Description
Commando: A Boer Journal of the Boer War by Deneys Reitz is a firsthand memoir of the Anglo-Boer War, offering an extraordinary view of guerrilla warfare in South Africa. Reitz, only seventeen at the outbreak of the war in 1899, chronicles his experiences riding with various Boer commandos, describing the battles, strategies, and daily hardships endured by soldiers and their horses. The book presents a vivid and personal perspective on mobile warfare, capturing the courage, endurance, and patriotism of the Boer fighters. Alongside detailed accounts of combat, Reitz provides portraits of key figures such as Kruger, De Wet, Smuts, and Kitchener, and even glimpses Winston Churchill as a prisoner of war. Written with clarity and immediacy, the memoir blends historical events with human insight, documenting the physical and emotional challenges of a young soldier, the broader context of the war, and the political landscape of South Africa at the turn of the century.
Essential reading for those interested in Africana, South African history, and military memoirs.
