POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

'Called to Arms' board game

Object No. 2000/89/11

Board games have been a popular entertainment for adults and children since the 18th century. They typically take players on a journey from one point to another, or around a circuit. Progress is made via the throw of a dice, while the route was filled with adventures and pitfalls. Often board games have been underpinned with an educational aim whether this be moralistic, geographic or historical. 'Called to Arms' was a game that took players along a perilous route through battles and adventures during the Boer War. It was a simple game of chance rather than military strategy that clearly took the side of the British imperial forces against the Boers. As such there was an attempt to both excite players and instill with patriotic feelings. In this respect the game is material evidence of the relationship between popular culture and ideology. The game is part of the Chamberlain family collection. It may have been acquired during the war as entertainment for English immigrants Lee and Dora and their daughter Ada who was about 10 years old when the conflict began in 1899. The other Chamberlain children were born shortly before, during or after the war and may have continued to play the game well after the conflict ended in 1902. Australians were generally supportive of the war. Newspapers were filled with patriotic sentiment while over 16 000 people volunteered to fight in South Africa. Australian involvement is often interpreted as indicative of a deep affiliation with Britain and its empire. Support for the war, however, tended to dissipate after 1901 when news of concentration camps and scorched earth policies filtered back to the newly Federated Australian states.