G. J. Younghusband (1859–1944)

Younghusband's autobiography covers an enormous span of military activity, when the British Empire was ostensibly at its peak. His story starts with his studies at Sandhurst, and provides an interesting insight into life as a cadet. As a young Subaltern, Younghusband was dispatched to British India where he was assigned to the 17th Foot (later known as the Leicestershire Regiment), where he was soon after detailed to action in Afghanistan. His reminisces quickly take the reader to his posting in Egypt, and later to Burma.
Younghusband was later assigned back to India, where he was able to take a sabbatical and serve as an observer in the U.S. Spanish-American War. Not content to go back to India, which was not the focus of London's attention, he managed to secure a command in 3rd Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War. The remainder of the book details many unrelated observations about America, customs of the mess, India etc...
Younghusband certainly was connected to high society back in England and abroad, and is not shy about "name-dropping" throughout the book. Nevertheless, his observations on some of the activities of the British military during this period lend a personal perspective to these forgotten military actions. While he alludes to service in Mesopotamia during the Great War, this book unfortunately does not cover his service as a division commander during the Mesopotamian Campaign.
An important book for anyone interested in the British military during the late Victorian era. His observations of the dying rituals of the regimental mess are noteworthy, and indicative that he believed the British officer corps was changing, and not for the better in his view!… (altro)