Through Shot and Flame

Through Shot and Flame - The Adventures and Experiences of J. D. Kestell Chaplain to President Steyn and General Christian De Wet

TO MY WIFE WHO WAS ONE OF THE THOUSANDS WHO ENDURED IN THE GREAT STRUGGLE FOR FREEDOM, I DEDICATE THIS BOOK AND WITH HER I COMMEMORATE HERE THE FIDELITY AND PATRIOTISM OF HIM WHO WAS MY COMRADE IN THE FIELD, AND WHO DIED IN THE SPRINGTIDE OF HIS LIFE, A PRISONER OF WAR, AT LADYSMITH, NATAL Our Son, CHARLES KESTELL I purpose to chronicle in the following pages my experiences of the war between the Boers and the English. It is my object to record what I went through on commando, and to give the reader an idea, according to my own observation, of the struggles and sufferings of a small nation against the overwhelming odds of an Empirenay, against the world itself. Think of it. Not only did England have 240,000 men in the field against 45,000 of the two South African Republics; not only did she have more guns than the two little States, much more ammunition, a much greater amount of supplies, a great many more horses, much more moneybut she had the world also on her side. The world looked on the strife without putting forth a hand to help the weak against the strong: nay, it helped the strong. The United States of North America sold horses and wheat (p. 4) and meat to the mighty Empire, that was carrying on a war of extermination against the two small States in South Africa; the Republics of South America gave mules; Austria and Russia supplied horses. I do not forget, when I say this, the large sympathy which the world showed us. I should be guilty of the most heinous ingratitude if I did not acknowledge that the world, and especially Holland, went out of its way in liberally supplying clothing and large sums of money to our women and children in the concentration camps, and to the prisoners of war on the islands. But England had the advantage of a market almost wherever she wished to buy; and she closed up every avenue through which we might have been aided. And so the little nation stood alone, while its great adversary was assisted from the four corners of the earth. ......Buy Now (To Read More)

Product details

Ebook Number: 37083
Author: Kestell, J. D. (John Daniel)
Release Date: Aug 14, 2011
Format: eBook
Language: English