Young, F B: poet, writer, medic.

Marching on Tanga (with General Smuts in East Africa) - 1916

Enthralling writing, poetic and descriptive. With odd punctuation and Cape Town spelt as one word! Spoilt by an old-fashioned reverence to "death by war" and a warped view of Africa. However, Young's love of nature, especially animals, makes this novel worthwhile. Sickness is described compassionately, especially for war beasts of burden, oxen, mules and horses. General Smuts rides a mule called "Simba", a magnificent animal, to review the troops. Who would have thought? A different era, when German guns were Maxims and a dangerous enemy was the mosquito. '