TOPIC:

The book below does not appear in Hackett's South African War Books which makes it an interesting addition to the bibliography of the Boer War and worth recording.

It is titled With the 10th Regiment Imperial Yeomanry, authored by Alfred G. T. Smith, late Trooper 37th Company Imperial Yeomanry (Bucks) and published by the Herald Printing Works in Preston in 1905. It is 105 pages.

It is a personal memoir rather than a Battalion or Company history and is remarkable for its frankness about looting and the wearisome chases and skirmishes with the Boer commandos. Smith had an eventful time during the war. He was captured by the Boers and kept prisoner on commando for several weeks. He then escaped and was eventually reunited with his Company, only to be severely wounded in the leg later and evacuated to England by hospital ship.

It is the first account I have come across which relates experiences in the Buckinghamshire Squadron and the 10th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry.

Justin

Good evening Justin, has this book been digitised please? I would be pleased to buy a copy but had a search online and guess there are not many surviving? I hope Im not breaking any forum rules by asking.
Thanks
Wayne

Dear Wayne, I’m not aware of it being digitised. Perhaps David Biggins might know. Best wishes, Justin

The Bucks Military Museum Trust has in its collection A G T Smith's photograph album, which was found on a skip in Sussex in the 1980s and donated to the Trust. It contains 82 images/documents. Some of the images are familiar from other albums connected to the Royal Bucks Hussars Companies of the 10th Battalions such and it is suggested that they may have been taken by Henry Pelham Lee, also in 37th Coy.. The Trust would certainly like to arrange for the Smith alvum to be photocopied for its collection. Ian Beckett, BMMT

Catching up - sorry. No, I am not aware of it being available digitally. If anyone has a copy, I can digitise it.

BMMT wrote: The Bucks Military Museum Trust has in its collection A G T Smith's photograph album, which was found on a skip in Sussex in the 1980s and donated to the Trust. It contains 82 images/documents. Some of the images are familiar from other albums connected to the Royal Bucks Hussars Companies of the 10th Battalions such and it is suggested that they may have been taken by Henry Pelham Lee, also in 37th Coy.. The Trust would certainly like to arrange for the Smith album to be photocopied for its collection. Ian Beckett, BMMT

Hi Ian,
I got to see this photo album a couple of weeks back at the Bucks Archive and it was interesting enough with a few named photos and inscriptions. Mostly camp life and an interesting pair of photos of two men "settling a difference" in the old fashioned way! A couple of gruesome ones of around 20 British men in a ditch ready for burial - presumably following an action and some of prisoners. All the photos are of 2nd Troop and the Troop officer is named but annoyingly I cannot find my notes. The scanner was out of bounds due to COVID rules so I did not go away with much. But enjoyed the day as always.
Wayne