South African Gun Magazine - "Man Magnum", Vol. 34, No. 8, September 2009 edition.
Carvings from the Veldt – Part Two
By Dave C George

Readers may remember Malcolm Cobb’s review of Dave George’s first book, Carvings from the Veldt in our September 2005 issue. Dave George is a South African who emigrated to Australia during the 1970s, where he produced that interesting work. The book was devoted to surviving examples of rifles and carbines from the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 whose users or owners had carved their names, initials, regiments’ names, coats of arms of the OFS or Transvaal, and any other names, figures, portraits or patterns in the wooden stocks.

That publication drew so many enquiries from interested persons, museums, collectors’ associations and other groups all over the world, that Dave decided to follow it up with a second book on the same subject. Please note that this second book is not simply an updated version of the first one – Part Two is a completely new work.
Being mainly interested in rifles as tools, I thought that Boer War stock carvings was a somewhat odd subject for a book, especially since many of the carvings were crude, amateurish affairs. But then it occurred to me how many millions of ex-army or ‘war surplus’ rifles exist which offer absolutely no clue as to their battle history.

Serial numbers are of little or no historical use, for few armies kept records of the issue of rifles – and fewer still have kept the records for a century. A great many of these stock carvings are very useful in identifying the units and commandos from which they came, and the battles in which they were used, and may even identify the soldier who used the weapon. Such carvings can be of enormous importance and sentimental value to the soldiers’ descendants, not to mention anyone else with an interest in military history.

This is an impressive book, and the first thing that strikes you is the enormous amount of research and sheer labour that has gone into its production. Bear in mind that the book covers rifles and artifacts from both sides of the war – Boer and British, and contains contributions from all over the world. British military law forbad Imperial soldiers to deface their service rifles in any way, so the British examples were mostly those of colonial South African, Australian and New Zealand owners, or British regulars who may have bought their service rifles after the war and then done the carvings. The Boer rifles, of course, include many captured British .303s, in fact, if Boer War photos are anything to go by, there may have been almost as many Boers carrying .303s by the end of the war as there were 7mm Mausers.

The logistics involved in locating and photographing so many of these items boggles the mind, quite apart from the chasing down and categorizing the information. This book is truly a labour of love. All the photos are supported by text giving whatever details are known to relate to the particular item. It makes for interesting reading. It is also very well presented in hard cover, A4 size, 350 pages of high quality glossy paper and crammed with photographs, mostly in colour, with some black and white historical photos of Anglo-Boer War times. It covers rifles and handguns, as well as numerous hand-carved artifacts, and various other items that had names, initials, coats of arms and other symbols carved into their surfaces by people involved in the war, including prisoners of war.

The book begins with an introduction (circumstances and events leading to the war) and illustrates a selection of the various rifles and carbines used during the war. Then, Part One covers carvings on British and Colonial rifles and carbines , with a section on Boer, British and Colonial headgear. Part Two covers carvings on Boer rifles and carbines, and Part Three covers rifles carved by unidentified Burgers and soldiers. Part Four covers handguns with carvings and engravings. Part Five tells of Anglo-Boer War battle re-enactment groups around the world, and Part Six hand-carved artifacts and trench art. There is also a list of Mauser serial numbers of rifles and carbines with carvings, plus a glossary and other useful appendices.

This book will be of interest to descendants of the soldiers, militaria enthusiasts in general, but especially to those with a particular interest in the Anglo-Boer War. The cost in the RSA is R760 plus R55 insured postage, totalling R815. Available locally from Zimbi Books, 012-349-1662, email <orders@zimbibooks.com>, and Clarke’s Book Store, Cape Town 021-423-5739, email <books@clarkesbooks.co.za> and Gerry Reed (Durban) cell 083-242-3711, email <penger@telkomsa.net>. Overseas buyers can order direct from author Dave George, email <david.george7@bigpond.com>. Gregor Woods

CARVINGS from the VELDT
Part Two

Review in the UK magazine “BLACK POWDER”.
by
Alan Overton.

Members may recall that this book was previewed by me in these pages in the autumn; my own copy has now arrived and far exceeds the very high expectations that I had formed of it.

What a book it is. An A4 size hardback with over three hundred pages absolutely packed with photographs – mostly in colour - of carved Boer War rifles, carbines, pistols and artefacts providing an extraordinary personal link to those who fought in this bitter conflict. Much painstaking research has been conducted by Mr. George – it has taken him nearly four years of solid work with contributions from all around the globe – to record and document the rifles that, uniquely, frequently bear the name or initials of the Boers that carried them, and, so far as possible, to identify their owners and to briefly sketch their lives and their fates. Close liaison with the keepers of the archives of the nations involved has resulted in much detail being unearthed, including family origins, medal entitlements, Prisoner of War camp identified (if appropriate) and so on.

Many of these rifles and carbines are quite spectacular in the quality of the carving and decoration; frequently they include State Coats of Arms, silhouettes of, for example, President Kruger, the actions in which their owners fought and the farms from which they hailed. But equally interesting are the single initials, sometimes within a heart or lozenge device, with which a Burgher personalised the rifle that he carried; he knew its handling characteristics and its zero, and he knew that his life might one day depend on it.

There is a very interesting section on British and Colonial issue rifles that have been similarly carved, mainly to their Australian, New Zealand and Tasmanian owners, very few to British regular servicemen who were, of course, subject to military law and for whom defacing Her Majesty’s property might well result in a charge of misuse and damage; and the remainder are to Volunteers, who frequently purchased their own rifles and equipment and who could, therefore, do with them whatever they wished - but probably not until hostilities had ceased.

There is an excellent section on pistols; a number of C96 Mausers of course, but Colt and Webley are also well represented, the majority engraved or otherwise marked with the owner’s name and, often, his unit. Amongst the former is a C96 complete with buttstock, once the property of John Spencer Churchill, Winston Churchill’s brother, who was serving in the South African Light Horse. In the is latter a Webley Mk. IV inscribed to C.H. Bibby-Hesketh of the Duke of Lancaster’s Own Yeomanry Cavalry. Pistols with a proven Boer War provenance are rare birds indeed.

Other sections deal with miscellaneous carvings and trench art – particularly poignant is the work of Boer Prisoners of War who spent their time producing small, beautifully made articles such as pipes and trinket boxes. A fine selection of cap and unit badges and shoulder titles are featured, along with headdress and other equipment including swords, bayonets and bandoliers. Re-enactors from three continents have a section to themselves which documents their many activities and includes contact details for the various groups.

Mr. George’s brief synopsis of the war forming part of his introduction is rather less objective than perhaps Conan Doyle’s History (534 pages), or that of Wilson, and the sharp eyed reader will pick up one of two minor inaccuracies either of description or of fact but these by no means detract from the overall value of this book which is enormous. This book is, and will remain, the definitive work of reference for these historic arms for the future and Mr. George is to be congratulated for the dedication and sheer amount of effort and research that is evident on every single page.

This is a book that no serious student of arms, researcher or historian can afford to be or will want to be without; copies are available in the UK now and the book retails at sixty pounds sterling. UK internal postage and packing works out at about eight pounds sterling (the book weighs 1.75kilos!) but free delivery to the Imperial War Museum, London, or the MLAGB Range Complex, Wedgnock, can be quickly and easily arranged.

Alan Overton

“BLACK POWDER” Summer, 2009 (UK).

CARVINGS FROM THE VELDT "PART TWO"
A review

In 2004 Dave C. George privately published "CARVINGS FROM THE VELDT - A Pictorial History of rifle Stock Art from the Anglo Boer War 1899-1902". This was the first comprehensive study detailing the history, people, and stories, associated with the various markings added to Anglo Boer War weapons by Boer, British, or Colonial participants. This war became known for the trend of soldiers marking and carving personal weapons. While it is understandable that members of the "citizens army" of the Boer Republics may have needed to mark their personal weapons in some way for easy identification etc, this phenomenon of carving names, battles, emblems, etc was also copied to some degree (and often against regulations) by soldiers in the British and Colonial forces. By the end of the war there were significant numbers of personally carved weapons, and carved weapons captured or bought as souvenirs, that contain personal historical information relating to individuals and their war.

Dave George's first book (140 pages) depicted information on 133 carved rifles and/or carbines. Following release of that first book he found himself inundated with mail from people and institutions around the world, providing him with information on carved weapons that they had. This tempted him to continue his research and writing and the result was the release in 2008 of his second book CARVINGS FROM THE VELDT "PART TWO". This impressive volume - in the same style and format as the first book - continues Dave George's meticulous research and features all new information on an additional 306 firearms (rifles, carbines, handguns) all carved or engraved and used by participants from both sides in the conflict. The book reveals the interesting history that can be unravelled from identification of the people named in the carvings, scratchings, or engravings, on Anglo Boer War weapons. Some individual's initials etc will always remain unidentified but some of their handcraft has also been included if it contains unique or spectacular carvings.

The new book contains 349 pages and over 1400 pictures (most in colour and many previously unpublished), of the weapons, carvings, and where possible the person named on the weapon. As with the first book, where the individual named in the carving has been identified the text contains significant historical information about the individual, and includes (where possible) their background, war service, and other anecdotal details. The author has acquired information about carved Boer names from records held in archival sources in South Africa. This has often provided details relating to their Commando, battles that they served in, and where relevant their prisoner of war detention camp information etc. Additional background information about the battles named on the weapons has also been added by the author to provide an informative overview of historical aspects of the Anglo Boer War. This information is often supported with relevant copies of official forms, letters, and maps.

The new information in this book covers individual carved weapons owned, or used by, some very interesting personalities of the war including: 3 Boer Generals; Louis Botha's Military Secretary; and 3 British officers and 2 Australian officers who attained the rank of Brigadier-General. The carved names discussed in the book also include high-ranking officers who served in the forces of, Australia, Canada, England, New Zealand, or South Africa. In some of the cases relating to individuals of historical note the author has assembled up to 4 pages of interesting background information. Several of the weapons with Australian names include people who later served in World War 1 and aspects of their history in that conflict are also given.

To the new volume the author has also added additional information and photographs about some wartime relics. This includes carved trench art such as pipes carved by Boer prisoners of war. Also included is a section, with photos, on Anglo Boer War memorabilia such as: medallions, unit badges, shoulder titles, bandoliers, bayonets and swords - together with some owner or user information. A short chapter has been added about Anglo Boer War re-enactor groups in six different countries, and the weapons and regalia involved.

This book, as with its predecessor, continues the very interesting and informative history that can be revealed by the carvings found on Anglo Boer War weapons. In most cases such history can only be revealed by very detailed and comprehensive research and in this respect the author has excelled. Overall the book contains most interesting historical documentation about the carved weapons, the individuals involved, and the war in general and is highly recommended. The book will add to the knowledge of anyone who has an interest in, or who had relatives who served in, the Anglo Boer War and should also be a basic reference for museums and collectors that have in their collections similar military weapons of the period.

Price of Book = Aus $115.00 plus $10.00 postage for one book (all states)
(postage for two books = $15.00)
The first 150 books will be a numbered edition.

South African Collectors and Shooters:
Books will be distributed by Mr. Gerry Reed of Durban (for his details send me an email)

United Kingdom Collectors and Shooters
Books will be distributed by Mr. Alan Overton in Reading (for his details send me an email)

Review November 2008 by Colin Simpson
Member Anglo Boer War Study Group of Australia.
Member A.C.T. Antique and Historical Arms Association.

“Carvings from the Veldt – Part Two”

Pre-review by Alan Overton, Reading, UK.

The Anglo-Boer War was unique in many ways but particularly so in that many of the arms that were carried by the Boers were carved with the owner’s name or initials and often the farm from which the bearer had set out to answer President Kruger’s call to arms.

Many were true works of art, incorporating elaborate depictions of State Coat of Arms and similar devices, some recorded the various actions in which the owner had fought and some were far less sophisticated, being the simple scratching, by spike or point, of the burgher’s initials.

In no other theatre of war has the opportunity been greater for research into the lives and hardships of the particular combatants concerned.
David George, himself born in South Africa but now living in Australia and a collector researcher and historian of some repute, has made a particular study of these extraordinary arms; about four years ago he published his first book on the subject, “Carvings from the Veldt” and his current work forms Part Two of the story. And what a remarkable story it is.

In hardback format, its 349 pages include over 1,400 images, most of which are in colour and which record over three hundred new discoveries of firearms, rifles, pistols and carbines which are carved or engraved. There is an excellent selection of badges and headdress of British, Colonial and Boer units and much detail on swords, bandoliers and ammunition, together with farm maps and ephemera. Trench art and POW carved items are also shown and discussed and there is a new chapter that covers Anglo-Boer War re-enactors active in six countries.

This is a book that few historians, collectors or researchers will want to be without and there is something for everyone who has an interest in this, in some ways the saddest of all the “small wars”. The conflict laid the foundation for the training in marksmanship and field operations that stood Great Britain in good stead in the trials that were to commence in 1914 – as Kipling has it: “We have had no end of a lesson, it will do us no end of good”.

At $115.00 Australian dollars per copy plus air mail postage, this book does not come cheap, but the information that Mr. George has accumulated is quite outstanding. For UK subscribers Mr. George suggests that orders be despatched in small packages of five or ten copies and I have agreed to provide a distribution facility for any who request it. When supplies arrive, probably in the early spring, I will contact those who have purchased a copy and arrange for delivery or collection.

I will myself formally review Dave George’s book as soon as my own copy is squeezed through the letter box to thud upon my doormat; I very much look forward to that.
Alan Overton, November 2008.

All other reviews below are for the
FIRST BOOK

Australian SHOOTER
  (SSAA), December, 2006.

Review by: MICHAEL GILL

There are many reasons why enthusiasts collect firearms.  Some collect only the finest made pieces, treating them with the respect that is due to major works of art, which they are.

For me, the son of a soldier, a brief stint in the armed forces set the scene for my interest in military rifles from around the world.

Apart from understanding the importance a soldier places on his tools of trade, my interest is fuelled by the knowledge that these old military pieces have been at the pointy end of their respective countries foreign policy and have helped shape the geo-political landscape we know today.

I have often thought about the men who relied on the rifles I"ve held.  Looking at the scars evident on the timberwork, I"ve wondered if they"ve seen action on distant battle fields,  and if so, which ones?  If only these rifles could talk!  In most cases these questions remain unanswered.

This is where South African born Australian Dave George comes into his own. Although it is a chargeable offence to deface government property, many veteran rifles from both sides of the Boer war carry intricate carvings on their stocks providing an insight into their past.   After many years of research, Dave has pieced together the story of many of these firearms.

In doing so he has put together a brilliant independently published work. Not only is the reader given an insight into the firearms used on both sides, but Dave has gone to great lengths to uncover the identity and history of individuals who carried the rifles featured.   This adds a rare and exciting dimension to the study of firearms used during this conflict.

More than 300 colour photos feature 134 carved rifles and carbines - mainly of Mausers, Enfields, Guedes and Martini’s.

This work also presents photos of combatants from both sides, maps and badges, as well as copies of original government documents.  Each page is a short history lesson in itself.  At times you will discover little-known information thrown in - keeping the interest of even the most knowledgeable student of the war. 

Although not a collector of medals myself, a section dedicated to the study of awards presented to participants of this conflict proved to be just as interesting a read as the rest.

In essence, this book is a 140-page authoritative reference for those interested in the conflict and military history, as well as collectors of service rifles and medals.

Readers will not be disappointed.

Collectors interested in Boer war history and historically important Mausers, Enfield and Martini rifles, there is a fantastic book published last year in Australia which I highly recommend. The book focuses on Boer War rifles whose owners have carved the stocks with coats of arms, battles and soldiers' names.

Many of these rifles have been researched back to their original Boer owners or the Commonwealth troops who brought them home. Their history and supporting documentation (always shown in photo form) is the best I have ever seen.

This is an outstanding companion volume to the Bester book, "Small Arms of the Anglo-Boer War". Dave has done an outstanding research job for this book, providng well-documented backgrounds and histories of many dozens of Boer Mausers, Enfields, Martinis, Guedes, and other rifles. Although all his illustrations and maps are in color, this 140 page book only costs US$42.00, plus shipping.

Don't miss this one. This book ranks right up there with Webster, Speed, Bester et al, and Jones' Mauser books in research quality, writing and photography to make it one of the top 5 or 6 Mauser books of the first decade of century (so far!).
(NB: This is a shortened version of original review).