“This is a remarkable biography reflecting many years of painstaking and detailed worldwide research by Professor John Laband…. This biography is complex and thorough but remarkably easy reading. It fascinatingly flows through detail and describes wars and battles in an enthralling style; it is a comprehensive undertaking but east to read. I found it hard to put down.”

Adrian Greaves, Victorian Military Society Journal

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

A tragic story of an individual who through bad luck/errors led to at the time of the event one of the worst losses of British troops. He overcame this tragedy to go on and succeed in his campaign against the Zulu tribes in Africa. The story is well told and points out some of the biggest issues with the British forces - achieving rank via a monetary payment rather than merit. The author leaves it up to the reader to determine if the harsh criticism he was forced to endure the remainder of his life was warranted or not. I found this book to be an excellent read, informative and worthwhile.

NetGalley, Ron Baumer

This book looks beyond the ill-fated events of Isandlwana to truly explore the depths of who Lord Chelmsford actually was. History has often overlooked his successful career in favor of highlighting the massive blunder that would forever be associated with him. I always enjoy books that attempt to explore the whole picture of a person, place, or event.

NetGalley, Spencer Wright