Spencer Jones

A very good analysis of how the Boer War propelled the 19th Century British colonial army into the 20th Century. The author brings out the complexities of the subject: how lessons were learned in the immediate aftermath of the war, but that some concepts were challenged later on, notably because of experience in the Russo-Japanese war. Finally, he analyses the influence of tactical thinking on the way the 1914 campaign was fought. He avoids easy conclusions and generalisations.
If there is one weakness, it is the ponderous academic structure of the book. The author first announces the subject that will be treated, then discusses it, and finally repeats the main conclusions. For every chapter.… (meer)