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| Hugh Devlin (in the black shirt) coaching Rhonnie Manana and Thabo Mokoena with the Irish team members looking on. |
It’s difficult to know for
certain when the game of draughts was first played in South Africa.
We do know from the literature on the game that draughts playing was
popular in areas of South Africa in the late 19th century
and it was most likely introduced by British immigrants in years
previous to that.
In the late 1880’s one of
England’s foremost match players, John Bletcher of Manchester,
immigrated to South Africa and took up residence at Pietermaritzburg. Two of the matches he played in England against Fletcher (1874) and
Birkenshaw (1879) are recorded in Gould’s “Historic and
Memorable Matches” (1884). It was reported in 1900 that “he
enjoys a high reputation both at chess and draughts, having held the
championship of the colony at both games”.
There were a number of active
players in the Johannesburg area during this period, one of whom -
Mr. A. Roach, contributed a number of problem settings to the
“Draughts World” magazine in the 1890’s. Mr. D. Moir,
also of Johannesburg, claimed to be the champion of South Africa in
1898, but as J. K. Lyons in his column in the “Liverpool
Mercury” asked “is he aware of the presence of Mr. John
Bletcher? ”. Mr. Frank Edwards of Wynberg was another prominent
player, and he had a brother (Charles H. Edwards of Birmingham) who
played in the English Draughts Championships of 1898 at Liverpool.
In 1899 a letter published in the
“Leed’s Mercury” commenting on the “Boer War”
related that “The Transvaal war has affected our peaceful game
in draughts circles in more than one locality. Mr. Colinpurdie, late
of Edinburgh, and a well-known player, is stated to be among the
brave defenders of Mafeking. Mr. W. Scott, late champion of Aberdeen,
and a member of the Scottish international team of 1894, sailed for
South Africa with his regiment, the Royal Scots, some time ago and
will probably soon be in the thick of the fight. And yet another
Scottish player, Mr. W. Hislop of Penicuick, was taken prisoner by
the Boers when on duty in one of the captured armoured trains. It is
to be hoped the game may afford him some solace during his
detention”. (1899 p.713)
The early 20th century was to see a further development in
the game in South Africa with the arrival of Harry Freedman from
Glasgow in 1903.
Harry Freedman was born in
Dundee in 1879 but removed with his parents to Glasgow while he was
but a child. In 1893 he joined the draughts club connected with the
Hutchesontown Conservative Association and at once was recognised as
having a natural aptitude for the game. He was coached by the
Association’s Hon. President, Mr. Andrews, and also by the
international draughts player James Searight who was also a club
member. Freedman’s success in the game was quite extraordinary. He
competed for the Hutchesontown club championship in 1895, ’96, and
’97 winning it on each occasion, laterally beating James Robertson
the reigning Glasgow Champion in the finals. He competed in the
Scottish Championships of 1896 while just seventeen years old, losing
his match to the vastly experienced J.C. Brown (The famous “border
champion”). His play was described as brash, self-reliant, and
“fearlessly venturing upon new ground”.
The following year, the young
18-year-old Harry Freedman travelled to the USA on a tour giving
simultaneous displays and engaging in a series of challenge matches.
In New York he beat a Mr. Swain in a 20 game match by the score of
3-2 and 15 games drawn, and caused quite a flutter by defeating the
celebrated Dr. Schaefer in a 20 game stake match 4-0 and 13 draws. He
also played a stake match for $400 aside with Sam Grover at Boston,
one of America’s legendary players. Although Grover was considered
favourite going into the match, Freedman was undisturbed announcing
“If I don’t win the match I’ll walk back to Glasgow”!
Although Freedman played gallantly, he narrowly lost to Grover 4-2
and 13 games drawn, which was considered by those present to have
been an outstanding accomplishment. He also had a sitting with the
American champion - Charles F. Barker at Boston, which resulted in a
win each and two draws. Returning home via London, England, Freedman
played a four game match with the celebrated Alf Jordan (former
English champion) which resulted in a tie.
In the Scottish Championship of
1898, Freedman truly came of age by winning this tournament which
included such legendary competitors as James Wyllie, James Ferrie,
George Buchanan, A. B. Scott, W. Campbell, H. Henderson, R. G. Mc
Millan, and G. M. Bonar. In doing so he became the youngest Scottish
champion of all time at just 19 years old (This record still
stands!). He further demonstrated that it was no error, when he again
won the 1899 championship, which included all the previously named,
in addition to Robert Stewart, Wm. Bryden, and Freedman’s former
coach James Searight. (Nine of these players became national
champions, while three of them were World Champions!)
It would seem that although
Freedman was one of the game’s most brilliant and gifted players,
he also retained his youthful ways as the following article from the
“Glasgow Herald” (1898) related…
“During his recent stay at
Lockerbie, (southern Scotland) he took the opportunity of driving to
Moffat, being accompanied by Mr. James G. Carruthers, another
enthusiastic lover of the silent game. On their return journey a
discussion took place as to whether a pedestrian could race a horse
attached to a vehicle, Freedman contending that a match between the
two would result in favour of the runner, while Carruthers thought
the horse would win. To settle the matter the former volunteered to
race the horse half-a-mile along the road, and, on Carruthers
acquiescing, the young Scottish champion got out of the gig and
divested himself of his coat and vest, and a good start was effected.
At the outset Harry forged to the front, but the horse to which the
whip had frequently been used, drew level when half the distance had
been traversed. The runner, after plodding on for a couple of hundred
yards further, got into a “critical position”, and was forced to
resign. A gentleman, resident in the district, who witnessed the
event, informed the police that “a patient had escaped from the
Dumfries Lunatic Asylum, and a man driving in a gig was after him”.
Freedman then went on a tour of
Scotland and England playing exhibition matches and giving
simultaneous displays, which included playing while blindfolded and
playing mixed games of draughts and chess. In the Scottish
Championship of 1900, Freedman lost a protracted match with Robert
Stewart (who went on to win the Championship) 3-2 and 9 games drawn,
with two of these games lasting more than five hours each. In 1901
Freedman challenged the World Champion Richard Jordan of Edinburgh to
a match for the World Championship Title and this came to be played
at Edinburgh, Scotland, commencing 12th
July 1902. Richard Jordan scored first in game 6, with Freedman
replying with a win in game 7. However, this was to be Freeman’s
only won game, with Jordan scoring in games nine and seventeen, then
suddenly Freedman collapsed losing further games twenty-three,
twenty-four, twenty-seven and twenty-eight. Freedman sensationally
resigned leaving eleven of the stipulated forty games unplayed.
Harry Freedman
joined the Salvation Army around 1903 and travelled to South Africa
with them shortly afterwards as a missionary to spread the Gospel. A
newspaper article published in the
“The Standard”,
Krugersdorp, South Africa, during 1906 related ..
“In the Salvation Army Hall,
Dingaan St. one of the wonderful trophies of grace and the Army’s
work will give the story of his life. This particular individual is
Captain Harry Freedman, the late renowned draughts and chess player,
who as a professional player has given exhibitions in all the leading
countries in Europe, as well as in the United States – but since
his conversion he has given up playing, and had devoted all the time
possible to Salvation Army work. By birth an orthodox Jew, Freeman is
a Christian by conviction, but many Hebrews- for whom he has the
warmest affection – have in various parts made a point of hearing
him. He is not only an impressive speaker, but a fine singer, and
through him many have already been drawn to Christ. The meeting will
again be led by Captain Freedman”.
A correspondent to the
“Draughts World” magazine in 1906 amends this account
stating that: ““Harry” still loves a game, and at
Krugersdorp he met Mr. G. Hosking of the Johannesburg YMCA Draughts
club recently, and they played two friendly games, resulting in one
win to Freedman and one draw. Freedman complimented Hosking as “the
strongest player he has met yet in South Africa.”
A correspondent wrote from
Belgravia, Johannesburg; that same year - “ I enclose the result
of the tournament held in connection with the YMCA draughts club. We
are having another early in June on the knock-out system which I
think will be more interesting and satisfactory. All the players in
the last tournament are as one man in saying that the best player
came out on top. Mr. Hoskings is one of those quiet, honest, and
straightforward men, and he is certainly the steadiest and most
consistent player in the club.”
By 1910 Harry Freedman was
still keeping in close touch with the game. At East London he give a
simultaneous play where he contested 12 games of draughts and 12
games of chess, and succeeded in winning them all. He was residing in
Johannesburg in 1911 and began editing a draughts column in the
“Transvaal Weekly” newspaper, through which he arranged a
match between the localities.
Mr. J. Mc Callum captained a
team of nine players residing in Johannesburg, while Mr. Freedman
captained a team drawn from Pretoria, Vereniging, and Roodeport.
Freedman defeated Mc Callum 3-0 & 1 draw in their individual
match (See game below) while the overall result was a victory to Mc
Callum’s team by 12 wins to 9 wins, and 8 games drawn. After the
match it was decided to arrange a meeting to form a “Transvaal
Draughts Association”.
Mc Callum Vs H. Freedman
(Published in the “Draughts Would” 1911, G. 2547)
11-15 23-19 9-14 22-17 7-11 25-22
11-16 27-23 (26-23 more usual) 16-20 32-27 8-11 19-16 12x19 23x7 2x11
24-19 15x24 28x19 11-15 19-16 15-18 22x15 10x19 17x10 6x15 21-17
19-24 17-14 24-28 16-11 15-18 26-22 18x25 29x22 28-32 31-26 32x23
26x19 20-24 22-17 24-27 11-7 3x10 14x7 27-31 7-3 31-27 3-7 27-23
19-16 23-18 (5-9 best) 16-12 1-6 17-13 18-14 7x11 14x10 12-8
5-9 8-3 9-14 11-16 14-17 16-19 17-21 19-16 6-9 13x6 10x1 15-11 1-6
3-7 6-1 7-10 1-5 10-14 5-1 14-17 1-5 17-22 WW. (by 2nd
Position)
The name John Mc Callum is
interesting here, as there was a player by the same name that used to
play with Freedman at the “Gorbals” Draughts Club in Glasgow,
Scotland, and may have been the same person. Another player of the
same surname, Wm. Mc Callum, with an address at “The Scotch
Stores”, Corner of Jules and Long Streets, Jeppe's Extension,
Johannesburg, had sent a number of problems to the “Draughts
World” magazine for publication during this period 1910-1913.
A “Transvaal Championship”
was held in 1912 at Johannesburg, with Mc Callum emerging as the
winner over John Campbell in the final. Another entrant to this
tournament was an Irishman called James Mc Cormack, who was reputed
to be a former “North of Ireland Champion”, but of whom I can
find no record here. A further Transvaal
Championship of 1913 proved to be quite a success, held at the
premises of the Nelscrust Dairy, Johannesburg, and opened by the
Mayor. The final results of the 1913 championships were; H. Freedman
24 points, J. Haliburton 18pts, W. Mc Callum 18pts, J. Dobie 16pts,
J. Mc Cormack 12pts, J. Campbell 9pts, and brothers’ H. Broer 8pts,
and B. Broer 7pts. Freedman was also gaining laurels in the field of
chess around Johannesburg, having won the Union Chess Club handicap
tournament that year while playing from scratch, during which he lost
one game out of 24 played!
World Champion Richard Jordan
(Scotland) died tragically on 8th October 1911 having been
struck by a tram car while crossing a street in Edinburgh. He had
retired undefeated in 1903 after his match with Freedman. Former
English Champion Alf Jordan, who had now taken up residence in the
USA, made an open challenge to the world for a match to fill the
vacant title of “World Champion” a month after Jordan’s demise.
Robert Stewart (Scotland) who had previously played Richard Jordan
for the World Title in 1897 also issued a challenge. On receipt of
this news, Harry Freedman published the following in the draughts
column he edited in the “Transvaal Weekly”
“I hearby challenge any
player in the world for £100 a-side and the championship. This offer
will remain open until the end of June 1913. Failing an acceptance of
the challenge, on or before that date, I shall claim the title. I am
willing to allow my opponent £50 expences in the event of the latter
being defeated.” Harry Freedman.
With news of a possible Alf
Jordan Vs Robt. Stewart match being arranged, Harry Freedman sent a
telegram to the “Draught World” stating that he would hold back
on his challenge, and was prepared to play the winner of the Jordan
Vs Stewart match. John Campbell, the Hon. Secretary of the Transvaal
Association, wrote to say that “Mr. Freeman’s supporters in
South Africa have formed themselves into a committee to make
arrangements for bringing this matter to an issue. There is plenty of
enthusiasm for the game in this part of the world at the present
moment, and a tournament open to all South Africa, which an energetic
committee is carrying through, will bring the leading players
together, and possibly see a South African Association”.
History has
recorded that this match between Alf Jordan and Robert Stewart did
not take place, as Steward refused to travel to the USA, while Jordan
refused to play in either England or Scotland. It would seem that
Freedman’s aspirations died amongst this bitter dispute.
Unfortunately further news of draughts events in South Africa during
the period 1914-1925 are scarce. Harry Freedman changed the spelling
of his name to “Freeman” around the late 1920’s and had moved
to Roodepoort where he was engaged in a business as a wholesale
tennis-net manufacturer. He contributed a game to the “Draughts
Review”
during this period where he played a local enthusiast called Mr. P.
Tyson. Harry Freeman
remarked in 1932 that there are very few players in South Africa, and
he spend his time playing correspondence games, many of which were
against a fellow Scotsman called John M. Napier who at that time was
domiciled in Blantyre,
Nyasaland, East Africa.
Hugh Devlin
Appendix:
With the enactment of the
apartheid laws in 1948 racial discrimination became institutionalised
and touched upon every aspect of social life in South Africa. As
integrated social gatherings became prohibited, draughts players of
different colours were unable to mix together. Somehow the game of
draughts came to be seen as the preserve of black South Africans,
while the game of chess was seen as the preserve of white South
Africans. Subsequently the apartheid laws made it difficult for
people to continue to play both.
The arrival of the first
democratically elected government in South Africa in 1994 heralded
the normalisation of society there. Some of South Africa’s draughts
clubs had successfully survived the apartheid regime, and today they
can outline a history that spans more than forty years. However,
because draughts did not receive any official recognition (as did
chess), it did not receive any form of government funding either.
With the majority of draughts players in South Africa coming from
disadvantaged areas, the game was to receive little funding from its
own adherents, and there existed a shortage of playing equipment with
many of the players having to resort to making their own boards and
pieces. South Africa’s high illiteracy rate (+
50%) meant that many players were not able to record the notation of
moves, use timing clocks, or even read draughts literature.
Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) began to actively help draughts clubs in 1994 to overcome
their problems. MSSA's first objective was to introduce standard
boards and pieces. With the help of the Department of Sport and
Recreation, the Union generated 4 000 boards and sets of pieces and
distributed them free and gratis to clubs and schools. Secondly, MSSA helped train key players at the different clubs to teach other
players the notation. Thirdly, MSSA attempted to bring as many
draughts players from around South Africa into their system of
provincial championships, which has it’s own ongoing problems as
most draughts players in South Africa are financially disadvantaged
and unable to afford to travel. (In some rural areas the unemployment
rate can be as high as 60%, with a national average of approximately
40%) Despite these problems, the interest in competitive draughts
continues to grow. They also contacted the EDA in 1994 and through
Ian Caws they received rulebooks, 3 move opening cards, etc.
In 1999 the Gauteng Draughts
Association invited Ron “Suki” King, World Draughts Champion, to
South Africa to help promote the game. Ron King’s tour proved very
successful and inspired a great deal of grass roots development,
motivating players to become much more involved in organising the
game in various areas. Mind Sports South Africa had also been
successful in securing sponsorship for the game from the “Harmony
Gold Mining Company”
which enabled free entry for draughts players to draughts events. The
visit of Hugh Devlin is designed to consolidate this work, and build
on their achievements to date. Today the future of draughts playing
in South Africa seems more secure because of the ongoing work of MSSA.
Hugh Devlin.
