The Defence of Duffer's Drift

by Ernest Dunlop Swinton

Overview

"The Defence of Duffer's Drift" is part of a collection of classic texts for teaching small unit tactics. Despite its origin in the Second Boer War (1899-1902), it remains a book that is recommended, without qualification, by many militaries around the world. It is an essential reference work for the professional soldier. "The Defence of Duffer's Drift" is a fictional account of a young British officer's lessons learned as a platoon commander during the Boer War. Its simple style and satirical nature provide an entertaining look at how not to employ one's troops. It emphasizes the importance of employing certain tactical principles in every operation by illustrating the tragic results of ignoring such tenets. The story centers on Lieutenant Backsight Forethought (referred to as "BF" by his colleagues) who has been placed in command of a 50-troop reinforced platoon. BF's platoon is tasked to hold Duffer's Drift, the only ford on the Silliassvogel River where wheeled traffic can cross. BF sees his assignment as the chance to demonstrate what he learned during his officers' course. If he does well in holding the drift, he thinks it will be his opportunity to gain fame and glory. As simple as BF's task appears, the Boer enemy will cause many problems. As the reader, will your mind be quick enough and your intellect sharp enough to be able to solve BF's problems before the first shot is fired?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780645064315
Publisher:	Bibliologica Press
Publication date:	12/29/2020
Pages:	66
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.16(d)

About the Author

Major General Sir Ernest Dunlop Swinton (1868-1951) was a military writer and British Army officer. Swinton is credited with influencing the development and adoption of the tank by the British during the First World War. He is also known for popularising the term "no-mans land". Swinton was born in Bangalore, India in 1868. He was educated at University College School, Rugby School, Cheltenham College, Blackheath Proprietary School and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He became an officer in the Corps of Royal Engineers in 1888, serving in India and becoming Lieutenant in 1891. He received the Distinguished Service Order during the Second Boer War. After the war, he wrote his book on small unit tactics, The Defense of Duffer's Drift, a military classic on minor tactics that has been used by the United States military to train its officers. In the years leading up to the First World War, he served as a staff officer and as an official historian of the Russo-Japanese War. The War Minister, Lord Kitchener appointed Swinton as the official British war correspondent on the Western Front. Journalists were not allowed at the front and Swinton's reports were censored leading to an effectively uncontroversial although even-handed reporting.