Warrior: The Legend of Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen

by Peter Hathaway Capstick, Fiona Capstick (Editor)

Peter Hathaway Capstick died in 1996. At the time of his death, the world-renowned adventure writer was putting the finishing touches on this, a stirring and vivid biography of Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen, a man with whom he felt he had much in common. Edited and prepared for publication by his widow, Fiona Capstick, Warrior is Capstick’s riveting farewell to his fans and the final addition to the bestselling Peter Capstick Library.

Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen was one of those rare men whom fate always seems to cast in the dramas that shape history. As a young officer, he served in India and Africa during the glory days of the British Empire, defending the crown’s dominions and exploring its darkest reaches. His exploits in the bloody colonial wars of turn-of-the-century East Africa earned him a reputation as one of the most fierce and ruthless soldiers in the Empire, yet it was during those years spent roaming the silent places of the Serengeti, hunting its game and learning its secrets, that Meinertzhagen developed a fascination with Africa that would last a lifetime.

But there were other adventures to come, and Capstick narrates them all with his trademark skill and daring commando raids against German forces in Africa and the Mideast during World War I, covert missions to the USSR and Nazi Germany between the wars, work as an OSS agent during World War II, and Meinertzhagen’s ceaseless support of Israeli nationhood are all woven together into an epic adventure. The Legend of Colonel Richard Meinertzhagen is a powerful chronicle that follows the tracks of a twentieth-century icon.

Genres: Africa, Biography, History, Military Fiction, Nonfiction, Adventure, British Literature

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 1998

About the author

Peter Hathaway Capstick was an American hunter and author. Born in New Jersey and educated at (although did not graduate from) the University of Virginia, he walked away from a successful Wall Street career shortly before his thirtieth birthday to become a professional hunter, first in Central and South America and later (and most famously) in Africa. Capstick spent much of his life in Africa, a land he called his "source of inspiration." A chain smoker and heavy drinker, he died at age 56 from complications following heart surgery.

Reviews

[Vincent O'Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first learned of the British war hero Richard Meintertzagen while watching the World War One movie The Light Horsemen. In that film, Meinertzagen was a British intelligence officer in the Middle East who crafted a deception plan that levered the Turkish army out of its defenses near Gaza and opened the way to Jerusalem for the British. Little did I know that this was only one of his many exploits in warfare, spycraft, and exploration.

Peter Capstick does a fine job describing the life of this difficult historical character. Capstick takes pains to point out that, while Meinertzagen could be brilliant and diplomatic, he was also capable of shocking brutality and extreme contradictions. With that said, his story is truly legendary. Early army service in East Africa qualified him to run an extensive intelligence network in the largely hit-and-run warfare in that region during World War One. Following the British victory there, he was posted to Cairo where he conceived and executed the deception plan that opened the way to Jerusalem.

During that timeframe he became a staunch supporter of Zionism and spent much of the rest of his life advocating for the establishment of the state of Israel. Little is known of his intelligence work during World War Two, but he was present in Palestine when the state of Israel was created. A personal friend of Jan Smuts and Chaim Weizman, he also worked closely with Winston Churchill and met Adolph Hitler on three occasions.

Often frustrated by the incompetence he perceived at the higher command levels of the British army, Meinertzagen came to rely on his own judgment early in his career. He was a gifted problem solver and natural fighter, and seldom kept his opinions to himself.

An avid hunter and noted ornithologist, Meinertzagen comes across as a difficult man to understand. However, he put his stamp on numerous important events in history and I strongly recommend this book.

[Hal Fretwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The history of Meinertzhagen's life was very interesting but I was hoping for more information on his relationship with Lawrence of Arabia, his role in the raids conducted by the Arabs in what was to become Syria, his interactions with the Jews who provided intelligence on the terrain and water sources in the Negev, and more information on his role in assisting Chaim Weizman

[Chris Hayes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mediocre writing on a fascinating character, Capstick completely missed the chance to ask tough questions. A lame exercise in her worship.

[Seth Nelson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating! Colonel Meinertzhagen lived a very full life.

[Boozy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book about a fascinating person. Colonel Meinertzhagen was able to witness some of the greatest events of the past century. While he was a dyed in the wool Victorian, he was somewhat ahead of his time in his championship of the creation of the jewish state which for his generation was not always popular. He additionally was able to interact with some of the legends of his time. While the book was a brief if not adjuticated excerpt of his life i would truly enjoy reading an in depth biography of the man. I can only imagine what Capstick could have written had he not passed away during the writing of this book.

[Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is very enlightnig look into the life of a very intresting and equaly importaint person

[Cameron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story!

[Rodney Moorhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very fascinating look into one of the most interesting persons to ever walk the earth.

[Aaron Oelger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written bio, based on Meinertzhagen's journals. However, I'm not sure his journals were 100% accurate. M could have committed fraud with his ornithological "discoveries" and some are certain he killed his spouse. Would feel more admiration if we knew his journals were real.