Silence of the Guns: The History of the Long Toms of the Anglo-Boer War

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Review "In Britain and the U.S., accounts of the Anglo-Boer Wars are largely written from the “Anglo” side, but in South Africa, there is a plentiful literature from the “Boer” perspective. In Silence of the Guns we get a look at one of the better examples of this literature. While focused on the “adventures” of the four 155mm “Long Toms” of the South African Artillery, the book actually gives a fairly good look at the 1899–1902 war from the Boer perspective. This includes military policy and organization (yes, there was such a thing), planning and logistics, and, of course, operations, from the initial Boer offensives and sieges at Mafeking, Ladysmith, and other places, to the stunning victories of “Black Week”, through the British counter-offensive, and on into the guerrilla campaign that followed. Along the way Changuion touches upon military improvisations and innovations, the impact of the war on civilians, battlefield archaeology, and much else. Silence of the Guns will be useful reading for those interested in late nineteenth century military innovation, colonial warfare, and the South African War."The NYMAS Review Read more About the Author LOUIS CHANGUION is a retired history professor and, according to his peers, probably the most knowledgeable person about the history of Limpopo, Polokwane and the surrounding areas of Haenertsburg, Magoebaskloof, Tzaneen, Munnik, Mooketsi and Duiwelskloof (Modjadjiskloof). Changuion is also an authority on the history of the Long Tom artillery guns used by the Boers against the British in the Anglo Boer War of 1899 – 1902. He wrote a number of books on the Anglo Boer War and personalities of that war. Read more