JSAfrika Posted 15 September , 2013 Share Posted 15 September , 2013 Greetings Ladies and Gents, At the risk of banishment, I am re-posting this request here. I am trying to gauge the level of interest for a book about the 1914/1915 South African-led campaign to capture German South West Africa. This is an extension of the conflict archaeology work I have been doing that is further described in Current World Archaeology Issue #59, a copy of which is attached to the Gallery members albums section. I have been working for about two years on an archaeological / historical project to preserve several battlefields in Namibia, principally the ones involved in Botha’s northern Swakop River Valley campaign. After an extensive survey of the available literature, both contemporary and recent, I have put together a manuscript that I am hoping to have published. To that end, I would like to hear from the most interested target audience, the members of the GWF, as to whether they would be interested or think this would be a useful addition to the historiography of WWI. I have focused not on one side or the other. I have attempted to tell the story from both sides using primary and secondary sources, as well as the archaeological record, in order to provide a balanced view of the campaign. Naturally, maps and photographs will complete the work. Let me know your honest opinions. VR James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Waddell Posted 15 September , 2013 Share Posted 15 September , 2013 James, I know very little of this area of war and would be interested in a copy of this book if you do proceed. The article is interesting and the work you are doing is important. Publishing a book is a way of further sharing your accumulated knowledge of the subject with a larger audience. The smaller theatres of war are often overlooked and worthy of more attention. I am curious as to how much local interest your project has gained? Scott Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSAfrika Posted 15 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 15 September , 2013 Scott Thanks for your reply. It has gathered some interest here and on other forums, mostly, I believe, from specialist historians. I am not at all sure how general audiences might respond, but then this work is more about preserving the history than readership. That said, I plan on going ahead with querying publishers with the last option being an eBook. VR James Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steven Broomfield Posted 15 September , 2013 Share Posted 15 September , 2013 Sounds a good bet to me, but as a non e-book person, I'd need real pages! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaiserknight Posted 17 September , 2013 Share Posted 17 September , 2013 Ditto with Steven - pages,pages,pages!!! James, I might have missed the original post. I would be interested in your work. Can't agree more with Scott and the smaller/obscure areas/battles that need far more attention. Do we really need more books on the W/Front logistics or Eton poetry??? All the best for a prompt publication and great sales!! (Put me down as #1) Cheers, KK Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khaki Posted 17 September , 2013 Share Posted 17 September , 2013 I would prefer a real book, and would respectfully suggest the use of modern as well as contemporary photographs khaki Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSAfrika Posted 18 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 18 September , 2013 Khaki, KaiserKnight, and Steven Yes, a real book with modern and contemporary images (I have collected about 70 good ones) and some maps based on Botha's original S.1 operations map combined with Collyer's, the German General Staff's, and my own surveys. Trying to get a publisher interested now.... VR JS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old joe Posted 20 September , 2013 Share Posted 20 September , 2013 I would be interested. Good luck with your endeavour. Regards, Joseph Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Filsell Posted 20 September , 2013 Share Posted 20 September , 2013 Put me down for a copy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSAfrika Posted 21 September , 2013 Author Share Posted 21 September , 2013 I will let everyone know what happens if and when.... Thanks to all for the interest and encouragement. Banzai! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSWA Posted 6 January , 2014 Share Posted 6 January , 2014 Hi James. I would be interested in the book too. If I could be of help in anyway please let me know. My interest is the troops Union and German who have died in that period in GSWA. I do know various people who have extensive knowledge of the WW1 in GSWA. Kind regards Charl ( DSWA) email charlv@mtcmobile.com.na Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DSWA Posted 6 January , 2014 Share Posted 6 January , 2014 Hi James. Most English books on WW1 in GSWA are written on the Union side of the war. However there are a few books written in German giving the German side of the war. One book Der1 Weltkrieg in DSWA 1914/1915 by Bernd Kroemer in available. I have various papers which I can forward to you also written in German Kind regards Charl ( DSWA ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Mc Posted 6 January , 2014 Share Posted 6 January , 2014 As someone who used to live in Namibia, I'd certainly be interested in your book James! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 7 January , 2014 Share Posted 7 January , 2014 Go for It James! Why not mention it on this forum: http://gweaa.com/ which is now spreading its wings to encompass all of Africa during the Great war. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hazelclark Posted 7 January , 2014 Share Posted 7 January , 2014 I hope it is successful. I and several friends from south Africa are very interested. Hazel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Boonzaier Posted 12 January , 2014 Share Posted 12 January , 2014 Maybe the best work to have come out is the 2008 book by Walter Nuhn called "Auf verlorenem Posten - Deutsche Südwestafrika im Ersten Weltkrieg" It covers just about every action, even the smaller ones, in good detail. Better than anything in English. Best Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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