GAME RANGER ON HORSEBACK (1968) - association copy inscribed to Commandant Bertie Simpkins

Publisher's hardcover binding with pictorial panoramic dust jacket.

142pp. Illustrated. Map endpapers.

Inscribed by the author on the half-title page, "To Bertie Simpkins, In Memory of our visit to the Zulu War Battlefields, Kind regards, Nick Steele."

'Commandant B. G. Simpkins, JCD, MM, was born in Sydney, Australia, 1914, and came to South Africa at the age of three months. He began his distinguished military career as a private in the Rand Light Infantry (Active Citizen Force) in July 1933, and finally rose to the rank of commandant and commanding officer of the Regiment for the years 1966 to 1969.

During the Second World War he was Mentioned in Despatches and received the Military Medal for bravery during the Battle of El Alamein as a company sergeant-major in 1942. He held the Efficiency Medal and Bar and the John Chard Decoration and Bar, having completed 33 years of efficient and distinguished service. The citation for his Military Medal is as follows:

33457 W.O.II BERTIE GEORGE SIMPKINS
(MILITARY MEDAL)
For courage, coolness and leadership during attack at El Alamein 23 October 1942 and while acting as platoon commander Warrant Officer Simpkins has on many occasions taken charge of patrols and, when in contact with the enemy, has displayed great courage and has been an inspiration to the men under his command.
During an advance by his company on 23/24 October 1942, Warrant Officer Simpkins, by example, led his men forward at a time when they were sustaining heavy casualties.
Twice, when it was essential to maintain contact with the flanking Regiment, he ran the gauntlet of heavy enemy fire to achieve the duty assigned to him.
His handling of offensive patrols and his reliability in tense situations is an inspiration and example to all ranks.

Simpkins compiled a detailed history of the Rand Light Infantry, which was published in 1965, and which had involved a great deal of research and the revisiting the battlefields of Bardia, Tobruk and El Alamein. It was a very fine historical record indeed.' - https://samilitaryhistory.org/vol134bs.html

(It is likely that Simpkins met up with Steele to visit the Zulu War battlefields after receiving the John Chard Decoration and Bar. Chard is remembered for his valiant leadership at the defence of Rorke's Drift.)

'Nick Steele is a senior warden in Zululand and was primarily responsible for raising the mounted section in the Zululand Game Reserves. In this account he describes encounters and incidents with poachers and big game whilst working as a mounted ranger at a lonely outpost in the Umfolozi Game Reserve.' - editor's note