James Willcocks (1857–1926)

This is the second book written by Willcocks that I have reviewed, and I found it as compelling as the first (The Romance of Soldiering and Sport.) This book, like the other, covers Willcocks rise from a Subaltern to the commander of the Ashanti Campaign of 1900, in which he led the successful "Relief of Kumassi." This book, while written prior to his later book mentioned above, does touch on his participation in other campaigns (Burma, North West Frontier, Chin-Lushai, and the Soudan), but the primary focus is his appointment to lead the campaign in West Africa in 1900. I actually did learn something new: I didn't realize the tensions that existed between France and England were so strong, particularly in the race to seize colonial possessions on the African continent. Willcocks' anecdotes about how his soldiers and the French came very close to exchanging blows was extremely interesting.
However, the primary focus of the book is how Willcocks organized and equipped a force to proceed from the Gold Coast, through harrowing conditions in the jungles of Ghana and Nigeria, to relieve the besieged garrison at Kumassi. Unfortunately (or fortunately for the besieged), the besieged garrison managed to break out of siege prior to Willcocks arrival. Yet the book details how difficult the conditions were to the fielded force that still managed its way through harsh conditions and many battles with a fairly organized opposition all along the way.
Willcocks writing style is very easy to follow and is full of great anecdotes and observations. If you plan on reading any of his books, read this one first!… (lisätietoja)

This memoir stands in a league of its own, for a number of different reasons. First, the breadth and depth of Willcocks' experiences are almost something out of a movie. Willcocks was present at a particular time and place where he was witness and an active participant in some of the major colonial actions carried out within the British Empire. As a newly minted officer, he was shipped off to India, where he shortly saw service in Assam and then a short stint in the Sudan. The list of his exploits following this is lengthy: The Burma Campaign (1886), Munipore/Chin-Lushai expeditions (1886-1890); NorthWest Frontier Expedition (1891-1897); Nigerian Expedition (1898); Ashanti Expedtion and the Relief of Kumassi (1900); Service in the Great War, in lead of the Indian Corps; then secunded to Bermuda.
This list is fascinating by itself, but the stories that accompany them are well told. The personal anecdotes are well-placed, and the attention to the supporting casts is noteworthy. Of note, many of the officers mentioned throughout would go on to play greater roles in the Great War and beyond, particularly in the Mesopotamian Campaign.
The length of the book could easily be many times longer, and much of what is told here in this book is captured in his book on the Great War in much greater depth. THis book could have easily been rated higher but unfortunately there is no map, which is desperately called for as he moves from campaign to campaign across the globe.
Highly recommended.… (lisätietoja)