THE HISTORY OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES IN FRANCE

The great thriller writer and statesman John Buchan author of 'The 39 Steps' and other classics wrote this official history of the South African Forces in France as a homage to a country he had come to know and love as a British administrator after the Boer War. The South African brigade raised from South African and Rhodesian regiments were sent to Egypt in 1915; and arrived in France the following year where they were attached to the 9th Scottish Division. They saw hard fighting during the Somme Offensive - particularly the bitter battles in and around Delville Wood and the Butte de Warlencourt. In 1917 they were in action at Arras and Cambrai; and in 1918 took part in resisting the German Spring offensives on the River Lys and the Allied counter-offensives which culminated in the Armistice. The work of a great writer this history is illustrated with photos & maps.