Hugh Rethman's Books

Friends and Enemies

The Natal Campaign in the South African War 1899-1902

By: Hugh Rethman

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Friends and Enemies

The Natal Campaign in the South African War 1899-1902

By: Hugh Rethman

When the Boer Republics invaded Natal in 1899, the invaders could have been driven out with casualties measured in hundreds. Instead Britain was to lose nearly 9,000 men killed in action, more than 13,000 to disease and a further 75,000 wounded and sick were invalided back to Britain. The war ended in 1902 with a very unsatisfactory Peace Treaty. At the start of the conflict Britain’s Generals were faced with problems new to the military establishment. Shows of force did little to intimidate a determined opposition; infantry charges against a hidden enemy armed with modern rifles resulted in a futile waste of lives. Artillery could now destroy unseen targets at great range. Lack of mobility resulted in more than half the army being besieged in Ladysmith bringing with it concomitant civilian involvement. Some generals learnt quickly – others were slower and yet others still, perhaps through pride and stubbornness, refused to alter their ways and thus their men paid with their lives. The bravery and sacrifice of men during the campaign have been described in many books, as have the faults – real and imagined – of the generals. But little attention has been paid to the greatest blunder of all: a failure to take proper cognizance of local advice, opinion and capability. From the beginning, locally raised regiments demonstrated how the Boers might be defeated without incurring heavy casualties and, when they were finally given their head, they chased the invaders out of Natal while suffering only nominal casualties. This deeply researched study of the Boer War includes, for the first time, the experiences of the inhabitants of Natal – soldier and civilian, men, women and children, black and white. Diaries and letters vividly portray the actions at Talana, Elandslaagte, Colenso, Acton Homes and Spion Kop, as well as the siege of Ladysmith in which 15,000 military personnel and 2,500 residents and refugees were incarcerated for four months, slowly but surely dying from starvation and sickness until their relief. Before, during and after the Boer War many myths were created and facts hidden to suit political ends. The result was that lessons, which should have been learned were never adequately understood or applied. With the West still engaged in foreign wars, these old mistakes should be remembered and not repeated. Friends and Enemies is the result of years of intensive research undertaken in archives in both South Africa and Britain. It offers an important and scholarly resource to students of nineteenth and twentieth century conflict.

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328

Publisher

Tattered Flag

Published Date

ISBN 10

0957689241

ISBN 13

9780957689244

Friends and Enemies

The Natal Campaign in the South African War 1899-1902

By: Hugh Rethman

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Friends and Enemies

The Natal Campaign in the South African War 1899-1902

By: Hugh Rethman

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328

Publisher

Tattered Flag

Published Date

ISBN 10

0957689241

ISBN 13

9780957689244

The Right Honourable Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster, a Memoir

By: Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster

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The Right Honourable Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster, a Memoir

By: Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

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Page Count

406

Publisher

Wentworth Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

0530074192

ISBN 13

9780530074191

LETTERS & REMAINS OF ARTHUR HU

By: Arthur Hugh 1819-1861 Clough

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LETTERS & REMAINS OF ARTHUR HU

By: Arthur Hugh 1819-1861 Clough

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346

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Wentworth Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

137377665X

ISBN 13

9781373776655

Book's by Hugh Rethman

Friends and Enemies

Friends and Enemies

Friends and Enemies

Friends and Enemies

The Right Honourable Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster, a Memoir

The Right Honourable Hugh Oakeley Arnold-Forster, a Memoir

LETTERS & REMAINS OF ARTHUR HU

LETTERS & REMAINS OF ARTHUR HU

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