Four Months Besieged - the story of Ladysmith

In this book the epic siege of Ladysmith is described by the correspondent of the 'Daily News', HHS Pearce. The author notes that "The siege of Ladysmith will long remain in the memories of the age. The annals of war furnish the record of many fierce struggles, in which men and women have undergone sufferings more terrible and possibly shown a devotion rising to sublimer heights. But the Boer War of 1899-1900 will mark an epoch, and throughout its opening stage of four months the minds of men, and the hopes and fears of the whole British race, centred upon the little town in mid-Natal where Sir George White with his army maintained a valiant resistance against a strenuous and determined foe without, and disease and hunger and death within." Pearce's previously unpublished letters highlight the daily life in Ladysmith during those four months, providing insight - from a British perspective - into the privations, self-sacrifice and endurance which came to epitomise that struggle.

The Preface, Table of Contents, Lists of illustrations and Plans as well as the first chapter of the book can be downloaded here.

The 244 page book (in English) comprises of the following  chapters.

Chapter i: Introductory.
Chapter ii: Lombard's Kop and Nicholson's Nek.
Chapter iii: Ladysmith invested.
Chapter iv: Early days of the siege.
Chapter v: The first Boer assault.
Chapter vi: A month under shell fire.
Chapter vii: The sorties of December.
Chapter viii: After Colenso.
Chapter ix: A Christmas under siege.
Chapter x: The great assault.
Chapter xi: Watching for Buller.
Chapter xii: After 100 days.
Chapter xiii: Relief at last.

A number of photos as well as maps/plans are also provided.

Format: Downloadable PDF (±14mb).

Hierdie boek, deur 'The Daily News' se korrespondent in Ladysmith, beskryf die epiese beleg van daardie dorp deur die Boeremagte tydens die Anglo-Boere-oorlog. Die outeur beskryf die situasie heel toepaslik as volg:  "The siege of Ladysmith will long remain in the memories of the age. The annals of war furnish the record of many fierce struggles, in which men and women have undergone sufferings more terrible and possibly shown a devotion rising to sublimer heights. But the Boer War of 1899-1900 will mark an epoch, and throughout its opening stage of four months the minds of men, and the hopes and fears of the whole British race, centred upon the little town in mid-Natal where Sir George White with his army maintained a valiant resistance against a strenuous and determined foe without, and disease and hunger and death within." HHS Pearce se voorheen ongepubliseerde briewe uit Ladysmith is in hierdie volume opgeneem en gee vanuit 'n Britse oogpunt insae in die ontberings wat die bevolking van Ladysmith gedurende die 4 maande van die beleg ondervind het. 

'n Voorwoord, die Inhoudsopgawe, lyste van Illustrasies en Planne sowel as die eerste hoofstuk van die boek kan hier afgelaai word.

Die 244-bladsy boek (in Engels) is in die onderstaande hoofstukke verdeel:

Chapter i: Introductory.
Chapter ii: Lombard's Kop and Nicholson's Nek.
Chapter iii: Ladysmith invested.
Chapter iv: Early days of the siege.
Chapter v: The first Boer assault.
Chapter vi: A month under shell fire.
Chapter vii: The sorties of December.
Chapter viii: After Colenso.
Chapter ix: A Christmas under siege.
Chapter x: The great assault.
Chapter xi: Watching for Buller.
Chapter xii: After 100 days.
Chapter xiii: Relief at last.

'n Aantal fotos en kaarte/planne is ook ingesluit.

Formaat: Aflaaibare PDF (±14mb).