WITH BOTHA IN THE FIELD

xii, 68 pages: illustrations, portraits as frontispiece (1 with tissue guard) maps. Cloth spine, paper covered boards, with portrait laid down. Cover slightly rubbed. Plate facing page 8 unusually present.                                                                                      

Ex library copy from the "Bradford Library and Literary Society"- six days allowed for reading, with a fine of two pence a day for late returns! Ritchie served in the South African Police and acted as Botha's bodyguard whilst on campaign. Ritchie is clear about how small the GSWA Campaign was in comparison to events in Europe and the Dardenelles, but lays before the the reader the leadership exercised by Botha, "a gentleman and a patriot, justly famed amongst peoples with whom integrity and honour are still esteemed sovereign virtues". The plate facing page 8  is mostly absent, as it was removed by the publishers because it showed soldiers who joined the Rebellion, all wearing their South African military uniforms! The caption reads "Group of Rebel leaders". These eight men included Kemp, Brandt, Bayers, Bouwer and Maritz. The reverse of the plate (facing page 9) shows the rebels after they had been rounded up by Botha's men. There is a substantial number of them and it was an embarrassing episode for the new Union Government.