The History Of The South African Forces In France [Illustrated Edition]

Colonel John Buchan

• Publisher: Verdun Press
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781782893769
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: British History
• Index: History

Includes 22 maps and 18 illustrations
Tens of thousands of men came from all round the Empire to aid the British war effort in the First World War; men from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India and South Africa fought and died on battlefields far away from their homes. Although these soldiers fought across many different countries for the Allied cause; each of the Nations is linked with a single battle or campaign in which their sacrifice stood out even in the horrific bloodshed of the First World War. For the South Africans it was the heroic, bloody struggle for Delville wood during the battle of the Somme; during which they held their ground under a furious counter assault by the Germans, the South African 1st Brigade suffered 80% casualties in that action alone. Basil Liddell Hart called this engagement "…the bloodiest battle hell of 1916."
However as the esteemed author and soldier, Colonel John Buchan points out in his introduction to this classic Official History, the South Africans fought with equal bravery and distinction wherever and whenever they took to the field. As he states his book "…is a tale to be proud of, for among the many brigades in that field the South African Infantry Brigade may be said, without boasting, to have had no superior and not many equals."
A fitting tribute to the many brave South African soldiers who fought and conquered during the First World War written by an acclaimed author.

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• PREFACE.
• LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
• LIST OF MAPS.
• CHAPTER I.-THE RAISING OF THE BRIGADE.
• CHAPTER II. - THE CAMPAIGN IN WESTERN EGYPT. - (January-April 1916.)
• CHAPTER III. - THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME: DELVILLE WOOD. - (April-July 1916.)
• CHAPTER IV. - THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME: THE BUTTE DE WARLENCOURT. - (July-December 1916.)
• CHAPTER V. - THE BATTLE OF ARRAS. - (January-July 1917.)
• CHAPTER VI. - THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES. - (July-November 1917.)
• CHAPTER VII. - THE EVE OF THE GREAT GERMAN ATTACK. - (November 1917-March 1918.)
• CHAPTER VIII. - THE SOMME RETREAT: GAUCHE AND MARRIÉRES WOODS. - (March 21-27,1918.)
• CHAPTER IX. - THE BATTLE OF THE LYS. - (March 27-May 5, 1918.)
• CHAPTER X. - THE SUMMER OF 1918. - (May-September 1918.)
• CHAPTER XI. - THE ADVANCE TO VICTORY. - (September 28-November 11, 1918.)
• CHAPTER XII. - CONCLUSION.
• REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER
• APPENDIX I. - THE HEAVY ARTILLERY.
• APPENDIX II. - THE SOUTH AFRICAN SIGNAL COMPANY (R.E.)
• APPENDIX III. - THE MEDICAL SERVICES.
• APPENDIX IV. - THE RAILWAYS COMPANIES AND MISCELLANEOUS
• APPENDIX V. - THE CAPE AUXILIARY HORSE TRANSPORT COMPANIES.
• APPENDIX VI. - VICTORIA CROSSES WON BY SOUTH AFRICANS DURING THE WAR.
• APPENDIX VII. - LIST OF HONOURS WON BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN FORCES IN FRANCE.