Charge! A Story of Briton and Boer

In Short

This novel follows Val Moray, a young man farming in South Africa, whose quiet life is shattered by the outbreak of the Second Boer War. When a local agitator named Moriarty tries to force him into the fray, Val flees, eventually joining a British Light Horse unit. Through a series of skirmishes, captures, and daring escapes, Val and his friend Denham navigate the chaos of the conflict. The book serves as an adventure tale of its era, highlighting the tactical maneuvers and physical hardships faced by soldiers on the South African frontier.

The Story

The narrative opens on a peaceful farm where Val Moray lives with his father, his brother Bob, and their steadfast worker, Joeboy. This tranquility is destroyed by the arrival of Moriarty, an Irish agitator who attempts to conscript the local farmers into a rebellion against the British. Val refuses to join, and after a brief, tense confrontation, he manages to escape into the wild. Guided by his knowledge of the land and the loyal assistance of Joeboy, Val avoids his pursuers and eventually makes contact with a British Light Horse unit.

Once embedded with the British forces, Val reunites with his friend Denham. The story shifts focus to the military realities of the campaign, moving through a succession of skirmishes, scouting missions, and defensive stands at strategic mountain passes. As the conflict intensifies, the characters face starvation, freezing nights, and the constant threat of capture. In one pivotal sequence, the group must secure food and ammunition to sustain their position, leading to a dangerous raid on a Boer supply train.

The arc of the story is defined by the shifting fortunes of the soldiers. Val and Denham are eventually captured and held in a precarious state, facing the threat of summary execution by their captors. Their imprisonment is marked by psychological tension as they wait for their fate, sustained only by a grim determination to maintain their dignity. Through a combination of daring, clever maneuvering, and the assistance of their allies, they are able to facilitate their own liberation.

As the war reaches its conclusion, the surviving characters return to the farm. The final act explores the emotional toll of their experiences. While they have proven their courage and loyalty, the violence they have witnessed leaves an indelible mark on their outlook. In a poignant closing scene, the trio takes their horses out onto the veldt for a ride. Though they jokingly contemplate returning to the front if duty calls, the subtext reveals a profound shift; the thrill of the "charge" is now tempered by the realization that they have been part of a brutal and destructive machine.

How It Unfolds

The call to arms Val and his brother Bob are startled by the approach of armed men near their home. When Moriarty demands that Val join his commando, the boy realizes he must flee to protect his autonomy and avoid participating in a fight he does not believe in.

Into the wild Val navigates the treacherous, stony terrain with his horse, Sandho, relying on his wits to evade the Boer patrols. He eventually encounters a British Light Horse troop, marking his transition from a civilian farmer to a participant in the broader military conflict.

Tactical maneuvering The group engages in a series of defensive actions, using the mountainous landscape to mask their movements and confuse the enemy. Val and Denham find their bond tested by the stress of limited supplies and the constant threat of sniper fire from the surrounding hills.

The captive's dilemma After being captured, Val and Denham are held in a state of suspense, forced to interact with their captors while awaiting a final judgment. They must decide whether to attempt a desperate escape or remain in their position, ultimately relying on their internal fortitude to endure the uncertainty.

Return to the farm The war concludes, and the survivors attempt to reconcile their experiences with their former lives. Although they return to the rhythms of farm work, the memory of the conflict lingers in their interactions, particularly when they revisit the phantom excitement of a cavalry charge.

The People

Val Moray is the central consciousness of the story, a young man who values his independence and his home. His journey is one of maturation; he begins as a boy forced to defend his freedom and evolves into a seasoned soldier who grapples with the morality of combat. His loyalty to his companions, particularly Joeboy, remains his defining trait.

Denham serves as Val’s foil and closest comrade. A professional soldier at heart, he is brash, optimistic, and deeply committed to the code of the British military. His journey is defined by his transition from a man who seeks the glory of battle to one who fully understands the grim, physical cost of war.

Joeboy, the Kaffir worker, is a co-hero whose importance cannot be overstated. He is the pragmatic anchor of the group, possessing a deep connection to the land and a quiet, unflinching bravery. He does not seek the spotlight, but his skills as a scout and his unwavering commitment to "Boss Val" repeatedly save the main characters from disaster.

Moriarty serves as the primary antagonist. Driven by a restless, combative spirit and a desire to stir up conflict, he represents the volatility of the period. Unlike the other characters, his growth is stunted; he remains defined by his arrogance and his single-minded obsession with his own political agenda, even when he finds himself a prisoner of war.

In Its Own Voice

"But I shan't have to fight," I said to myself. "They talk about freedom, and drag me away as a slave; but I too mean to be free."

Val reflects on his defiance after being confronted by men who claim to be fighting for liberty while coercing others into their ranks.

"Joeboy go now?"

The loyal worker asks for orders before setting off into the darkness to scout the enemy positions, demonstrating his essential role in the group’s survival.

"I don't want to see him now," Denham said. "But answer my question, Val. Will you volunteer again if a bad time comes!"

Reflecting on their past, the friends debate their future commitment to the fight, highlighting the conflict between their duty and their desire for peace.

What It's Really About

The central theme is the loss of innocence in the face of political and military upheaval. The story interrogates the nature of loyalty, particularly the bonds formed between individuals across different racial and social lines, such as the relationship between Val and Joeboy. There is a persistent argument regarding the "pointlessness" of the conflict, as the characters move from the excitement of the hunt to the grim realization that their actions have resulted in senseless death. The book questions whether "freedom" is a universal principle or merely a slogan used by agitators to justify violence, ultimately suggesting that true independence is often the first casualty of war.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy historical adventure fiction with a focus on tactical detail and the "boy's own" style of writing will find much to admire here. The book captures a specific, tense moment in British imperial history, providing an honest look at the period's attitudes toward the veldt and the Boer population. The prose is straightforward and urgent, effectively conveying the physical sensations of life in the field—the biting cold, the hunger, and the exhaustion of long marches.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the period-specific language and the paternalistic racial attitudes that were common in the literature of the early 20th century. The depiction of Joeboy, while clearly intended to be positive and heroic, reflects the ingrained biases of the author’s time. Furthermore, the pacing can feel uneven; the transition from intimate, individual survival stories to large-scale military maneuvers sometimes reflects the author’s attempt to fit a sprawling war into a narrow narrative scope. For those interested in the literature of the Second Boer War, it is a significant artifact that provides a window into how the conflict was framed for contemporary audiences. It remains a compelling, if occasionally difficult, study of how ordinary people attempt to maintain their humanity amidst the "pointless" machinery of war.