Lost Souls

Luke Macpherson is growing old and is haunted by memories of his time as a soldier in South Africa during the Boer War. As his favorite nephew, Martin, excitedly signs up to fight in World War II, Like worries that this war will complete the destruction of his family that began after his brother, Jack, fought at Mafeking while serving under Baden-Powell.
As Martin is leaving he gives Luke diaries written by his uncle Jack at MafeKing. And for the first time Luke is able to confront the cause of his brother's rage and what it was that so filled him with hate that it changed their lives forever.
***
The second Anglo-Boer War is largely a 'forgotten war', but over 6000 New Zealand volunteer soldiers went to fight in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. And nearly 50 of New Zealand's war memorials are to those who died in that war. Lost Souls offers a fascinating insight into the gritty realities of war about which most New Zealanders know very little.