Fight to the bitter end by Ian Uys
Fight to the bitter end by Ian Uys
The story of Heidelberg and its people during the war.
Softcover. English. Fortress. 2002 1st ed. ISBN: 0620289686. 222 pp.
Used - Very Good+. This book is in very good condition. The wraps have some slight/limited signs of wear but the pages are clean, intact and the spine remains undamaged. This book has clearly been well maintained and looked after thus far.
This is the story of the people of Heidelberg(Transvaal, South Africa). The men, women and children who lived in the shadow of the Suikerbosrand mountains and on the banks of the Blesbokspruit. Although predominantly Boers, they were from all nationalities and walks of life. When war clouds loomed the people of this small dorp stood together, fought and died together, and will be remembered for the manner of their so doing.
When Heidelbergers of the Boer War was written in 1980, the centenary of the Anglo-Boer War was in the distant future. At the time I had access to Heidelbergers who could recall those halcyon days, but they are now all gone.
During this Centenary of the Anglo-Boer War there has been a revival of interest in the war and I was pleased to meet members of the Heidelberg HistorIcal Society, who have contmued to research the town's history.
A great deal has happened politically in South Africa during the past twenty years; momentous changes have occurred which provide great challenges for the future. History has a way of repeating itself, as the Heidelbergers who survived the Anglo-Boer War also had to change and adapt to new circumstances. Their example will be followed by their descendants, who have proved themselves as resilient.
Translations from the original Dutch or Afrikaans diaries and letters have been done to the best of my ability. Any errors are my own. In conformity with modem usage words which may give offense to any racial group have been changed. Otherwise the text has only been modified to conform with punctuation used. The diary of George Leversage was in English and has been reproduced as written.
Much additional information has come to light and has been incorporated in this sequel. The roles played by the Van Warmelos, former Heidelberg women, in the Boer secret service is especially noteworthy. Diaries and letters of various combatants and concentration camp inmates adds new dimensions to our knowledge of the war. Among them are Boursse, D6nges, Dommisse, Jooste, Kriegler, Leversage, Mangold, Miers, Oosterhagen, Schabort, Vallentin, Van As, Van Warmelo and Viljoen.
These were the people who fought to the bitter end; in many cases giving their lives for their beliefs. In the miracle of South Africa's transformation 100 years later we had learnt from them and change took place with far less loss of life. There was no need to fight to the bitter end.
This book is factual, and is based on the books, letters, diaries and memories of the Heidelbergers. It should be read, not only by military historians, but by all those who wonder at the character of the South Africans of today, descendents of men and women such as the Heidelbergers ...
