirs”.
These doubts were confirmed when the hospital was closed on the 30th September 1900. 

On the 12th October, Dr O’Reilly, Mr George Bar (Manager of the telegraph department), Mr Van Rensberg (A Volksraad Member for Heidelberg) and Mr Walter Harvey (A British subject and the local pharmacist) were arrested. Walter Harvey and Dr O’Reilly were sent to Cape Town. 
Cassie O’Reilly asked General Cooper why her husband was arrested.  He replied “your husband is all right, there is no charge.” She then asked if she could go to Pretoria to see their legal adviser, Advocate Wessels.  General Cooper said,” I am afraid I can’t let you go to Pretoria”.  She then realised that General Cooper was the reason for their problems.

What could the reason be?  Perhaps it was the fact that the Doctor used courier pigeons on his rounds.  He had a pigeon loft at their home.  He would leave a pigeon at the home of a patient, with instructions for them to send him reports on the patient’s progress by air.

Rumour had been spread, in the Howick concentration camp, that O’Reilly had made maps of the forts about Heidelberg and sent them to the Boers in bags of mealies.  Also that Walter Harvey’s farm had been used as a Boer post office and that the letters had been taking there in the Doctor’s cart.  According to Cassie, this was an utter fabrication and she knew it.  Why every Boer knows those forts and every stone on those hills as well as he knows his own fingers.  Dr. O’Reilly has never been on the said hills.  Dr. O’Reilly was advised in Cape Town to write a statement of his case, which he did and sent it to Sir Alfred Milner, but he never heard anything.

From the time the Doctor was sent away, Heidelberg was practically in a state of siege.  All the exits were closed around the town.  You could not walk for 5 minutes in any direction!  Trains still came in if not stopped by the Boers!  

On the 15th December, Cassie also received deportation orders. Upon asking the soldier he replied: “It means they want your house”. Cassie was sent to a concentration camp at Merewent just outside of Durban. General Cooper did move into the house after Cassie had left.

In desperation the British eventually transferred Dr. O’Reilly from Cape Town to Pietermaritzburg and then to Merewent. Indirectly Cassie’s outspokenness was the saving of many of the Heidelberg children at the concentration camps. The diseases and children’s illnesses were soon to strike and decimated the camps. The Heidelbergers were fortunate in having not only a dedicated Doctor on hand, but the care of their own family Doctor. Who knew them and in most cases had delivered the children that were there.

After the war, they returned to Heidelberg, earning the respect of the community. 
Dr. James O’Reilly served on the town council for many years.  In 1903 he assisted with the formation of the Volkskool School.  He was a staunch member of the Heidelberg club and is remembered as a brilliant billiards player.  

O’Reilly died in 1938 at the age of 82 years and is buried with his wife in the Heidelberg Kloof Cemetery.
 

Catherine Elizabeth O’Reilly (Cassie)
(1861 – 30 August 1930)

Cassie  was an attractive woman. She referred to her husband as Doctor. Her children Graham 14, Jimmy 12 (Jimmy was studying in Pietermaritzburg) and Kathleen 3 were with her in the Concentration Camp at Merewent.

There is an episode that during the Anglo Boer War, there was a Highlander with a shattered hand that needed to be amputated and swore so profoundly, that she was asked to leave. The soldier became the best of friends with a Boer patient in the next bed. They were inseperateable. 

While her husband was in Cape Town she had a half caste working for her named, Reuben. He stole from her and was convicted of theft and sentenced to 6 months imprisonment.
Cassie had written a 64 page letter to her sister in Scotland, describing the life in Heidelberg and the camp during the war.  The attorney, Joubert, managed to obtain the letter which is today in the Transvaal archives.  
Cassie died in 1930, aged 69, and is buried in the Kloof Cemetery.

References and picture credits: “Heidelbergers of the Boer War” by Ian Uys
(Contact Tony on 072 460 9663 for tours of Heidelberg)

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