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Artists and Illustrators of the Anglo-Boer War The Second Anglo-Boer War is notable for many reasons, but perhaps what is most striking is the sheer volume of artistic work that the war generated. Paintings, sketches, drawings and cartoons were all required the newspapers and journals in Britain, Europe, America and throughout the British Empire. Postcards were a popular and cheap method of comunication, they also became conduits of jingoism, satire and ridicule depicted in drawings and cartoons. In addition there were many 'private' artists who produced pictures, and of course the British Army officer who painted and sketched for his own amusement. Ryno Greenwall captures them all in this seminal work. He writes a helpful introduction into the art of the war and then provides a dictionary of all known artists with as much biographical detail as possible. Each page is liberally illustrated; there as much to see in the book as read. Blue Bonnets, Boers and Biscuits : Boer War Diary of Private William Fessey DCM of the King's Own Scottish Borderers When Pte Fessey sailed for south Africa in January 1900 he had already served seven years with the colours and spent some time as a police officer in Rugby. He had missed the regiment so much that he re-joined in 1898, and was to do again in 1914. This diary accurately reflects his character as a steady, reliable man who had seen action before and nothing in his subsequent service on the veldt would surprise him. Fessey's brief and factual style conveys well the tedium of the soldier's life in this campaign. The KOSB were part of Lord Roberts' army who marched from the Orange River to Pretoria and then into the eastern Transvaal. There are few events to lighten the marching, outpost duty and digging trenches which seemed to occupy most of his waking hours. He appears to be well informed on what other battles and actions had occurred, frequently giving numbers of casualties and naming the opposing Boer leaders. Fessey's role in the battalion was to fire the Maxim gun, a role he obviously enjoyed; his last entry reads, 'The amount of ammunition I used while I was with the Machine Gun - 8,235 rounds". During the battle of Karree Siding (29-03-1900) the gun section was ordered forward to help suppress strong Boer fire holding up the advance. This they did successfully from an exposed position, the Boers eventually being driven off the ridge. For this battle the Regiment won a number of awards and Fessey was one of 10 awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (London Gazette 29-09-1901). When the opportunity arose in August 1900 for a spot of relaxation in Pretoria, he looked forward to a good dinner and a drink. Dinner cost him 9 shillings which he resolved not to pay again and the bars were only open to officers. Acting with initiative he acquired the uniform of a captain in "Robert's Light Horse" to enjoy a few whiskies and sodas and even a game of cards with 'fellow' officers. Not forgetting his mates he bought them a bottle of rum. Fessey's honest account is unfettered by editorial comment, sensibly illustrated and complemented by an excellent modern map and an index. This is an interesting story of a soldier unencumbered by the jingoism that affected so many. Our Little Army in the Field : Canadians in the Boer War Although a slim volume, the facts, analysis and readable style give the book quality beyond its quantity. Reid has done a lot of research into the activities of the Canadian units in the field using military archives in Canada. He has also read widely on the war and is able to put the Canadian experience in context. The first four chapters deal with the Canada's political reaction to the outbreak of war, the question of sending troops to fight and the mobilizations of the two main contingents. The summary on the causes of the war is neat and well put. Reid covers all aspects from the key political and military personalities, the raising of troops, their training or lack of it, transport arrangements, and of course the battles and actions these men were engaged in. A retired gunner officer of the Canadian Army, Reid describes the battles and actions with a military appreciation which comes over well. Canada's 2896 troops were dispersed throughout the theatre, although most were with Lord Robert's Army in the west. One battery of artillery fought with distinction in the relief of Mafeking and others marched through the hot, arid Karroo to fly the Union flag and quell unrest amongst Boers living in that part of the Cape Colony. During the guerilla phase the Canadians did their share of chasing the elusive Boers. At the battle of Leliefontein (November, 1900), a column was ambushed and the Canadian mounted troops did well to save the column and prevent its Colt guns being captured. Three Victoria Crosses were awarded to Canadians for their part in this battle. In this book one finds the detail and descriptions of some of the lesser aspects of the war as experienced by colonial troops not covered in larger tomes. Supported by illustrations, five clear maps, endnotes, a large bibliography and an effecient index this is a good book. A Gazetteer of the Second Anglo-Boer War 1899-1902 The result of many years of painstaking research drawing from Afrikaans,Dutch and English sources, it lists over 1800 locations where military activity took place ranging from cities to farms, mountain ranges to koppies, major railway junctions to sidings. Each location is listed under the name used in the war, with details of variations as well the name in present use. With equal emphasis given to both sides, each entry also provides details of military activity and why some locations had more than one name (ie Hart's Hill, Inniskilling Hill, Terrace Hill, and Green Hill). Among many locations with the same name one can, for example, now distinguish between any of the 14 Rietfonteins, 7 Vlakfonteins or 7 Nooitgedachts. For ease of location a cadastral reference is included as well as detailed references to leading histories and maps. The indices include Boer Commandos, British units and formations (including over 70 Cape, Natal and Transvaal), sites of Refugee Concentration Camps for both Black and Boer, Boer and British personalities, and the accurate location of all actions where a Victoria Cross was awarded. This is an invaluable reference work, not only for those interested in the war, but also for the traveller and armchair tourist. "Clearly My Duty" - Jack Gilmour's Letters from the Boer War Sir John Gilmour, known as Jack Gilmour at the time of the Anglo-Boer War, was a subaltern in the Fife Light Horse. He volunteered at the first call for the Imperial Yeomanry in December 1899. The Fife Light Horse provided the 20th Company of the 6th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry (the Scottish Yeomanry). The 20th saw much action including the battle of Nooitgedacht (13, December 1900). These letters are well written providing not only a record of life on campaign but also an insight into the interests of a wealthy young man educated at Cambridge University; politics, fox hunting, the future of Yeomanry and conscription amongst others. Gilmour was promoted to command the 20th and he also commanded the 14th Fife and Forfar Yeomanry in the Palestine Campaign during World War I. The letters have been unobtrusively edited by Patrick Mileham, an expert on the Yeomanry and author of the The Yeomanry Regiments. The text is supported by a number of clear photographs showing many named men of the 20th in various uniforms. With the Gordon Highlanders to the Boer War and Beyond The book is the letters of Lt Lachlan Gordon-Duff, 1st Battalion Gordon Highlanders. He joined the regiment at the age of nineteen on October 1, 1899 and sailed for South Africa barely four weeks later. He was not to return until 1902 having fought at Paardeberg, Waterval Drift, Doornkop and Belfast. Gordon-Duff was a well educated man from an aristocratic Scottish family which is reflected in his letters to his sister and father. He writes very well and gives a full and interesting account of war; marching, fighting, hunger, boredom of blockhouse duty, coping with 'veldt sores', picnics with nurses and learning to play polo. In fact his only spell out of the front line was through concussion suffered playing polo. Intermingled are letters from his sister and father telling of life at home, mostly social commentary. The whole book is hugely interesting, many officers are named and commented on; Baden-Powell "the great advertisement". However, the most astonishing fact is that the letters are edited by his son, also called Lachlan and himself a Gordon Highlander. The commentary is brief and the editor sticks to what he knows best, family members and events. The book finishes with a tragic twist that adds a poignant dimension to the publication, Lachlan senior was killed in France in October 1914, just three weeks before Lachlan junior was born. These letters are all he knows about his father. The Anglo-Boer War The Road to Infamy 1899-1900 This book sets out to defend General Sir Charles Warren's actions during the campaign in Natal to relieve Ladysmith. Warren was at the time roundly criticised for 'his failure' at the bloody battle of Spion Kop. Leading the criticism was Warren's commander Major-General Sir Redvers Buller, and it is Buller who receives most of the criticism in return. Deliberately there are no detailed accounts of the battles; Colenso, Spion Kop et al. The bulk of the text is formed of large chunks taken verbatim from the Royal Commission into the War in South Africa (1903), the 'Spioenkop (sic) Despatches' [Blue Book Cd9685] (importantly, pointing out omissions from the published despatches), Hansard, the works of war correspondents Bennett Burleigh and JB Atkins, and the surgeon Frederick Treves amongst others. Much of this makes interesting reading, though some parts are turgid and repetitive. Much of the case for Warren is simply that put forward by his supporter's after the war. Mr Coetzer's own analysis does not really go further. There is no questioning of Warren's dubious actions. Relying solely on the contemporary debate for and against Warren is highly dangerous. Each witness to the Commission had their own story to tell and their own motives for telling it. To say the least there was a fair amount of backbiting amongst the generals. The war correspondents had their own axes to grind against Buller. They felt his censorship too rigorous. An interesting book, on an critical aspect of the war that will bring to many first sight of important contemporary sources. However, I think this book will be seen more as a scenic 'look off' than a milestone along the route to a more rigorous analysis of this important period in British military history. Siege of O'Okiep : Guerrilla Campaign in the Anglo-Boer War Peter Burke presents a detailed account of one of the lesser known episodes in the war. In World War I the siege and relief of O'Okiep would have been known as a 'sideshow'. Nonetheless it was an important event, for the British a combined naval and army operation against the famous Boer commander JC Smuts. Using much original material - written and photographic, the details of the siege and relief are laid before the reader. There is much in this book for the researcher. The Boer Wars (2) 1898-1902 (Men-At-Arms, No 303) In Ian Knight Osprey have a modern historian who writes more than the mere facts. Readers are introduced to some of the bald and unpalatable events that punctuate the history of this region and Mr Knight's necessarily brief analysis will stimulate all readers and take them past the colour plates and battle descriptions. This is not a criticism of the artwork which is of the highest quality. The diversity of the subjects is welcome and will appeal to wargamers and modellers. For historians in neither camp the colour plates brings to life the black and white photographs that accompany the text. The lack of a list of books worthy of further reading (apart from the plug for related Osprey titles) is regrettable. If not this, then at least an indication of the sources Mr Knight consulted would have been an acceptable compromise (various pictures are credited out of courtesy but this is of no value to the reader). Nonetheless the Osprey series are aimed at a wide range of interests and levels of knowledge. Ian Knight's style neither insults the knowledgeable nor patronises the beginner.
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