From Mr J.E. Golding.

Sir, John Lloyd, talking about the Boer War, repeats the old canard that “Britain ... invented the concentration camps in which thousands of women and children died” (“And nation shall speak unto itself”, Life & Arts, October 31-November 1). I would point out that this operation was modelled on the reconcentrado camps used by the Spanish in Cuba in the previous century. Further, it is probable that some of those who died were members of the families of surrendered Boers who had been driven from their homes on the orders of Botha, Smuts and De la Rey.