KAROO NEWS - A book launch held at Frontiers Restaurant last Friday, 28 June, was well attended by Graaff-Reineters who remain fascinated by the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902), as the town was impacted by the war and divisions that were caused amongst the farmers, townsfolk and their families in the district.
Chris Roux is a semi-retired, third-generation farmer from the farm Ramah which is on the border of the Free State and the Northern Cape Province.
In fact, the border between the Free State and the Cape Province runs right through the middle of the house!
Roux developed a passionate interest in history after reading Commando by Deneys Reitz, and as a child he listened to his grandfather and friends talking about military matters.
He became a passionate amateur historian with intimate family connections to the French Huguenots, the origins of Stellenbosch, the Kimberly Diamond fields, the Anglo-Boer War and both World War I and II. His love of South African history inspired him to write: The Aberdeen Route of the Smuts Commando. Gen Smuts vs Col Scobell.
He believes that it is of great importance to document untold stories about the Anglo-Boer War. Owing to the passing of time young South Africans are becoming less and less interested in the subject.
The causes of the war and the emotions that were stirred by this war have become a distant memory. He followed the route taken by the invading Smuts Commando and their British pursuers and in a small way attempted to recreate the story of the men who undertook this mission under extremely trying circumstances.
Author Chris Roux at his book launch.
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