This edition had all images removed.
LoC No.: 20011509
Title: The history of the South African forces in France
Original Publication: London: Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd, 1920.
Credits: Brian Coe and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Summary: "The history of the South African forces in France" by John Buchan is a historical account written in the early 20th century. It chronicles South Africa’s official expeditionary contribution to World War I, centering on the South African Infantry Brigade and its attached services in France. The narrative blends strategic overview with unit-level detail across major battles and theatres, including the Somme, Arras, and Ypres, while also covering the Western Desert campaign in Egypt and the work of artillery, signals, transport, and medical units. The opening of this history explains the author’s official commission, sources, and aim to tell a clear, authoritative record, then recounts how the brigade was raised: its four battalions (including the South African Scottish), leadership under Brigadier-General Henry Timson Lukin, supporting heavy artillery (re-numbered as R.G.A. siege batteries), signals, and medical services, and its training in England. Diverted to Egypt at the end of 1915, the force joins the Western Frontier operations against the Senussi, fighting at Halazin and then at Agagia, where coordinated infantry and yeomanry action captures Gaafer Pasha, before advancing on Sollum amid severe water shortages. The armoured cars’ dash under the Duke of Westminster smashes a retreating camp and then pulls off a dramatic long-range rescue of British sailors, effectively ending the immediate threat from the west. The brigade returns to Egypt, then sails for France, joins the 9th (Scottish) Division, learns trench warfare in Flanders, and moves to the Somme. A concise overview of the Somme’s purpose frames their first major test: holding newly won ground near Bernafay and aiding in the struggle for Trônes Wood, during which Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Jones of the 4th Regiment is killed. On 14–15 July, they attack Longueval–Delville Wood; the South Africans seize most of Delville but face incessant shelling and counter-attacks, thin lines, and blocked communications, with notable bravery such as Private W. F. Faulds’s rescue under fire. The section closes as reinforcements are juggled and a renewed push is ordered for the morning of 17 July. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading Level: Reading ease score: 70.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Author: Buchan, John, 1875-1940
EBook No.: 76673
Published: Aug 11, 2025
Downloads: 1159
Language: English
Subject: World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- France
Subject: South Africa. Army
Subject: World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- South Africa
LoCC: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: World War I (1914-1918)
Category: Text
Rights: Public domain in the USA.
This edition has images.
LoC No.: 20011509
Title: The history of the South African forces in France
Original Publication: London: Thomas Nelson & Sons Ltd, 1920.
Credits: Brian Coe and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net
Summary: "The history of the South African forces in France" by John Buchan is a historical account written in the early 20th century. It chronicles South Africa’s official expeditionary contribution to World War I, centering on the South African Infantry Brigade and its attached services in France. The narrative blends strategic overview with unit-level detail across major battles and theatres, including the Somme, Arras, and Ypres, while also covering the Western Desert campaign in Egypt and the work of artillery, signals, transport, and medical units. The opening of this history explains the author’s official commission, sources, and aim to tell a clear, authoritative record, then recounts how the brigade was raised: its four battalions (including the South African Scottish), leadership under Brigadier-General Henry Timson Lukin, supporting heavy artillery (re-numbered as R.G.A. siege batteries), signals, and medical services, and its training in England. Diverted to Egypt at the end of 1915, the force joins the Western Frontier operations against the Senussi, fighting at Halazin and then at Agagia, where coordinated infantry and yeomanry action captures Gaafer Pasha, before advancing on Sollum amid severe water shortages. The armoured cars’ dash under the Duke of Westminster smashes a retreating camp and then pulls off a dramatic long-range rescue of British sailors, effectively ending the immediate threat from the west. The brigade returns to Egypt, then sails for France, joins the 9th (Scottish) Division, learns trench warfare in Flanders, and moves to the Somme. A concise overview of the Somme’s purpose frames their first major test: holding newly won ground near Bernafay and aiding in the struggle for Trônes Wood, during which Lieutenant-Colonel F. A. Jones of the 4th Regiment is killed. On 14–15 July, they attack Longueval–Delville Wood; the South Africans seize most of Delville but face incessant shelling and counter-attacks, thin lines, and blocked communications, with notable bravery such as Private W. F. Faulds’s rescue under fire. The section closes as reinforcements are juggled and a renewed push is ordered for the morning of 17 July. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Reading Level: Reading ease score: 70.0 (7th grade). Fairly easy to read.
Author: Buchan, John, 1875-1940
EBook No.: 76673
Published: Aug 11, 2025
Downloads: 1159
Language: English
Subject: World War, 1914-1918 -- Campaigns -- France
Subject: South Africa. Army
Subject: World War, 1914-1918 -- Regimental histories -- South Africa
LoCC: History: General and Eastern Hemisphere: World War I (1914-1918)
Category: Text
Rights: Public domain in the USA.