This book was written during the Boer War by Sir Frederick Treves (Surgeon Extraordinary to H.M. the Queen; Surgeon-in-Ordinary to H.R.H. the Duke of York; Consulting Surgeon to the London Hospital; Late Consulting Surgeon with H.M. Troops in South Africa),

"some account is given of a field hospital which followed for three months the Ladysmith Relief Column, from the time, in fact, that that column left Frere until it entered the long-beleaguered town. The fragmentary record is based upon notes written day by day on the spot."