Forgotten Heroes of the South African War 1899-1902 - by Florence Breed (Paperback)

About the Book

The soldiers whom you will find within these pages went to fight for others and they displayed a kind of silent heroism. From the pens of these ordinary Australians comes a plain and honest view of the war as they saw and experienced it

Book Synopsis

The soldiers whom you will find within these pages went to fight for others and they displayed a kind of silent heroism which wins no medals. From the pens of these ordinary Australians comes a plain and honest view of the war as they saw and experienced it; often describing an endless horror of heat, flies, dust, polluted drinking water and food shortages. Each day they faced the danger of a bullet in their backs from hidden snipers; and if they were lucky enough to escape the bullets, enteric fever attacked them.

Although I was born exactly thirty years after the last shot in this South African War was fired, my parents told me about Mafeking night when people shouted themselves hoarse, singing "Soldiers of the Queen". Both my father and grandfather served in the Plymouth Division of the Royal Marine Light Infantry, and during their long careers they trained naval gun crews. Grandfather was in the Boer War, and father in World War 1 - on sea and land.

Our Donald men arose to do battle for the Empire, but some were doomed never to return to these sunny shores. They were fated to take their last rest beneath the dusty veldt upon which they had marched countless miles, and fought, and died.

IT IS OUR DUTY TO REMEMBER THEM.

Review Quotes

This book is a gem. It has been lovingly put together by Florence Breed and published to coincide with the Centenary of the beginning of the Great Boer War. The work begins with a remarkable chronological listing of the major Boer War events. The author states that the book "is a testimonial to the endurance, discipline and courage of the men from the Donald district who answered their Empire's Call to Arms". But it is much more than that as the manuscript contains letters, diary extracts, maps, cartoons and excellent photographs which tell in the most vivid and colourful manner of the fighting, marching, riding and terrible defeats suffered by the British and Colonial Forces before the tide was turned and the Treaty of Peace was signed on 31st. May, 1902.

For any student of military history, or for any reader interested in this war which for the first time in history saw the use of trench warfare, observation balloons, armoured trains, guerrilla warfare, landmines and concentration camps, this book is a must.

(Reviewed by Harry Powell)