A Fight to a Finish

Written by the Commanding Officer of Dennison's Scouts, this book contains two parts: 'Commencement of the Transvaal War of 1881' and 'Reminiscences of the Great Boer War of 1899-1902.' Dennison recounts his remarkable exploits in rich and lively prose. The author was captured by the Boers after surrendering following the Kuruman siege, and his account makes fascinating reading. With descriptions of the key battles and skirmishes of the period, as well as intricate details of everyday life, it provides a rare and personal glimpse into this fascinating era of military history.

Born at Cradock in 1844, Cape Colony, the son of George Dennison, a farmer, who died of wounds received while serving as a volunteer during the Eighth Cape Frontier War in 1851. Charles first saw service as a trooper in the Bloemfontein Rangers at the age of 19. In 1876 he raised and commanded the Rustenburg Rifles in the Transvaal. During the Anglo-Zulu War he served with Colonel Weatherley. He took over command of the Border Horse as Commandant when Weatherley was killed at Hlobane on 28 March 1879 and, on the 29th, was present with 16 men at the Battle of Khambula. He later saw service during the Sekhukhune campaign and, in 1896, raised the Stellaland Light Horse for the Bechuanaland campaign. During the Anglo-Boer War he raised and commanded the Dennison Scouts. Western Light Horse was a shortlived unit being raised in 1902 by Major C.G. Dennison and disbanded after the end of the war. While in command of the Kimberley Column, he was award the D.S.O. and promoted to major. His son Clifford was killed during that war. He was very fond of hunting in Mashonaland and Matabeleland. (WWW.1879ZULUWAR.COM)