With Steyn and De Wet

In Short

This memoir records the experiences of a young telegraphist serving with the Boer commandos during the South African War of 1899–1902. Through a series of vignettes ranging from the initial optimism of the conflict to the desperate, exhausting guerilla warfare of its final stages, the book provides a vivid, firsthand look at military life, the logistical ingenuity required to survive in the veld, and the deep, often tragic, convictions of the Afrikaner people. It has endured as an essential piece of history, preserving the internal spirit and the external struggle of a nation forced into an unequal battle.

The Story

The narrative begins with a reflective mood, set in a peaceful Portuguese convent where the author finds himself an exile, looking back at the "devouring emotions" of the war. He quickly transports the reader to the outbreak of hostilities on October 11, 1899. The mood is initially one of blithe confidence; the Boers, convinced of the righteousness of their cause, take up their rifles with a mix of patriotic fervor and religious faith. The author details the early engagements around Ladysmith, where he observes the bravery of young artillery cadets and the technical challenges of modern warfare, such as the constant threat of British shells and the necessity of scavenging for basic sustenance.

As the conflict matures, the narrative shifts from set-piece battles to the arduous, mobile life of the Boer commandos. The author’s role as a telegraphist keeps him at the center of the action, often wire-tapping British communications to gain critical tactical intelligence. He describes the persistent, soul-killing strain of constant movement, the loss of horses, and the suffering of the civilian population as farms are burned and families are displaced. The story follows the author as he serves under various leaders, including the indomitable Christiaan De Wet, highlighting the discipline and, at times, the harsh internal conflicts within the Boer ranks.

The arc of the narrative moves toward the inevitable decline of the Boer resistance. The author chronicles the growing exhaustion of the men and the physical collapse of their mounts, which forces them into a state of "numbed indifference." Despite individual acts of defiance and the continued success of guerilla tactics, the weight of the British military machine becomes impossible to ignore. The book moves through the final, desperate retreats and the political fracturing of the leadership. The narrative concludes with the author and his companions crossing the frontier into Portuguese territory, forced into an impotent exile. He looks back at his comrades still fighting in the field, framing their continued struggle as a tragic, heroic duty that he can no longer share, ending the memoir on a note of deep, unresolved sorrow for the fate of his country.

How It Unfolds

The call to arms The narrative opens with the declaration of war, capturing the sudden shift from peaceful domestic life to an atmosphere of grim resolve. The author paints a portrait of a nation that views the struggle as an existential necessity, where even the youth are desperate to join their fathers on commando.

Early skirmishes and ingenuity The author provides a ground-level view of the siege of Ladysmith, documenting the constant danger of lyddite shells and the makeshift efforts to maintain communication lines. He shares anecdotes of both professional bravery and the common hardships of hunger and lack of supplies.

The shift to mobile warfare As the front lines become more fluid, the focus turns to the relentless trekking across the veld. The author highlights the tactical importance of telegraphy and the daring, often perilous, missions undertaken to keep the Boer leadership connected.

The exhaustion of the commando The final stages of the book emphasize the physical and emotional toll of the war, as the Boers are chased across the landscape. The narrative dwells on the suffering of both the men and their animals, building toward the inevitable conclusion of retreat and exile.

The People

The author, F. F. Pienaar, serves as the observant, practical narrator. A telegraphist by trade, he is a man of action who uses his technical skills to sustain the resistance, though he is never fully detached from the emotional weight of the loss he witnesses.

General Christiaan De Wet emerges as a central, formidable figure. He is a commander who demands total obedience and is feared as much as he is respected. He stands as the embodiment of the "never say die" spirit, driving his men to the edge of human capacity to continue the fight.

The "young lads" of the artillery cadets represent the innocence lost to the war. These teenagers, often just fifteen or sixteen, face the overwhelming power of British naval guns with a tragic, laughing courage, showing how deeply the conflict reached into the heart of every family.

The various farmers and scouts the author encounters throughout his journey represent the collective will of the people. They are often impoverished, their homes burned and their families sick, yet they remain committed to the idea of a "birthright of freedom" for their children. They are neither professionals nor career soldiers, but civilians who have been stripped to the bone, their lives defined by a stubborn refusal to submit to a "foreign yoke."

In Its Own Voice

"The heart but so lately harrowed by the devouring emotions of anger, hate, and the lust of blood, now soothed by the sympathy of the kindly Portuguese, is lulled into harmony with the surrounding scenes of peace and beauty."

The author contrasts his current, fragile peace in exile with the violent, consuming memories of his time on the front.

"Well the burghers knew the overwhelming strength of the foe, but they went blithely forth to meet their fate, strong in a sincere confidence in Providence."

This passage reflects on the initial, almost naive, sense of divine protection that defined the early days of the conflict for the Boer citizens.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book is an exploration of the meaning of sacrifice and the nature of liberty. It asks what happens to a society when its entire existence is placed at stake against a much larger power. The author is less interested in grand military strategy than in the moral and psychological toll of a war that is fought for "posterity." It grapples with the question of whether a cause can remain just when the physical costs—the loss of homes, the destruction of the land, and the starvation of the people—become absolute. It is a meditation on the persistence of national identity in the face of annihilation.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in military history or the specific, often overlooked experience of the Boer War will find this book deeply rewarding. It reads like a long, dusty ride across the veld; the prose is direct, observational, and surprisingly modern in its focus on the "small" details of war—the lack of cigarettes, the struggle to find food, and the exhaustion of a tired horse.

The book does not shy away from the brutal reality of the conflict. A modern reader should be prepared for the author’s period-specific attitudes, particularly regarding the indigenous population and the colonial tensions of the era. The pacing can be uneven, as the author focuses on the immediate, sometimes disjointed nature of his daily life, but this lack of polish only adds to the sense of authenticity. It is not a sanitized history, but a raw, honest account of what it felt like to be on the losing side of a war that defined a nation. What stays with you long after the final page is the author’s persistent, almost painful, love for the land and the memory of the "free veld air," a longing that transforms his military memoir into a poignant elegy for a world that ceased to exist.