TOPIC:

SWB wrote:

Tim2000 wrote: I found Ron Lock's book "Hill of Squandered Valor" here:
www.amazon.com/Hill-of-Squandered-Valour...1&keywords=Spion+Kop

I am trying to look for a good book (of recent publication?) on the Battle of Spion Kop, seems like Ron Lock's book, being most recent, could be a good buy. Can anyone recommend a good book(s) that cover this battle?

I have read Churchill, Doyle, Creswicke, Warren, and Botha's books small to large portions of which cover this battle. But, all these were written in 1902-1908 timeframe; would a more recent book provide any new information about this battle? just seeking your opinions on this. Thanks.

I reveiwed Lock's Squandered Valour for Soldiers of the Queen (journal of the VMS) - it is a waste of money. Most of the book is spent getting you to Spion Kop, the chapter (yes one chapter) on the battle is error strewn, no casualty figures for the battle, etc.

A number of other books have been published on Spion Kop in recent years - including one in French. I've not read them.

I think what you've read gives as good an overview as any modern book on the battle.

Regards
Meurig

I just finished reading Spion Kop section of Vol 2 History of the War in South Africa 1899-1902, Great Britain, War Office by Maurice Harold Grant (available for free from Google Books in PDF format). This is the best account, by far of anything I had read about the battle. Supplement this with Gen. Warren's works (available for free from Project Gutenberg's website), rather his "perception" of what happened and why, and a good clear hour by hour picture emerges of the battle when used in conjunction with the maps posted on this site and, of course, Google Earth.

I did not buy Locke's book for the facts you mentioned.

Of course, I got a bit emotional at the utter incompetence of Buller and Warren, and especially the recall of the KRR from Twin Peaks, after they had taken these peaks and the Boers were in full flight! plus, having Hildyard's division just sit on it's haunches to the west while the men on Spion Kop were being butchered is inexcusable. Of course, in this war the British senior officers seemed to relish the "take that hill or position and then entrench, never mind the fact that we cannot defend it and have no idea of the physical geography around us, let's entrench anyway!" approach to warfare. Mobility and self initiative was not in their vocabulary for the most part. Thanks to Lord Roberts, he did his best to change this nonsensical approach with limited results.

Hello Everyone.....

I have read the last coiple of reviews with great interest.....

I infact just purchased today from a second hand book stor and was going to start tonight:

The Battle of Spion Kop by Oliver Ransford

Has anyone read this book before I get into it????

Mike

Hi Frank,

But the politics within the British Army was appalling!

Iain

Frank Kelley wrote: Hello Iain,
War is just an extension of politics and you might say the Boer War was an extension of Joseph Chamberlain's particular politics!
Frank

iaindh wrote: I have now finished reading Thomas Packenham's book on the Boer War. He does return to the politics at the end of the book, mainly to do with the terms of surrender and the British Army politics!!!
Overall, I enjoyed the book; his analysis of the politics is important and if I may make the comparison, better than Conan - Doyle s whose politics are a little bias.
I did find though that Conan - Doyle covered every engagement whereas Packenham omits a lot and even references Conan - Doyle!
But having said that, Packenham, in his account of certain battles, gives excellent accounts and has obviously done a lot of research. I do think that you have to read both books to get a real overview of the whole conflict.

Just my opinion, I'm not a book critic

I'm now going to start Ruari Chisholm's account of the siege of ladysmith and I'm looking forward to it!

Iain

Some additions to my library

From Capetown to Ladysmith
by G.W.Steevens

The War Correspondents The Boer War
by Raymond Sibbald

The Anglo-Boer War Anniversary 1899-1999
Orders,Decorations and Campaign Medals
Militaria and Memorabilia
by Spink







Paul

Half way through Steevens book, a recommended read.
The account of Elandslaagte is very well written.

Paul

coldstream wrote: Some additions to my library

From Capetown to Ladysmith
by G.W.Steevens

The War Correspondents The Boer War
by Raymond Sibbald

The Anglo-Boer War Anniversary 1899-1999
Orders,Decorations and Campaign Medals
Militaria and Memorabilia
by Spink

Paul

Paul,

I too really enjoyed Steevens' account of Elandslaagte and found this particularly evocative of the battle. I added the whole chapter to my Elandslaagte book as it was far superior to anything that I could write.

The account is here .

Regards
David