Two Years at the Front with the Mounted Infantry (1903)

Publisher's green cloth binding with gilt titles on the spine. Top edge gilt. Contents clean with light foxing on the prelims. All maps and illustrations present.

xx + 296pp.

'A diary compiled from letters written by a young officer to his mother, detailing his experiences during the South African War from January 1900 to December 1901. In a short memoir it is stated that Lieut. Bernard Moeller joined the Hon. Artillery Company as a private in 1891, was subsequently raised to the rank of a full lieutenant. He had a great love for the army, and much desired to obtain a commission in the regulars, and on the outbreak of hostilities volunteered for service in the C.I.V. He was twice mentioned in despatches, and his "services were so thoroughly appreciated that he was selected by Lord Roberts for the honour of a commission in the 2nd Middlesex (Duke of Cambridge's Own), a circumstance specially mentioned by His Majesty King Edward VII., when speaking as Prince of Wales, at the Guildhall on the occasion of the C.I.V. banquet." At the time of his death he had been recommended for further special promotion. Lieutenant Moeller was commissioned in January 1901 to form the company of mounted infantry of the 2nd Middlesex Regiment, and he "took part in the great drives under Generals French, Bruce-Hamilton, and others." In one of these he and his men were attacked by a party of 500 Boers, who were attired in khaki, and being mistaken for "Plumer's men," were allowed to advance without suspicion. They were outnumbered and the survivors were retreating , when Moeller, "looking back, saw to his horror a wounded lad, with his hands up in a token of surrender, treacherously shot by Boers." He immediately dashed forward to avenge his comrade, but was surrounded by thirteen or fourteen of the enemy; he refused to surrender, and "emptying his revolver and charging into their midst, he flung the empty weapon into the face of the nearest, and as they opened fire, fell from his horse, wounded and bleeding to the ground." He was carried into Standerton, where he died, a few days later, on December 23, 1901.' - Mendelssohn Vol. II, pages 27-28