A gripping record of the hundred-year existence of the South African army. In 2012 the South African Army celebrated its 100th anniversary. What started out as a small, ill-equipped organisation grew into the most powerful army on the African continent by the 1980s. Springboks, Troepies and Cadres tells the story of the SA army in telling the stories of the men who shaped it. A diverse group of soldiers, from general officers to ordinary foot soldiers, tells of the tragedies and triumphs of the battles they took part in. Some officers also divulge military strategy. The book is divided into four eras – World War I, World War II, the Border War and the post-1994 era. Historical battles, including Delville Wood, El Alamein and Cuito Canavale, come alive in these first-hand accounts which bring home the realities of war. The author also takes a hard look at the state of the SA army and the challenges it faces – from a lack of resources to racial tension and poor discipline. Yet, for the most part, these stories of the army offer an inspirational historical record.