A Soldier in South Africa 1899 to 1902 - S. B. Spies (editor) (Brenthurst)

Lieutenant Eustace Abadie of the 9th Lancers arrived in South Africa on 10 October 1899. The next day the South African War broke out and his regiment moved northward as part of Lord Methuens advance on the beleaguered Kimberley. It was at this time that Abadie experienced his baptism of fire, at the battle of Belmont. The twenty-two-year-old cavalry officer fought also at the battles of Graspan and Modder River and some weeks later was present at Magersfontein when Boer commandos inflicted a severe defeat on Methuens army.

Thereafter, Abadie was directly involved in the dramatic events which led to the relief of Kimberley on 15 February 1900 and the subsequent fall of Bloemfontein on 13 March. From mid February 1900 until ill,. end of the war he served on the staff of Major-General French who commanded the cavalry division on the march to Pretoria and beyond, and who later took charge of mobile operations in the Cape. As a member of Frenchs staff, Abadie had men of the calibre of Douglas Haig as colleagues and he found himself close to where decisions were taken at command level. His position enabled him to meet the most senior officers - such as Lords Roberts and Kitchener.

This is the previously unpublished story of one mans experience of three years of war, written in the heat of the moment. Not subject to any form of military censorship, Abadies account of the conflict, the country and the people he encountered, is frank, critical and perceptive. Together with accompanying contemporary illustrations, this work vividly portrays an imperial war at the turn of the century as seen through the eyes of an observant young cavalryman. It is a valuable addition to existing accounts of the South African War.