The novel, Jock of the Bushveld, written by Sir Percy Fitzpatrick in 1905 for his children, is one of the greatest dog stories ever told. Since its first publication in September 1907, it has never been out of print. It tells the wonderful story of Sir Percy's dog, Jock, a bull terrier, and their adventures in South Africa, about 20 years before. Jock was born in the Kruger National Park, near Pretorius Kop camp. He was the weakest of the litter and was saved by Percy Fitzpatrick from a certain death by his then owner by adopting the puppy. Jock became his faithful friend and companion as well as an excellent hunter.

Jock of the Bushveld

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Percy Fitzpatrick born in King Williams Town

Percy Fitzpatrick was born in King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape on the 24th of July 1862. He was the eldest son of James Coleman Fitzpatrick, judge of the supreme court in the Cape Colony, and his mother, Jenny Fitzgerald. His parents were both from Ireland. After his father died in 1880, he left college to find a job to take care of his mother, and family. In 1884, long before Johannesburg ever existed and the game were still roaming freely on the grassland, Percy went to the Eastern Transvaal goldfields, where he and others found nothing but disappointment. But far from being dismayed, he worked as a storeman, prospector's hand, and Journalist as well as a transport-rider. He later became editor in Barberton of the Gold Fields news.

Jock of the Bushveld Route

Supply Route to & from Delagoa Bay

Percy Fitzpatrick and other transport riders worked on a supply route through the Lowveld, carting supplies in an ox-wagon for the goldfields in Barberton and Pilgrims Rest, to and from Delagoa Bay, Lourenco Marques (now Maputo in Mozambique), along the old Delagoa Road. This road was used during the dry disease-free winter months, between May and September. Jock accompanied Fitzpatrick on his journeys through the Kruger National Park and through the towns of Lydenburg goldfields, Barberton, Pilgrims Rest, Graskop and Sabie. The journey to and from the goldfields was not easy, it was through the fever-ridden Lowveld along rough terrain. They traveled in convoy at the pace of the oxen. They traveled before sunrise and after sunset in two four hour shifts, two before sunrise and the other two hours after sunset. They would not travel more than 32km (20 miles) a day.

Jock of the Bushveld Sculpture

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Jock killed accidentally

When Percy Fitzpatrick moved to Johannesburg, he gave his dog to his friend who, in turn, gave Jock to a trader from Mozambique. Jock was shot and killed one night when his new owner mistook him for a thieving dog.

Rudyard Kipling: author of The Jungle Book

First impression of Jock of the Bushveld

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Sir Percy Fitzpatrick

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South African Classic was born

Sir Percy Fitzpatrick use to recount the stories and adventures of his dog, Jock, in the form of bedtime stories to his four children, Nugent, Alan, Oliver, and Cecily. Rudyard Kipling was an intimate friend of Fitzpatrick and used to take part in the story-telling evenings. It was Kipling who persuaded him to put the stories together in book form. Edmund Caldwell was brought to South Africa by Fitzpatrick to make the drawings for the book. He had to go with Fitzpatrick to the Lowveld to make his drawings on the spot. The book appeared in 1907 for the first time and was an immediate success. The book was dedicated to his four children.
Jock of the Bushveld was reprinted four times that year and has never been out of print since it appeared for the first time until today.

Movie of the book 1986

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A movie was made in 1986 and an animated movie in 2011.

Quote from Rudyard Kipling

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