Johannes Meintjes. SWORD IN THE SAND. The Life and Death of Gideon Scheepers

1969. Hard cover with dust cover, 242 pages. Good condition. Tightly bound and neat. The hard cover has lost some colour. The dust cover has wear and tear. Minor rust spots. Under 1kg.

In this book Johannes Meintjes traces what really happened to Gideon Scheepers, the gallant 23-year old Boer fighter who was executed by a British firing squad some months before the Anglo-Boer War was to end.

Though nobody knows, since his body was never found, this young heliographer became an almost legendary figure in South African history. As he was considered innocent and had become an idol because of his daring exploits in the Cape Colony, Scheepers' execution caused an outcry throughout the world.

Despite his tragic end and the interest aroused by the secret and apparently clandestine circumstances of his death, very little is known about his exact movements and experiences. Of special interest is the translation of Scheepers' diary - including notes written hours before his execution.

The execution has now generally been condemned by Boer and Briton as a disgraceful act, but its consequences were more far-reaching than anyone could have foreseen at the time : Gideon Scheepers took his place as a martyr of Afrikanerdom. (Colin Pretorius)