A Lost Legionary in South Africa (Hardback)

‘Colonel’ George Hamilton-Browne was a British soldier of fortune and adventurer who served in the Ninth Cape Frontier War in 1878 before fighting in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879, and subsequently in the Bechuanaland Expedition of 1884–5 and the uSuthu Rebellion of 1888.

The centrepiece of the book is Hamilton-Browne’s vivid account of his part as Commandant of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Regiment, Natal Native Contingent during Lord Chelmsford first invasion of Zululand in January 1879. He took part in the attack on Sihayo’s homestead and in the operations around Isandlwana. He was part of the force that returned to the stricken British camp after the battle and relieved Rorke’s Drift the following day. After the Natal Native Contingent was disbanded, he spent the next month in garrison at Rorke’s Drift, guarding the border, before being transferred to the Cape to help raise a unit of mounted rifles.

This expanded new edition of the classic work offers readers a greater insight into the events Hamilton-Browne describes thanks to an introduction and commentary throughout by John Laband and a foreword by Adrian Greaves, both leading Anglo-Zulu War experts. A fascinating and distinctive memoir of the Anglo-Zulu War and the other conflicts described in the book, A Lost Legionary in South Africa is essential reading for anyone interested in the Anglo-Zulu War in particular.

‘Colonel’ – he never held a rank higher than major – George Hamilton-Browne (1851 –1916) was a soldier of fortune of Irish descent who emigrated to New Zealand in 1872 and then to the Cape Colony in 1878. In southern Africa he commanded colonial and local troops in many campaigns: the Ninth Cape Frontier War (1878); the Anglo-Zulu War (1879); the Bechuanaland Expedition (1884 –5); the uSuthu Rebellion (1888); the First Matabele War (1893); the Second Matabele War (1896); and Mashonaland (1896–7). He returned to England in 1902 where he wrote three popularly received books of colonial adventuring, including this one. He died in Jamaica in 1916.Colonel George Hamilton-Browne (1844-1916) was a British soldier and adventurer of Irish descent who took part in Britain's march into Zululand under Lord Chelmsford and fought in the Anglo-Zulu War. As an officer of the Natal Native Contingent (a Major in the 1st Battalion/3rd Regiment), he took part in the action at Sihayo's Kraal on 12 January 1879 and witnessed the final moments of the the battle of Isandlhwana ten days later on 22 January 1879. He died in Jamaica in 1916.