Rayne Kruger (1922–2002)

1376 Good-Bye Dolly Gray: The Story of the Boer War, by Rayne Kruger (read 29 Dec 1975) This is not an overly scholarly book, is short on footnotes, and bears evidence of superficiality. But I found it utterly absorbing and extremely well worth reading. It is the story of the Boer War, a subject of which I was surprised I know so little. I found parallels to Vietnam striking: except the Boers were more prone to defeatism than were the Viet Cong. There were the equivalent of Viet Nam doves in England, tho they had not nearly the popular support our doves had. Lloyd George was nearly killed by a mob in Birmingham, home of Joseph Chamberlain, Colonial Secretary and a leading hawk. The Boers finally gave up on May 31, 1902. A tremendously moving book, and how memorable must have been those months on the veld--for all who glory in the name of Englishmen. Gone now is the glory of Empire, but wondrous were its elements to behold.

"Good bye Dolly I must leave you
Though it breaks my heart to go,
Something tells me I am needed,
At the front to fight the foe.

See, the soldier boys are marching,
And I can no longer stay--
Hark, I hear the bugle calling,
Good-bye Dolly Gray."

The book so impressed me that it ended up No. 5 on my list of Best Books Read in 1975.… (more)