Commando: A Boer Journal Of The Boer War
By Deneys Reitz
Published by Faber and Faber Limited: London 1945
"Deneys Reitz's Commando: A Boer Journal of the Boer War is a vivid first‑person memoir of the Second Anglo‑Boer War, written shortly after the conflict ended. Reitz was only seventeen when the war erupted in 1899, and he spent the next three years riding with various Boer commandos—mobile units of farmer‑soldiers who relied on horsemanship, marksmanship and intimate knowledge of the South African veld. The narrative follows his participation in key engagements such as the Battle of Spion Kop, his encounters with leading Boer figures (President Paul Kruger, Generals de la Rey, Botha, Smuts, and others) and even a brief imprisonment alongside a young Winston Churchill. Throughout, Reitz blends gritty battlefield detail with reflections on the motivations of the Boers, portraying the war as both a struggle for national survival and a personal rite of passage.
Beyond the combat chronicle, the book offers a broader picture of life in the commando camps, the hardships of guerrilla warfare, and the impact of British counter‑measures such as scorched‑earth tactics and concentration camps. Reitz's prose balances stark descriptions of hardship with moments of camaraderie and the natural beauty of the landscape, creating a narrative that feels more like an adventurous travelogue than a conventional military history. By the war's end, he chose exile in Madagascar rather than signing the surrender, underscoring his steadfast commitment to the Boer cause. The memoir remains a classic South African account that provides a rare, insider view of the conflict from the perspective of the fighters themselves.
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Light wear and fading to covers. Small inscription as shown. Pages clean and well presented. A nice copy in good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
Size 18cm x 12.5cm x 1.5cm - 328 Pages
