TOPIC:

I am currently researching my next literary project, a detailed account and analysis of the Colesberg Operations during the Second Anglo-Boer War. This study focuses on events in the Cape Colony between November 21, 1899, and March 15, 1900, when a relatively small British and Colonial force, first led by Major General John French and later by Major General Ralph Clements, successfully prevented a Boer invasion. By engaging the forces primarily led by Boer General Koos de la Rey, they contributed significantly to Lord Frederick Roberts’ successful advance into the Orange Free State and later the Transvaal. Spanning 115 days of exceptional strategy, the Colesberg Operations involved numerous British and Colonial regiments.

Ians 1900
A worthy project. Brian Kieran's "Success of a General" (General French and the Relief of Kimberley, ISBN 1 870 192 30 3) could give you some useful references. As might "A History of British Cavalry 1816 to 1919" chapter 8, etc. Maurice can be quite useful as well.
Regards
IL.

Hi Ian,

I think that would be a great idea; I am slowly starting to educate myself on what took place around Colesburg and it's very interesting indeed.

I look forward to future collaborations, discussions and posts.

Regards,
Shaun

LinneyI wrote: Ians 1900
A worthy project. Brian Kieran's "Success of a General" (General French and the Relief of Kimberley, ISBN 1 870 192 30 3) could give you some useful references. As might "A History of British Cavalry 1816 to 1919" chapter 8, etc. Maurice can be quite useful as well.
Regards
IL.

Hello Ian,

Thank you for those references, I’ll add them to my list. I haven’t read the first two and I keep returning to Maurice, which I do enjoy and find both incredibly interesting and useful, but it seems that no matter how much I read there’s always so much more left to get through.

I have found the late Richard Holmes’ book “The Little Fieldmarshal” to be an excellent source of material regarding French. Many years ago the Professor helped me with information for my first book and we used to correspond via email for a while before he died.

I haven’t found anything specifically written about Clements, but various things I have found do indicate what sort of character he was.

Ian

Sturgy wrote: Hi Ian,

I think that would be a great idea; I am slowly starting to educate myself on what took place around Colesburg and it's very interesting indeed.

I look forward to future collaborations, discussions and posts.

Regards,
Shaun

Hi Shaun,

Yes I agree, I find the period fascinating and think the operations deserve writing about in detail.

That’s what this forum is all about and I also look forward to sharing information and the interesting discussions we all have here.

Ian

Ian
There is an interesting bio of M/G R.A.P. Clements in the DSO book; covering his career in some detail. Clements died in India in 1909 and - as far as I know - never left his reminiscences for us to read. The DSO bio gives quite some detail which might interest you. I will do my best to take some cuts of that bio and post them.
Regards
IL.