Pearse, Henry H.S.

The History of Lumsden’s Horse – A Complete Record of the Corps from Its Formation to Its Disbandment. With Many Portraits and Other Illustrations and a Map.

London, New York and Bombay, Longmans, Green, and Co., 1903. 19.5 cm x 25.5 cm. Frontispiece, XII, 506 pages. 79 illustrations. Fold-out map at rear showing ‘Part of South Africa showing the routes taken by Lumsden’s Horse.’ Hardcover [publisher’s original red buckram] with gilt lettering and design on spine and front board. Some staining to cover but overall in very good condition but with signs of external wear and fading. Binding still strong and firm. Interior bright and clean. Errata leaf inserted near front.

Includes, for example, the following: How the Corps was Raised and Equipped / Preparing for the Front – Departure from Calcutta / Nearing the Goal – Disembarkation at Cape Town and East London / By rail and Route March to Bloemfontein / Towards Pretoria – Lumsden’s Horse Scouting Ahead of the Army from Bloemfontein to the Vaal River / A March under Mahon of Mafeking to Rustenburg and Warm baths – In Pursuit of De Wit / Appendices – Roll of Lumsden’s Horse Including Transport – Honours and Promotions – Friends and Supporters of the Corps – Report of Transport Sergeant – Topical Song by a Trooper / Index etc.

A sympathetic account of the Indian Mounted Infantry Corp by Pearse, a war correspondent for the Daily News. Manifesting the global power and capacities of the British, the corps served against the Boers during 1900, when early Boer successes gave way against inexorable power of British forces brought to the theatre of war from all corners of the empire. The significance of the war which, in the author’s eyes, was a struggle for the “sentiment of British brotherhood,” was fought by those hearing the “call of patriotism,” and who “believed in the completeness of a federation the elements of which were bound together by no other ties than sentiment.” (p.2) It is therefore a good example of the ideology of British imperialism at the turn of the 20th century.

Lumsden’s Horse, also known as Colonel Lumsden’s Corps, was the name given to the Indian Mounted Infantry Corps, which was formed in Calcutta in 1899 by Lieutenant-Colonel Dugald McTavish Lumsden (1851–1915) of the Assam Valley Light Horse. The new corps was raised from volunteers from various existing Indian regiments, including the Assam Valley Light Horse. Colonel Lumsden contributed 50,000 rupees.
The Corps left Calcutta 250 strong in February 1900 to take part in the Second Boer War, under the command of Field Marshal Lord Roberts. The Corps took part in the march to Bloemfontein, the occupation of Johannesburg and Pretoria, the pursuit of de Wet, and the Barberton & De Kaap campaigns against the Boers. (Wikipedia)

• Keywords: Africa · Africa – Rare · Africa, British Southern · Africa, Southern · Africana Collection of Rare Books · Afrikaners · Boer War · Boers · British Army · British Author · British Colonial Administration · British Colonial History · British Dominions · British Empire · British Foreign Policy · British Imperial · Colonial History · Colonial History – Rare · Colonial Wars · Colonialism · Ephemera · India · Military History – Rare · Regimental History · South Africa · South African Veld · South African War · Travel · Travel Africa – Rare · Travel and Adventure · Travel Writing · Travelling Authors · Victorian Era · War · War Correspondents
• Language: English
• Inventory Number: 120202AB

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