Ian Hamilton’s March was published by Longmans, Green in October 1900. Churchill covered the Boer War for the Morning Post, arriving in South Africa in October 1899. After his capture and escape (which made him famous throughout the Empire), he rejoined the army as both lieutenant and correspondent — a dual role that was irregular but tolerated given his celebrity.
The book covers the march from Bloemfontein to Pretoria — the advance that captured the Boer capital in June 1900 and appeared (incorrectly, as it turned out) to end the war. Churchill followed General Ian Hamilton’s column on the left flank of Roberts’s advance. The writing is rapid, vivid, and occasionally reckless — Churchill describes combat situations he had no business being in, having attached himself to the fighting units rather than remaining safely in the rear.
Hamilton’s March is the least known of Churchill’s five early books but contains some of his best descriptive writing — particularly the accounts of cavalry skirmishes on the veldt and the eerie silence of Johannesburg when the British entered a city whose white population had largely fled.
Collecting Ian Hamilton’s March
First edition (Longmans, Green, London, 1900): Red cloth.
Market values:
- First edition, fine: $1,000–$3,000
- Very good: $400–$1,000
- US edition: $500–$1,500
Projected values (2026–2036): Strong appreciation. Important Boer War account.
Churchill in South Africa
Ian Hamilton’s March (1900) is Churchill’s account of the final phase of the Boer War campaign, following General Sir Ian Hamilton’s column from Bloemfontein to Pretoria. Churchill served as correspondent for the Morning Post, having already achieved fame through his dramatic escape from a Boer prisoner-of-war camp in Pretoria. The book is briskly written and partisan — Churchill admired Hamilton and the book is essentially a tribute to his generalship. First editions, published by Longmans, are uncommon.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does this relate to Churchill’s other Boer War book? London to Ladysmith via Pretoria (1900) covers the first part of Churchill’s Boer War experience, including his capture and escape. Ian Hamilton’s March picks up the narrative afterward. Together they form a two-part account of Churchill’s South African adventures that launched his political career.