"The old and the bold"

[iaindh]

I'm currently reading the book, "They fought for King and Kaiser, South Africans in German East Africa 1916" by James Ambrose Brown and came across the following passage that made me chuckle:

"Indeed, never before in the history of that vast territory had such armies been ranged against each other. Tribal warriors of East Africa, now fully trained and masters of the bush, German machine gunners and artillerymen and the most polyglot mixture of British Imperial troops ever assembled on one battlefield. Stocky Lancashiremen of speech all but unintelligible to the settler soldiers of the 2nd Rhodesians; Baluchis from the North West frontier, long enemies of the British; King's African Riflemen from subjugated Kenyan tribes; fighters from the mystic hills of Kashmir - Punjabis who had fought with fanatical courage in the Indian Mutiny; Royal Fusiliers with their mixed bag of scoundrels, remittance men, alcoholics and heroes and adventurers."

He meant of course the 25th (Frontiersmen) Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) amongst whom was the great Frederick Selous.

Incidentally I didnt know whether to post this in the British section but with it's dealing with South Africans specifically, so I thought I'd post it here.

I am enjoying the book; great reading and it seems to me few people know of the campaign in GEA.

Iain

[Madziro]

It is a fascinating campaign. Another good reference book is the official government one called The South Africans with General Smuts in German East Africa1916 printed by the government printer in 1939.

Attached some of the metal shoulder titles / collars worn as the only regimental distinction by the Indian regiments deployed there, that have come my way, for interest!

[Madziro]

Helmet badge of the 2nd Rhodesia Regt in GEA. There are a few variants as many were hand made from sheet brass.

[iaindh]

Hi Dudley,

you are lucky to have such an interesting collection of badges from the GEA campaign and thanks for posting and sharing them.

regards, Iain

[Brian Conyngham]

Dudley and Iain

I have always been interested in the GEA campaign, possibly as my grandfather fought in it. The official history as mentioned by Dudley is great except very tedious reading as the author jumps backwards and forwards in time....I am trying to get through a copy myself, summarizing as I go along!

Many of the unit diaries are available at Kew.

There are a number of works on this campaign all interesting.

Brian

[Madziro]

Gents, thanks for the kind words. The campaign is fascinating for me, hence the interest. I had the opportunity of visiting Tanzania while still serving with the SANDF and got to see the areas around Kilimanjaro, Arusha and also Dar es Salaam. There is a statue of a German askari in central Dar es Salaam to this day. Here are some more titles from that campaign.

[iaindh]

Brian,

I can understand your interest if your Grandfather was in the GEA campaign; what unit did he serve in?

Dudley,

you have an amazing collection and your overall collection must be quite extensive.
I've never been to Tanzania; it must be a very interesting country to visit.

General Smuts was an incredible leader and strategist, (although he drove his men hard,) my Father spoke highly of him from WWII.

regards, Iain

[Brian Conyngham]

Iain

In one of Dudleys above, the 9th SAH. I pulled the diary for the 9th from Kew, make interesting reading. I plan to oneday compile a small booklet from it with pictures etc. He suffered from all the usual tropical problems our troops battled with. He hated Van Deventer along with all the other SA troops who fell under him. Troops were hungry all the time and once the horses died they became foot sloggers, wearing mounted uniforms just crazy by todays standards! I have his badge and medals.

Nice collection Dudley.

Brian

[iaindh]

Brian,

they went through some terrible times with disease and the supply chain for food was pathetic. How they still managed to fight and win is incredible.
I wish you well with your history of your Grandfather's unit. You're lucky to have his medals and badges.

Does anyone know what Ghurka unit fought there?

regards, Iain

[Madziro]

Have attached the Kilimanjaro Ops Orbat for March 1916 for interest. The coloured signs were worn on the Wolseley helmet puggarrees.

By April there were a total of 3 Divisions, LoC Troops and a variety of loosely formed forces, including the Lake Force and the Rhodesia and Nyasaland Field Force. None of these Orbats indicate Gurkha units, but that it not to say that they were not there!

[Brian Conyngham]

Dudley

Do you have the unit flashes for the SA Horse units? I believe the 9th SAH wore a Red Diamond?

Regards
Brian

[iaindh]

Dudley,

Thanks for posting the Ops Orbat, it is very interesting and concise.

James Ambrose Brown makes several references to Gurkhas in his book, one is on P. 209, however not to a specific unit.

He does mention Baluchis and Punjabis, (both northern states of India,) being involved in an action with the Fusiliers where a German position was taken. Lieutenant Molloy, an RSM who had been given a field commission and who is frequently referenced, praises the Gurkhas and Fusiliers.

It could be Molloy thought that the Indian Units were Gurkhas or that some Gurkhas were attached as was often the case.

I do also have a book on the history of the Gurkhas called "Valour," and it makes no reference to GEA although in WWI, they did fight in France, Palestine, Gallipolli and Mesopotamia.

regards, Iain

[SteveE]

The references to Gurkhas in East Africa relate to the Kashmir Rifles, 50% of the 2nd and 3rd Kashmir Rifles manpower were Gurkhas with the rest being Dogras and Punjabis.

Regards

Steve

[iaindh]

Hi Steve,

many thanks for filling in the gap. It does explain a lot.

regards, Iain

[Madziro]

Brian

Here is a drawing of the SA helmet flashes I did some time back for a book on SA badges. Hope it is of use.

Regards

Dudley