Commando: A Boer Journal of the Boer War (Signed)

Reset and first reprinted in this new edition October MCMXXXII

328 pages, original green boards rubbed and slightly worn on the top and bottom of spine, gilt lettering and decorations on spine, owners name on front endpaper, signed by Reitz on the dedication page - dated 1934, contents good

Born in 1882, Reitz joined a ‘Commando’ at the outbreak of war in 1899 remaining in the field until the bitter end. Present at many of the major events of the war, his autobiographical account of the war includes events from every major stage of the war. He was present at the battle of Talana Hill, the siege of Ladysmith, Spion Kop, De le Rey's guerilla campaign in the western Transvaal, and accompanied Gen. J. C. Smuts on his raid in the Cape Colony (1901-02). He was present at the signing of the Treat of Vereenging.

The son of F W Reitz, the State Secretary of the Transvaal. Reitz went into voluntary exile in Madagascar following the war, where he wrote his journal. Not published until 1929, Reitz had returned to South Africa, entered politics and become reconciled with the British, serving in the British army during the First World War.

He died in London, England on 19th October 1944.

General Smuts wrote in the Preface of Commando:

"Here is the book of the Boer War for which I have been waiting for the last twenty-five years and more. Many military books have been written on the Boer War - books full of interest and of valuable material for the future historian; but something else was wanted. The Boer War was other than most wars. It was a vast tragedy in the life of a people, whose human interest far surpassed its military value. A book was wanted which would give us some insight into the human side of this epic struggle between the smallest and the greatest of peoples.

Here we have it at last."

Item posted from UK.