Urgent Imperial Service: South African Forces in German South West Africa 1914-1915

8vo; original yellow boards; laminated pictorial dustwrapper; facsimile map on endpapers; pp. (ix) + 352; illustrations. Trace of spotting to top edge; spine panel a little sunned. Near fine condition. 'South Africa's first entry into war was surreptitious. In 1914, without consulting Parliament or the public, the government of General Louis Botha committed the country to fighting for the British Empire against Germany in South West Africa. Though ratified later by Parliament, the cabinet's decision split a populace that was still trying to heal the wounds left after the Boer War. This, and the creation of the Union, ignited an armed rebellion that came close to civil war. And then, the rebellion put down, these same sworn enemies united with their English-speaking countrymen to fight against the Germans in South West Africa - under the Union Jack. Invading over the Orange River and from the sea, they fought their way across deserts that their enemy had considered impenetrable. The Germans fought skilfully but had no counter to General Botha's military brilliance. They were further thwarted by the dashing and unorthodox tactics of the commandos and the astonishing forced marches of the South African infantry.'