THREE YEARS WAR (October 1899 - June 1902)

First Edition: 520 pages, frontispiece portrait, sketch maps, folding map at the back, original green cloth, spine faded, a very good copy.

Scholarly assessments note that while de Wet's account is naturally partisan, it is nonetheless vital to correcting British-centric histories of the war. It provides crucial detail on Boer command decisions, the hardships of commando life, and the shifting fortunes of the war in the Orange Free State. It has been cited extensively in military-historical literature, including studies on the tactical influence of the Boer War on later conflicts. 

Mendelssohn (Sidney) South African Bibliography volume 1 page 460, 'Right to the last, speaking at Vereeniging, De Wet remarked, in a speech of considerable vigour, "We must fight on, no matter how long, until our independence is absolutely secure," and there appears no reason to doubt that he was fully prepared to continue the conflict, although he subsequently acquiesced with the views of the majority of the delegates. Severe reprobation is accorded to the " National Scouts," to whose action is attributed the final downfall of the Boer cause, and heavy censure is bestowed on Generals Prinsloo, Viljoen, and others, who surrendered to the British forces.

'De Wet expresses contempt for the blockhouse system, but he asserts that the "drives" were a very different matter; he gives a flat denial to the widespread statement that he escaped through the block- house cordon by driving a herd of cattle through the barbed wire fencing, but he admits that the night marches tended greatly to the demoralisation of the Burgher forces. Attention is repeatedly drawn to the overwhelming strength of the British, but, from the information afforded, it does not appear clear that there was any great disparity in numbers, on either side, in the majority of actual engagements. There can be little doubt that in some of the actions the Boers were struck by panic, and had to be forced "not always successfully" to continue fighting, and there is ample evidence that the courage and resourcefulness of De Wet were counteracted by the difficulties which he had to contend with owing to the insubordination of his men.'