Commando: A Boer Journal of the Boer War

By Deneys Reitz

Book Overview

Deneys Reitz was 17 when the Anglo-Boer War broke out in 1899. Reitz describes that he had no hatred of the British people, but "as a South African, one had to fight for one's country." Reitz had learned to ride, shoot and swim almost as soon as he could walk, and the skills and endurance he had acquired during those years were to be made full use of during the war. He fought with different Boer Commandos, where each Commando consisted mainly of farmers on horseback, using their own horses and guns.Commando describes the tumult through the eyes of a warrior in the saddle. Reitz was fortunate to be present at nearly every one of the major battles of the war. Commando is a straightforward narrative that describes an extraordinary adventure and brings us a vivid, unforgettable picture of mobile guerrilla warfare, especially later in the war as General Smuts and men like Reitz fought on, braving heat, cold, rain, lack of food, clothing and boots, tiring horses.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1539656802
• ISBN13: 9781539656807
• Release Date: October 2016
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 11.0" x 0.3" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

One of the great war dispatches of all times....

Written in a matter of fact style, the simple experiences of a young man at war are piled one upon the other with no guile and in a straightforward manner. What emerges is one of the greatest stories of war of all time. This stands alongside Dispatches and Black Hawk Down but is perhaps even more remarkable as it was written by a young man at war, not a professional writer or journalist.

Commando - compelling account of Anglo-Boer War

First person account by Reitz of his experiences during the Anglo-Boer War. In-depth insight of day-to-day operations during war, its warriors, and the strength and pure ruthlessness of men from a generation almost forgotten. A real life account that compares with the best of action novels. A true classic.

This is an outstanding story of adventure.

It is always interesting to hear 'the other side of the story'. This account of the Boer War is informative yet very personal. It is one of those books that most will find difficult to set down before it is finished.The author had a most incredible life which is doccumented in Commando and two subsequent books. The adventures are so amazing that, in the preface, Jan Smuts is compelled to comment upon the truthfulness of the account. The book provides insight into the Boer culture and a turn of the century concept: honor.

A fascinating account of the 1900 Boer War in South Africa

Deneys Reitz joined the Boer forces fighting against the English in the 1900 / 02 Boer War in South Africa. While still in his late teens he fought in the famous battles of Spionkop and Nooitgedacht and took part in the seige of Kimberley. His book is an account of the mobile "commando" war and is compelling for its humanity and the historical perspective it gives of a war in which the civilian dead matched those who died in action and a war in which guerrilla tactics were used for the first time.

Memoirs of a guerilla war at the turn of the century

The memoirs of a soldier in the unsuccesfull war of independence that the Transvaal and Free State Republics in Southern Africa fought against the British Empire at the turn of the century. Reitz wrote the book in exile and left it for 20 years, then took out the emotion and bitterness and was left with a well structured, intelligent memoir that reads like the best fiction. His account of this guerilla war against the British empire can loosly be compared with Chickenhawk, Robert Mason's equally gripping memoir of the Viet Nam war