In 1899, Deneys Reitz, then aged seventeen, enlisted in the Boer army to fight the British. He had learnt to ride, shoot and swim almost as soon as he could walk. When he fought as a member several Boer commandos, he made full use of these skills and the endurance he acquired during the war.
He was involved in major actions, such as the Battle of Spion Kop, and he interacted with prominent political and military figures of the time, such as President Paul Kruger, Boer generals Piet Joubert, Louis Botha, Koos de la Rey, Christiaan Beyers, Jan Smuts and British commander Lord Kitchener.
Reitz forged a strong personal and political friendship with Smuts after the war, one built one reciprocal respect.
Commando is more than a historical document. With prose that captures both the brutality and the beauty of war, Reitz weaves a narrative that resonates with authenticity, transcending time.
As relevant today as when it was first penned, Commando has become a South African classic and stands as a testament to the indomitable human spirit in the face of adversity.
