Osprey Warrior Series

British Infantry in South Africa 1877 – 1881
By Ian Castle

I don't know if you have ever read one of these warrior series from Osprey publishing, but I for one do find them quite useful.

They cover the history a little more deeply than the Man at Arms series and some like this one do have the odd eyewitness account in them.Apart from the prints, which I shall mention later, the book does offer a variety of contemporary prints, a few photographs and a map, all of which coincide with text and aid you in your minds eye picture, of what it might have been like.

Ian Castle, (the Author of the book), is quite an authority on the subject, and he has written articles discussing the period. Ian also has the back up of the archaeological evidence form his project on the Zulu war battlefields, he has written other titles, five of them being Ospreys.

The book to me is not what I’d call “heavy” reading, and does have a wealth of information within the covers, following the book is quite easy as it is well set out and references easy to find.

The prints, these are a little different to the normal ones that you see in the men at arms series of books, and are what I would call art prints, (you know what I mean? Stuff that you see hanging in galleries, the good stuff that has been what I call proper painted and doesn't look like a finger painting by a three year old, that type). All are beautifully painted and are very well detailed.

I found myself looking at one in particular, entitled “Training and Drill”, it concerns a line of soldiers practicing bayonet drill, the sergeant is holding one soldiers bayonet out to him as the soldier gets on with the drill minus his bayonet. 

I imagined the sergeant shouting at the soldier, “You might find this a little more helpful to kill somebody if you attach it properly!”. 

Quite humorous I thought, although the others are of what I’d call a more serious nature but the bit of humour did help keep the book above the norm.

Overall I did find the book a good read and very informative, and if the need arises I will use it as a good point of reference.

Steve Crofts

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