| Kimberley Contributor(s): Childs, Lewis (Author), Cave, Nigel (Introduction by) |
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ISBN: 085052766X ISBN-13: 9780850527667 Publisher: Leo Cooper OUR PRICE: $15.26 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: June 2001 Annotation: Kimberley, the "Diamond City", was a key Boer target at the beginning of the South African War of 1899-1902. The wily Boer marksmen besieging his town were less of an annoyance to the befuddled British commander than his civilian opposite number, the diamond magnate Cecil Rhodes. As was often to be the case during the war, the British force suffered heavy casualties in several badly-handled engagements. The battle at Magersfontein was particularly tragic, as the Highland Brigade walked into an ambush by Boer marksmen in fog-shrouded trenches armed with the latest German rifles. This proved to be one of the bloodiest days in Scottish military history. The battles of 1899, and Kimberley and the surrounding towns are vividly described, with maps, drawings and then-and-now photographs. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | Military - Wars & Conflicts (other) - History | Africa - South - Republic Of South Africa |
| Dewey: 968.048 |
| LCCN: 2002421566 |
| Series: Battleground South Africa |
| Physical Information: 0.36" H x 5.34" W x 8.58" (0.55 lbs) 176 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Southern Africa |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: Who were the underdogs who took on British Imperial forces - and beat them? How could an old farmer who had beaten them before (Piet Cronje), and a middle-aged farmer, who did not want to fight them anyway (De La Rey), embarrass Queen Victoria's high officers like Lord Methuen? When did the most powerful man in Africa enable the capable commandant to hold out - while blighting his career?Why did the Queen's crack regiments turn their backs on the enemy? What lessons in application, patience and loyalty to oath given does Tommy Atkins give to us, in the 21st century? Who were the modern figures that still live through their letters and diaries in Regimental Archives, in spite of being dead. How could the Boers justify shelling civilians, or the British of all people not know that women and kids were dying in concentration camps?When did the accepted European Rules of War get turned over for ever? Why, when Bobs is nothing but a statue, and Rhodes the ghost of a chancer, does it matter? The Seige of Kimberley answers all these questions and more in a readable and authoritative way. |