The Australians at the Boer War Author: Robert L. Wallace
The Australians at the Boer War (Collectible First Edition)
The Comprehensive Account of Australia's First Major International Conflict, Frontline Mounted Infantry Battles, and the Veld Campaign
Bibliographic Specifications
- Title: The Australians at the Boer War
- Author: Robert L. Wallace
- Publisher: Australian War Memorial and the Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra
- Publication Date: 1976
- ISBN-10: 0642993912
- ISBN-13: 9780642993915
- Edition Details: First Edition, Standard Hardcover Release.
- Binding: Original publisher's premium cloth boards with gilt-titled spine, accompanied by the original illustrated paper dust jacket.
- Physical Format: Royal Octavo (8vo), 420 pages. Lavishly illustrated with an extensive collection of 18 unnumbered pages of historical plates, battlefield maps, tactical diagrams, and a comprehensive roll/index.
- Language: English
Official Condition Report
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The Book: Very Good Plus (VG+)
o Exterior / Boards: The original cloth-bound boards are square, stiff, and exceptionally well-preserved. Gilt text on the spine remains sharp and reflective. Corners and spine ends are crisp with only microscopic signs of storage shelf-wear, reflecting excellent, archival care.
o Interior: The internal text block is clean, robust, and structurally tight. Pages display slight natural toning/browning at the block edges—entirely consistent with the paper stock of this 1976 publication—but are free of library stamps, dealer marks, annotations, dog-ears, or cracking.
o Provenance: An entirely unmarked, collectible copy preserving its clean, original state since publication. -
The Dust Jacket: Very Good (VG)
o Condition: The original illustrated paper dust jacket remains highly presentable and complete. It displays honest signs of age and standard shelf friction. There is slight scuffing on the face and mild, minor edgewear at the extremities, without major losses or prominent tears. It has been freshly enclosed in a custom, archival-grade plastic protective jacket to arrest any future wear and preserve its historic integrity.
Synopsis & Historical Value
The Australians at the Boer War stands as a cornerstone masterwork detailing the profound and distinct experience of the 16,000+ Australian volunteers who deployed to South Africa between 1899 and 1902. Author Robert L. Wallace utilizes a deep archive of personal diaries, letters home, and frontline dispatches to deliver a raw, vivid perspective of combat on the veld and kopjes. From the legendary siege of Elands River and the relief of Kimberley to the controversial 'Breaker' Morant affair, the narrative spans the birth of the nation's military identity during the precise era of Australian Federation. Renowned for their elite capabilities as highly mobile mounted infantry and scouts, the experiences of these soldiers are woven expertly into the broader strategic tapestry of the war, making this out-of-print first edition a vital asset for any dedicated Anglo-Boer War historian.
The Australians at the Boer War stands as a cornerstone masterwork detailing the profound and distinct experience of the 16,000+ Australian volunteers who deployed to South Africa between 1899 and 1902. Author Robert L. Wallace utilizes a deep archive of personal diaries, letters home, and frontline dispatches to deliver a raw, vivid perspective of combat on the veld and kopjes. From the legendary siege of Elands River and the relief of Kimberley to the controversial 'Breaker' Morant affair, the narrative spans the birth of the nation's military identity during the precise era of Australian Federation. Renowned for their elite capabilities as highly mobile mounted infantry and scouts, the experiences of these soldiers are woven expertly into the broader strategic tapestry of the war, making this out-of-print first edition a vital asset for any dedicated Anglo-Boer War historian.
Author Profile: Robert L. Wallace
Robert L. Wallace (1912–1999) was a meticulous Australian military historian and author who dedicated years to rescuing first-hand accounts of early Australian military operations from obscurity. Published jointly under the authority of the Australian War Memorial, his research remains highly respected by modern academics for its objective framing, preservation of the raw voices of enlisted personnel, and rigorous archival accuracy. His seminal text remains an essential reference standard for global collectors studying the pre-WWI British imperial combat networks.
Robert L. Wallace (1912–1999) was a meticulous Australian military historian and author who dedicated years to rescuing first-hand accounts of early Australian military operations from obscurity. Published jointly under the authority of the Australian War Memorial, his research remains highly respected by modern academics for its objective framing, preservation of the raw voices of enlisted personnel, and rigorous archival accuracy. His seminal text remains an essential reference standard for global collectors studying the pre-WWI British imperial combat networks.
boer war collectible book australian war memorial first edition military history south africa robert wallace mounted infantry rare book anglo boer war personal narrative elands river breaker morant 1976