Customer Reviews

Majuba 1881: The Hill Of Destiny (Campaign)

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Majuba 1881: The Hill of Destiny (Osprey Military Campaign Series, 45)by Ian Castle is a fine example of what the Ospery Campaign series can achieve. In 90 pages, using the ususal format, the author gives a compelling overview of the whys and wherefores relating to the battle. While one understands that there are things that are left out, when one finishes the book one at least knows the basics.

I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to get an overview before reading further regarding the Second Boer War (@1900)or the events that shaped South Africa. This is a positive read, is written in very readable prose, and I would recommend it.

The book starts out by providing a short but very good background to the events and causes leading to the first Boer-English War. Then the book goes about goes about and provides strategic and operations background setting up the battle (the English need to simultaneously relieve besieged garrisons while being contrained by London's orders not to engage in actual armed conflict - a real problem for the English commanders). Then the book closes, in its last third, in the actual battle itself. Discussion of armies, commanders and tactics are also included and are quite good considering the book is only 96 pages in length.

The book's minor weakness is a lack of color plates on how the troops from both sides looked and a little discussion of the Colonial troop's weapons.

All and all, if a reader has only about an hour to an hour and a half to dedicate to the subject this is the book to be read.

A really handle book. Great drawings and photos. Excellent maps, Shows the hows and whys of this battle, along with great photos of the battle as it stands now.

If you have an intrest in HM Forces of like me the Boers then you need this book.