A Canadian Mounted Rifleman At War, 1899a01902: The Reminiscences Of A. E. Hilder (African Society) – A. E. Hilder

A.E. Hilder’s memoir offers a rare, firsthand account of Canadian involvement in the Anglo-Boer War. Based on his manuscript “Comrades All” and war diaries, Hilder recounts his two tours of duty as a Canadian Mounted Rifleman in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. His clear, often humorous narrative captures the daily life, challenges, and ground-level perspective of the mounted infantry, a group that comprised over 50% of the Canadian soldiers. This essential reminiscence provides unique insight into how the ordinary soldier felt about the fighting in the western Transvaal and beyond.