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Simon Fonthill #12
Dust Clouds of War
1914. Simon Fonthill, a fit 59-year-old, is visiting his farm in Northern Rhodesia when the Great War breaks out. With him, as always, is his wife Alice, but also his old comrade and former batman, 352 Jenkins, holidaying with them after the marriage of his two step-daughters in South Africa. Fonthill immediately cables his old boss Kitchener, the newly appointed Minister for War in the British Cabinet, offering his services in the fight against the Kaiser’s Germany. However, he is instructed to remain in Africa in case of warfare in German East Africa. When war does break out, Fonthill proves his worth in a battle that proves to be equally frightful to the one in Europe and, indeed, to last even longer than that on the Western Front.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published December 17, 2015
5 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
John Wilcox
19 books33 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
John Wilcox started out as a local reporter and journalist in Birmingham before spending many years in industry, which took him all round the world. He finally sold his company to devote himself to writing full-time. He lives in Salisbury.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
John Wilcox started out as a local reporter and journalist in Birmingham before spending many years in industry, which took him all round the world. He finally sold his company to devote himself to writing full-time. He lives in Salisbury.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 29, 2018
This delightful book by this fine author is the 12th volume, and maybe the last one in this series (?), of the wonderful "Simon Fonthill" series.
Once again the book has been historically very well researched, see the author's note, and there the author explains in a beautiful fashion everything that happened in this period of history within that particular part of Africa.
The author has whenever it was possible kept the historical details in tact within this tale, with one exception, and that for the sole reason to keep this story flowing from start to finish.
Also within this tale there are quite many real historical figures featuring, and besides them all are the fictional characters, with the likes of our main character of this series Simon Fonthill himself, his wife Alice, 352 Jenkins Simon's servant and batman, Mzingeli the tracker, and some others as well.
Story-telling from this author is of a superb quality, while on the one hand he pictures the surroundings of Africa in a most beautiful way, while on the other his characters, whether real or fictional, come all excellent to life within this gripping story.
The time has moved a good 10 years on, because this tale is set as from the year 1914, the first year of WW1, and our main characters Simon, 352 Jenkins and their tracker Mzingeli find themselves on the border between Northern Rhodesia and German East Africa, and after their exploits and dangers that they will share in this adventure, this book ends it all with a final reminiscing Chapter 16 which is situated in November in the year 1918.
What will follow is a most entertaining adventure in which Simon, 352 Jenkins and Mzingeli will find themselves in various dangerous and life-threatening situations, including with the sinking of the Königsberg in the Rufiji Delta, while on the other hand Alice has been conducting investigations in Mombasa and when she discovers treachery within the camp she'll decide to take matters into her own hands and solve this treasonous danger.
Really recommended, for this series really deserves very much credit, and that's why I call this book "One More (Final) Excellent Fonthill Flourish"!
Once again the book has been historically very well researched, see the author's note, and there the author explains in a beautiful fashion everything that happened in this period of history within that particular part of Africa.
The author has whenever it was possible kept the historical details in tact within this tale, with one exception, and that for the sole reason to keep this story flowing from start to finish.
Also within this tale there are quite many real historical figures featuring, and besides them all are the fictional characters, with the likes of our main character of this series Simon Fonthill himself, his wife Alice, 352 Jenkins Simon's servant and batman, Mzingeli the tracker, and some others as well.
Story-telling from this author is of a superb quality, while on the one hand he pictures the surroundings of Africa in a most beautiful way, while on the other his characters, whether real or fictional, come all excellent to life within this gripping story.
The time has moved a good 10 years on, because this tale is set as from the year 1914, the first year of WW1, and our main characters Simon, 352 Jenkins and their tracker Mzingeli find themselves on the border between Northern Rhodesia and German East Africa, and after their exploits and dangers that they will share in this adventure, this book ends it all with a final reminiscing Chapter 16 which is situated in November in the year 1918.
What will follow is a most entertaining adventure in which Simon, 352 Jenkins and Mzingeli will find themselves in various dangerous and life-threatening situations, including with the sinking of the Königsberg in the Rufiji Delta, while on the other hand Alice has been conducting investigations in Mombasa and when she discovers treachery within the camp she'll decide to take matters into her own hands and solve this treasonous danger.
Really recommended, for this series really deserves very much credit, and that's why I call this book "One More (Final) Excellent Fonthill Flourish"!
July 2, 2022
This story of British struggle to do it right in XIX century has final approach not even in every rebellion British has bravely faced. But in German tactics of taking off Europe eyes from Europe to fight in Africa. So that Allies would send all troupes to Africa.
The have gravity of situation layer on British, Belgian(who fought in Belgium in that time) and African regiments, lads that gave they life for free Europe, and whole world to be free, eventually. Even if all life would die in process, sadly.
Full strength of the KAR in 1914 was 70 British officers, three British NCOs, and 2,325 Africans. There were no organic heavy weapons (each company had one machine gun), including artillery or organised reserves and the companies were, in reality, large platoons of 70 to 80 men.
By the beginning of 1918, the King's African Rifles were the majority of the forces that pursued the German troops across Mozambique and beyond. Although the majority of 1918 would be spent chasing the elusive Germans, the KAR would fight sharp engagements at Kireka Mountain, Korewa, Namirrue, and Kasama.
The Maziua raid was an armed clash between German and Portuguese colonial troops in Mozambique on 24 August 1914 during World War I.
In order to secure international support for its authority in Africa, Portugal entered the war on the side of Britain and the Allies. Its participation was at first limited to naval support. In February 1917, however, Portugal sent its first troops—an expeditionary force of 50,000 men—to the Western Front.
The 25th (Frontiersmen) Service Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was a British Army unit that served during World War I. It was raised by the Legion of Frontiersmen.
The battalion served in the African Theatre of the war from 1915–1918, centered mostly in the area around Lake Tanganyika, British East African and German East African territory.
Developments in the land-based conflict caused the Germans to withdraw from the lake, and control of the surface of Lake Tanganyika passed to the British and Belgians.
The British made several attempts to sink SMS Königsberg including one to slip a shallow-draught torpedo boat (with escorts) within range, an operation easily repulsed by the force in the delta.
HMS Mimi and HMS Toutou were motor launches of the Royal Navy. After undergoing an unusual journey from Britain to Lake Tanganyika in the interior of Africa, the ships played an important role in the African naval struggle between Britain and Germany during World War I. The names mean Meow and Fido in Parisian slang.
This is trilling history, all of the books. And why people has often at the beginning mindset of looser that resolutions are freedom when truth is that revolting is slavery, Kingdom is freedom. Own kingdom, and polish fought uprising against losing own, not to gain some imaginary, goals that approaching them is doom already.
The have gravity of situation layer on British, Belgian(who fought in Belgium in that time) and African regiments, lads that gave they life for free Europe, and whole world to be free, eventually. Even if all life would die in process, sadly.
Full strength of the KAR in 1914 was 70 British officers, three British NCOs, and 2,325 Africans. There were no organic heavy weapons (each company had one machine gun), including artillery or organised reserves and the companies were, in reality, large platoons of 70 to 80 men.
By the beginning of 1918, the King's African Rifles were the majority of the forces that pursued the German troops across Mozambique and beyond. Although the majority of 1918 would be spent chasing the elusive Germans, the KAR would fight sharp engagements at Kireka Mountain, Korewa, Namirrue, and Kasama.
The Maziua raid was an armed clash between German and Portuguese colonial troops in Mozambique on 24 August 1914 during World War I.
In order to secure international support for its authority in Africa, Portugal entered the war on the side of Britain and the Allies. Its participation was at first limited to naval support. In February 1917, however, Portugal sent its first troops—an expeditionary force of 50,000 men—to the Western Front.
The 25th (Frontiersmen) Service Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) was a British Army unit that served during World War I. It was raised by the Legion of Frontiersmen.
The battalion served in the African Theatre of the war from 1915–1918, centered mostly in the area around Lake Tanganyika, British East African and German East African territory.
Developments in the land-based conflict caused the Germans to withdraw from the lake, and control of the surface of Lake Tanganyika passed to the British and Belgians.
The British made several attempts to sink SMS Königsberg including one to slip a shallow-draught torpedo boat (with escorts) within range, an operation easily repulsed by the force in the delta.
HMS Mimi and HMS Toutou were motor launches of the Royal Navy. After undergoing an unusual journey from Britain to Lake Tanganyika in the interior of Africa, the ships played an important role in the African naval struggle between Britain and Germany during World War I. The names mean Meow and Fido in Parisian slang.
This is trilling history, all of the books. And why people has often at the beginning mindset of looser that resolutions are freedom when truth is that revolting is slavery, Kingdom is freedom. Own kingdom, and polish fought uprising against losing own, not to gain some imaginary, goals that approaching them is doom already.
November 8, 2024
The Simon Fonthill series concludes with a pretty slow feeling volume, with lots of scouting and talking but not as much action.
I liked this series well enough but I really didn't like Alice; she felt like a parody of a strong female character. Always getting into trouble and regularly needing rescued, she swooned over other men regularly in this series (even some who were trying to kill her) and even cheated on Simon at one point in an earlier volume. I feel the series as a whole would have been better off without her.
I liked this series well enough but I really didn't like Alice; she felt like a parody of a strong female character. Always getting into trouble and regularly needing rescued, she swooned over other men regularly in this series (even some who were trying to kill her) and even cheated on Simon at one point in an earlier volume. I feel the series as a whole would have been better off without her.
April 23, 2018
The last Simon Fonthill novel closes out a memorable run of conflicts for Fonthill, '352' Jenkins and Alice, from the Zulu Wars to the Great War in Africa. It's fitting that the last novel is set during the Great War, focusing on the little-known events taking place in Africa. I certainly learnt something new, and enjoyed another great adventure. Will miss this series!
February 18, 2026
I was born in the then Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and never knew about this time in history, that Rhodesians had entered into the war. Fascinating read. I learned so much about Africa and the war situation at that time.
February 28, 2018
Sadly,this may be the last of Simon and "352".I have really really liked this whole series.If you like great stories and Victorian military history,Simon is your man.He will be greatly missed.
December 24, 2015
A great saga of Africa in the First World War. I highly recommend John Wilcox
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews