Nicki von der Heyde

Mention South Africa and Siege in the same sentence and most people will immediately think of the three famous sieges of the Anglo-Boer War – namely, Ladysmith, Kimberley and Mafeking – but battlefield guide Nicki von der Hyde reminds us there is far more to local siege history.

In 1842 Dick King rode from Port Natal to Grahamstown to bring news of the Voortrekker siege of Durban: Grahamstown, a British military stronghold, was soon embroiled in the Frontier Wars between the Xhosa and the British settlers, during which the forts of Peddie, Cox, and Armstrong were besieged.

There is more to the book than places and dates however: maps, photographs, pictures and sidebars make the sieges come alive. Historical fact boxes share the page with funny stories and physical field guides. A wonderful read, even for the armchair explorer.… (more)