Featured battle : Spion Kop

Part of The 2nd Boer War (or Three Years War)

Date : 23 January 1900 - 24 January 1900

A badly managed and bloody battle over the hill of Spion Kop when Buller made another attempt to cross the Tugela. The British forces under Woodgate stormed the slopes and reached a false summit but failed the take the hill fully, failed to dig in and were cut down in the cross-fire from neighbouring hills and counter-attacking Boers. Losses on both sides caused both to believe they were losing and retire in the gathering darkness on the 24th. Only the Boers decided to re-attempt the hill, to find it un-occupied, other than by the dead. The British had lost heavily, and gained nothing.

Elizabeth's Sea Dogs and their War against Spain

Brian Best
In Brian Best’s book we have all that the title promises. Taking only 185 pages to cover such a rich history it is necessarily a potted account of all the major figures and events. That said we have a really good cover to cover read which doesn’t leave one feeling short changed although it does arouse interest enough to want to explore particular aspects further. Every reader will get something from this book which provokes interest; for me it was the chapter on Military Elizabethans, the men who fought on land and sea.
The text is complemented with some appropriate illustrations and a brief bibliography.
We commend this book as one to settle down with and enjoy.

Frontline Books, 2021