YEOMEN OF THE KAROO

Laminated hard covers, 350 pages, well illustrated with colour and black and white photographs. A Fine copy.

From the Introduction: “At the end of the 1800s, while a war raged across South Africa, an incredible story unfolded on the plains of the Great Karoo.

This ancient semi-desert larger than Germany, once was a primeval swamp. It lies on the largest plateau of its kind outside Asia, covers about 35 percent of South Africa’s land surface and straddles four of the country’s nine provinces.

During the Anglo-Boer War, a conflict that captured the attention of the world, a unique hospital mushroomed from the dust in the heart of this giant “thirstland’ right alongside a tiny railway siding.

Before the coming of the hospital, there was nothing on this peaceful plain. Its coming made medical history and led to some exciting ecological discoveries, yet, when it went, it was as if it had never been. The singularly exclusive hospital, which graced this spot, was the largest surgical and convalescent facility of its kind ever used by the British Army. It was also the most expensive. They created a medical haven so grand that some called it ‘a palace of luxury’.

Yeomen of the Karoo aims to fill the gaps, lift the veil on some long hidden truths and allow readers a glimpse into the day-to-day operations of a magnificent hospital, that once made medical history at this spot".