I am forwarding this on from Jesse Bargholz
of the Mounted Forces Association of Canada
Larry
Searching for the Queen’s Cowboys
Author - Tony Maxwell (cover picture is at the end of the text)
- A shorter version of this review is intended to be posted on Amazon
I found this book to be excellent. You'll find the book interesting if you have even the smallest interest in the country of South Africa. If you are interested in military history or Canadian military history, this is a very good book for you. If you are interested in the Strathcona’s Horse or Lord Strathcona’s Horse (the Royal Canadians) Regiment, this is a great book for you.
The author, Tony Maxwell, grew up in South Africa. His father was interested in history and from an early age Tony would walk the battle fields of the Boer Wars with him. They would come across the graves of soldiers in fields and on ridges (in those wars, soldiers were often buried where they fell). Many of these graves were of Canadians.
Later, when Tony moved to Canada, he became interested in the Lord Strathcona’s Horse (LdSH) Regiment, which still exists today, and decided to make a historical movie about the involvement of Canada and the LdSH Regiment in the Boer Wars. Now he was taking his son to South Africa.
The main theme of this book is the search for the Queen’s Cowboys, as the Strathcona’s Horse Regiment were often referred to in those days, in the routes they took, the battles in which they took part, and for the monuments and graves of those Canadian soldiers who fought there and the graves of those who remain.
What made this book a great read for me was the way Tony blends together stories of his trip with his son and their search for military historic sites into an adventure that is salted with both the hair raising events of the trip and interesting camp fire stories of lion attacks, crocodile infested river crossings, elephant encounters, ghost stories of dead soldiers, faithful dogs, and the incredible hardships of the early settlers, soldiers, gold seekers and empire builders.
While seeking out battle field locations where Strathcona’s Horse was involved and their paths as they fought their way across the Karoo and the South African veldt, he also notes routes used by British Army marches and convoys, Boer escape routes and ambushes points, troopers’ graves and monuments, locations of pitched battles between Zulus and British and Boers, the fascinating stories of what happened there and what they look like today.
This book covers a wide variety of events and history of South Africa over more than a two hundred year period. Tony weaves together stories of Apartheid, concentration camps, emotional battle field visits, graves of long dead soldiers (Canadian and Boer), past trips he has taken, Mandella, life in South Africa today, the effects of affirmative action, and the plight of black, white and Indian citizens of today.
Military buffs will appreciate the information Maxwell on covers weapons, the origin of the Boer Wars, how the British annexed South Africa when gold was found there, British reluctance to adapt to newer technologies, profiles of military leaders both British and Boer, how they fought battles and how they lost them. Names such as General Buller, Lord Roberts, Sam Steele, Richardson (VC), Breaker Morant, Kruger, DeWet, Churchill and Rudyard Kipling appear throughout the text. The history of LdSH is also covered of course, from recruitment to receiving their medals in London. He records in detail, the actions of other Canadian regiments and Colonial troops and the role the natives, Irish and other foreigners played, and the British Army actions. He takes you through the developments of the war as the Boers were chased month after month, developed hit and run tactics, and outwitted the British Army time after time, how the 1000’s of kilometres of block houses were implemented, and how the war eventually ground to an end.
For the travel minded, Maxwell reminisces about first leaving South Africa and traveling by Jeep and thumb overland to London, a miraculous journey not to be taken by the light hearted. He reminisces about his early backpacker days in Earl’s Court in London, as his present trip develops. He visits Buckingham Palace, is taken inside and sits afterwards in disbelief that he has actually talked his way into BUCKINGHAM PALACE!! And been able to film parts for is historical movie.
He shares the risks and delight of travel in South Africa today and the people he has met along the way, of safari in Kruger National Park and visits to the old haunts of his youth. He talks of African politics of today, the voices and opinions of everyday South Africans he has heard over drinks at sundown and along the battle field paths he has walked. He speaks in admiration of the guides he contacted ahead of his trip to show him some of the battle fields and tell him the stories of the brave who died in battle and those who rode away to fight another day. The descriptions of old B&B’s and warm hospitality in historic buildings past frequented by British and Boer Generals alike are wonderful. I found it to be an excellent story and an informative read.
Jesse Bargholz