On October 11th,1899 long-simmering tensions between Britain and the Boer Republics - the Orange Free State and the Transvaal Republic - finally erupted into the conflict that would become known as the Second Boer War. Two days after the first shots were fired, a young writer by the name of Winston Churchill set out for South Africato cover the conflict for the Morning Post. The Boer War brings together the two collections of dispatches that Churchill published on the conflict. London to Ladysmith recounts the future Prime Minister's arrival in South Africaand his subsequent capture by and dramatic escape from the Boers, the adventure that first brought the name Winston Churchill to public attention. Ian Hamilton's march collects Churchill's later dispatches as he marched alongside a column of the main British army from Bloemfontein to Pretoria. Published together, these books are a vivid eye-witness account of a landmark period in British Imperial history and an insightful chronicle of a formative experience by Britain's greatest war-time leader.

Includes both London to Ladysmith and Ian Hamilton's March. First published : London : Longmans, Green and Co., 1900 as two volumes : London to Ladysmith and Ian Hamilton's March ; reissued London : Pimlico, 2001.

London to Ladysmith via Pretoria : --Steaming south -- The state of the game -- Along the southern frontier -- In Natal -- A cruise in the armoured train -- Distant guns -- The fate of the armoured train -- Prisoners of war -- Through the Dutch camps -- In Afrikander bonds -- I escape from the Boers -- Back to the British lines -- Christmas and New Year -- A military demonstration and some good news -- The dash for Potgieter's Ferry -- Trichardt's drift and the affair of Acton Homes -- The battle of Spion Kop -- Through the five days' action -- A fresh effort and an army chaplain -- The combat of Vaal Krantz -- Hussar Hill -- The engagement of Monte Cristo -- The passage of the Tugela -- The battle of Pieters : the third day -- Upon Majuba Day -- The relief of Ladysmith -- After the siege. Ian Hamilton's March : -- A roving commission -- Exit General Gatacre -- At half-way house -- Two days with Brabazon -- Two days with Brabazon - continued -- The Dewetsdorp episode -- Ian Hamilton's march -- Ian Hamilton -- The action of Houtnek -- The Army of the right flank -- Lindley -- Concerning a Boer convoy -- Action of Johannesburg -- The capture of Pretoria -- "Held by the enemy" -- Action of Diamond Hill -- Appendix : -- Composition of Lieut.-General Ian Hamilton's force.