The Five-day Battle, Frederikstad 20-25 October 1900 by Johan Wolfaardt

First edition published by Heritage Potchefstroom in 2020.

38pp + appendices. Illustrated. Softcover.

"Johan Wolfaardt of the President Pretorius Museum in Potchefstroom has written a comprehensive account of the battle of Frederickstad, 20-25 October 1900.

It bears the imprint of the Heritage Potchefstroom Erfenis, of which Johan is the chairman.

Using both Afrikaans and English accounts, it is a blow-by-blow account and covers the battle, the strategic background and its aftermath. There is a detailed casualty list with large numbers of killed and wounded on both sides, testimony to the fierce fighting over the five days. Surprisingly, very little has been written about this clash on the main railway line between Krugersdorp and Potchefstroom. There are detailed accounts in both the Times History and the official history but journalists seem to have largely ignored what was a serious armed encounter. Significant numbers of armaments were employed on both sides as the casualty list bears witness. Boer forces outnumbered their British adversaries but lack of discipline caused de Wet's exasperation and eventual withdrawal in frustration.

This is a well-researched book on a battle that has been largely neglected. The author is a well-respected professional authority on the Anglo-Boer war of long standing and this book is a worthwhile addition to the literature of the war. "