the veterinary aspects prevailing at the start of the Boer War in 1899. This was doomed to be a disaster because in the 1898 edition of War Establishments, no provision was made for the care of sick animals, and little support for army veterinary surgeons was planned. A shortage of farriers led to much lameness in horses, which exacerbated the situation, and a serious lack of sufficient food for animals caused debility and further losses.

A veterinary hospital was operated at Pretoria in 1900. This was quickly overwhelmed and many animals died. Other hospitals were opened and were soon in a similar state of chaos and overcrowding. Insufficient food and veterinary supplies led to an escalation in losses. A lack of farriers and shortage of shoes caused many horses to quickly become lame and unserviceable. Total losses of horses in the war exceeded 300,000.

The disaster of South Africa caused a thorough reorganisation of equine management and care. Consequently, in 1914 the British Army was far better prepared to care for" the vast number-of animals required in France and other operations. In other Allied armies, animals often fared less well. In the chapter on remounts, the author gives an interesting survey describing how the various combatants acquired supplies of fresh animals for their armies. In Germany, the eventual depletion in remounts is suggested as one factor in its final defeat in 1918.

The chapter on veterinary aspects is of considerable interest. During the war one-third of the profession served in the Army Veterinary Corps, supported by almost 30,000 non-veterinary assistants including

farriers, so essential for mobility.

Following the end of the war in 1918, increasing mechanisation reduced the requirement for horses in cavalry actions. However, in many countries animal transport remained essential to support armies; in the Second World War Germany used more horses for transport in Russia than in the Great War. In the Italian campaign, animal transport proved essential in roadless mountainous terrain; this was also the case in Burma.

Following the end of the Second World War, the use of equids in active operations declined. Certainly, the days of cavalry charges belong to history. However, many armies, including our own, still possess a

capacity and sometimes a need to use equids for transport or reconnaissance in remote inhospitable terrain. This particularly applies to low-intensity operations and the work of special forces. Plus ça change!

This meticulously researched book fills a gap in military and equine literature. Appropriately, the author concludes with a description of the work of the Brooke Animal Hospital, founded in Egypt by Dorothy and Major General Geoffrey Brooke to care for animals that suffered following the end of the First World War.

Their work continues to this day in several countries, and deserves the support and encouragement of our profession.