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Condition: BRAND NEW
ISBN: 9781922265975
Format: Trade paperback (UK)
Year: 2020
Publisher: Big Sky


Description:
The South African War - or Boer War - running from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 -was the largest British military effort since the Napoleonic Wars. It was also the first time that large-scale, meaningful contributions were made to an active theatre of war by the self-governing colonies. This included formal contributions of around 20,000 troops from the Australian colonies which dwarfed all previous Australian military commitments.

Just as the war was a watershed event for the development and professionalisation of the British Army from 1902-14, it was momentous for the self-governing colonies in Australia and elsewhere in social, political and most certainly in military terms.

Letters from the Veldt sheds light on the activities of imperial military contingents - in which Australians served - during the Imperial march to Pretoria from May-September 1900, the successful conclusion of which marked the end of conventional operations in South Africa and the beginning of the guerrilla phase that would drag on until May 1902. A large proportion of colonial troops serving in South Africa at this point did so as part of the 1st Mounted Infantry Brigade.

Despite their importance, the experiences of this brigade have not figured largely in existing any accounts of the Boer War. The brigade itself was composed of not only Australians, but Canadians, New Zealanders, and British regular and volunteer troops, and a scattering of loyal South Africans. It was in many ways a microcosm of imperial military cooperation; an important part of the steady