Former Krugersdorp High School (KHS) learner Guy Keeling has recently launched his book on the Anglo-Boer War, where he dives in with a completely neutral angle on all the battles fought between 1899 and 1902.
Guy matriculated from KHS in 1971 where he was also part of the first rugby team. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Port Elizabeth and an Advanced Executive Programme and Master Business Leadership Masters degree both obtained from Unisa. The most relevant part of his book, The Raw War 123 Battles of the Boer War, is that he served three deployments as an infantry soldier for the then South African Defence Force during the Border War, where he did his training in Oudtshoorn.
The first conscript for his border duty was in 1973, where he was sent to the Caprivi strip, his second tour was with the Commando on Impalila Island and his last was with the Durban Regiment at Oshigambo in Ovamboland.
“I dedicated this book to my grandfather who moved from the United Kingdom to South Africa during the time of the Boer War, where he worked on the railroads and later in his life fought during the Great War,” Guy said.
“My experience on the border relates a lot with the Boer War, especially in regards to the guerrilla warfare tactics, which was the main form of combat during these wars,” he continued.
The Raw War 123 Battles of the Boer War is completely neutral from the Boer and the British side and focuses on the military aspects of the battles. The book tells the story of the history of guerrilla warfare through the six phases of the Boer War, namely the Boer offensive, the first British offensive, the second British offensive, the Boers lose the conventional war, the Boers launch into guerrilla war after losing the conventional war and the British develop a counterstrategy to guerrilla war.
“The book also includes an analysis and lessons of the battles including the Battle of Spion Kop and the Battle of Paardeberg. Some chapters also cover topics of Winston Churchill who was captured by the Boers and escaped, as well as the Kruger Gold,” Guy added.
Guy concluded that war is ugly and cruel; the Boer War involved the burning of villages, getting ambushed and keeping a lookout from posts.
“The name shows reference to how both sides of the war were, raw.”
Bargain Books Key West will have a book promotion on Saturday, September 28 with author Guy Keeling on duty to sign his book.
The Raw War 123 Battles of the Boer War is available for purchase at any leading bookstore or available here.
