Arthur Conan Doyle,
The Great Boer War
London, Smith, Elder & Co., 1902

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries was the model for his own character "Dr. Watson." He dedicated his medical skills to the army during the South African (Boer) War.  He wrote the first edition of "The Great Boer War" in 1900, later updating it to cover the war to its end in 1902.  In the Preface to the First Edition, he wrote: "This book was begun in England and continued on board a steamer, but the greater part was written in a hospital tent in the intervals during the epidemic at Bloemfontein." 

Preface to the Final Edition

During the course of the war some sixteen Editions of this work have appeared, each of which was, I hope, a little more full and accurate than that which preceded it. I may fairly claim, however, that the absolute mistakes made have been few in number, and that I have never had occasion to reverse, and seldom to modify, the judgments which I have formed. In this final edition the early text has been carefully revised and all fresh available knowledge has been added within the limits of a single volume narrative. of the various episodes in the latter half of the war it is impossible to say that the material is available for a complete and final chronicle. By the aid, however, of the official dispatches, of the newspapers, and of many private letters, I have done my best to give an intelligible and accurate account of the matter. The treatment may occasionally seem too brief but some proportion must be observed between the battles of 1899-1900 and the skirmishes of 1901-1902.

My private informants are so numerous that it would be hardly possible, even if it were desirable, that I should quote their name~. of the correspondents upon whose work I have drawn for my materials, I would acknowledge my obligations to Messrs. Burleigh, Nevinson, Battersby, Stuart, Amery, Atkins, Baillie, Kinneir, Churchill, James, Ralph, Barnes, Maxwell, Pearce, Hamilton, and others. Especially I would mention the gentleman who represented the `Standard' in the last year of the war, whose accounts of Vlakfontein, Von Donop's Convoy, and Tweebosch were the only reliable ones which reached the public.

A. Conan Doyle
Undershaw, Hindhead: September 1902.

Preface to the First Edition

IT is possible that a fuller knowledge may give an entirely different meaning to some of the events of the Boer war. This account is compiled with as much accuracy as is attainable at this date, and with as much detail as a single volume will permit. The occasional judgments and criticisms on which I have ventured may be founded upon error, but at least they are made without either fear or favour. In frequent conversations with Boers I have endeavoured to get their views upon both political and military questions.

The book was begun in England and continued on board a steamer, but the greater part was written in a hospital tent in the intervals of duty during the epidemic at Bloemfontein. often the only documents which I had to consult were the convalescent officers and men who were under our care. Under these circumstances some errors may have crept in, but on the other hand I have had the inestimable advantage of visiting the scene of this great drama, of meeting many of the chief actors in it, and of seeing with my own eyes something of the actual operations.

There are many who have helped me in my task, but I especially acknowledge the co-operation of Mr. Blasson, of the Langman Hospital, now dead in the service of his country, and of Mr. Charles Terry, of Haslemere, who collected and arranged my material.

A. CONAN DOYLE.
Undershaw, Hindhead: September 1900.

Table of Contents

	Preface To The Final Edition
	Preface To The First Edition
	Chapter I: The Boer Nations
	Chapter II: The Cause of Quarrel
	Chapter III: The Negotiations
	Chapter IV: The Eve of War
	Chapter V: Talana Hill
	Chapter VI: Elandslaagte And Rietfontein
	Chapter VII: Battle of Ladysmith
	Chapter VIII: Lord Methuen's Advance
	Chapter IX: Battle of Magersfontein
	Chapter X: Battle of Stormberg
	Chapter XI: Battle of Colenso
	Chapter XII: The Dark Hour
	Chapter XIII: The Siege of Ladysmith
	Chapter XIV: The Colesberg Operations
	Chapter XV: Spion Kop
	Chapter XVI: Vaalkranz
	Chapter XVII: Buller's Final Advance
	Chapter XVIII: The Siege And Relief of Kimberley
	Chapter XIX: Paardeberg
	Chapter XX: Roberts' Advance on Bloemfontein
	Chapter XXI: Strategic Effects of Lord Roberts' March
	Chapter XXII: The Halt At Bloemfontein
	Chapter XXIII: The Clearing of The South-East
	Chapter XXIV: The Siege of Mafeking
	Chapter XXV: The March On Pretoria
	Chapter XXVI: Diamond Hill—Rundle's Operations
	Chapter XXVII: The Lines of Communication
	Chapter XXVIII: The Halt At Pretoria
	Chapter XXIX: The Advance to Komatipoort
	Chapter XXX: The Campaign of De Wet
	Chapter XXXI: The Guerilla Warfare in the Transvaal: Nooitgedacht
	Chapter XXXII: The Second Invasion of Cape Colony.
	Chapter XXXIII: The Northern Operations From January to April 1901
	Chapter XXXIV: The Winter Campaign From April to September 1901
	Chapter XXXV: The Guerilla Operations In Cape Colony
	Chapter XXXVI: The Spring Campaign From September to December 1901
	Chapter XXXVII: The Campaign of January to April 1902
	Chapter XXXVIII: De la Rey's Campaign of 1902
	Chapter XXXIX: The End
	Map Index
	Map: Northern Natal (231k)
	Map: Orange River Colony, Southern Part (328k)
	Map: Orange River Colony, Northern Part (287k)
	Map: Southern Transvaal (345k)

		Arthur Conan Doyle, The Great Boer War. Publisher's Promotional Page
		Arthur Conan Doyle, The Great Boer War. Preface and Table of Contents