Description
Object description
An interesting extract (13pp, pages 21-33) from his undated ms memoir, recording his service (?June 1940 - May 1943) as a wireless operator and then as an officer with No 6 Troop, B Squadron, Kenya Armoured Car Regiment (KACR, 11th Eastern Division) in East Africa, including his return from Scotland to East Africa in the LLANDAFF CASTLE via West Africa and South Africa ( May 1940 - June 1940); being released as Provincial Forest Officer in Kenya for military service (?June 1940); his initial infantry training (?June 1940 - ?August 1940) with The Kenya Regiment at Eldoret where he also became a Swahili instructor; training with the KACR, formerly East African Reconnaissance Squadron (the Rekkies) in Nairobi and Ngare Ndare (?August 1940 - February 1941); active service with the KACR during the advance into Italian Somaliland and capture of Mogadishu (February 1941) and then into Abyssinia, advancing to Addis Ababa (?March 1942 - April 1942) and to Jimma (April 1941 - May 1941) and then occupying Addis Ababa (until September 1941) before returning to Kenya for leave (September 1941 – November 1941), and participating in the capture (November 1941) and occupation (November 1941 – January 1942) of Gondor by the 12th (African) Division; officer training with the OCTU at Njorox in Kenya (from February 1942); returning as a junior officer to his unit which was training at Gilgil in Kenya (no dates but until May 1943); his return to civilian life on the release of all East African agriculture and forestry officers from the Army to help boost food and timber production (1 May 1943); and commenting on army life, notably his training, the recruitment from many countries, the use of African troops, the lack of modern equipment, the casualties, travelling for two months and over 4,500 miles to obtain two weeks' leave, the racism of white officers from Kenya and Rhodesia, the Africanisation of his unit (1942), the friendship and camaraderie, his mixed feelings on his return to civilian life; protecting their Italian prisoners from vengeful Abyssinian irregulars; and life in Kampala working for the Transport Board which controlled all motor transport in Uganda (from May 1943). Together with: a ts transcription of his diary (13pp) covering the period February - December 1941 with brief details of his movements, enemy bombing and shelling, news of casualties; a photograph album containing 111 photos of Webster with his wireless and armoured car, scenes of Somaliland and Abyssinia, Officers and men, and African Soldiers; a ts history (36pp, written March 1942) of the East African Reconnaissance Squadron (1939 - December 1940), later East African Armoured Car Regiment (December 1940 - June 1941), before becoming the Kenya Armoured Car Regiment, with details of Officers who served in the Regiment, honours and awards awarded to men, a roll of honour, and accounts and diaries of 'A' Squadron's part in the action at El Wak, Somaliland (Somalia) (November - December 1940), 'C' Squadron patrolling with 11th (EA) Division (January - February 1941), the crossing of the Juba River, the campaign in Italian Somaliland and the advance to Addis Ababa (February - May 1941), the battle of the lakes (April - May 1941), operations in the Soddu District (May - June 1941), crossing the Omo River and the fall of Gimma (June - July 1941), 'A' Squadron with the 12th Division, in operations leading to the Battle of Uaddara, the blockade of French Somaliland (from June 1941), operations in the Gondar district (November - December 1941), and appendices containing copies of 23rd Nigerian Brigade and 11th Division Operation Orders and Instructions (1941); a photograph of Webster in uniform of Lieutenant KARC.
Content description
An interesting extract (13pp, pages 21-33) from his undated ms memoir, recording his service (?June 1940 - May 1943) as a wireless operator and then as an officer with No 6 Troop, B Squadron, Kenya Armoured Car Regiment (KACR, 11th Eastern Division) in East Africa, including his return from Scotland to East Africa in the LLANDAFF CASTLE via West Africa and South Africa ( May 1940 - June 1940); being released as Provincial Forest Officer in Kenya for military service (?June 1940); his initial infantry training (?June 1940 - ?August 1940) with The Kenya Regiment at Eldoret where he also became a Swahili instructor; training with the KACR, formerly East African Reconnaissance Squadron (the Rekkies) in Nairobi and Ngare Ndare (?August 1940 - February 1941); active service with the KACR during the advance into Italian Somaliland and capture of Mogadishu (February 1941) and then into Abyssinia, advancing to Addis Ababa (?March 1942 - April 1942) and to Jimma (April 1941 - May 1941) and then occupying Addis Ababa (until September 1941) before returning to Kenya for leave (September 1941 – November 1941), and participating in the capture (November 1941) and occupation (November 1941 – January 1942) of Gondor by the 12th (African) Division; officer training with the OCTU at Njorox in Kenya (from February 1942); returning as a junior officer to his unit which was training at Gilgil in Kenya (no dates but until May 1943); his return to civilian life on the release of all East African agriculture and forestry officers from the Army to help boost food and timber production (1 May 1943); and commenting on army life, notably his training, the recruitment from many countries, the use of African troops, the lack of modern equipment, the casualties, travelling for two months and over 4,500 miles to obtain two weeks' leave, the racism of white officers from Kenya and Rhodesia, the Africanisation of his unit (1942), the friendship and camaraderie, his mixed feelings on his return to civilian life; protecting their Italian prisoners from vengeful Abyssinian irregulars; and life in Kampala working for the Transport Board which controlled all motor transport in Uganda (from May 1943). Together with: a ts transcription of his diary (13pp) covering the period February - December 1941 with brief details of his movements, enemy bombing and shelling, news of casualties; a photograph album containing 111 photos of Webster with his wireless and armoured car, scenes of Somaliland and Abyssinia, Officers and men, and African Soldiers; a ts history (36pp, written March 1942) of the East African Reconnaissance Squadron (1939 - December 1940), later East African Armoured Car Regiment (December 1940 - June 1941), before becoming the Kenya Armoured Car Regiment, with details of Officers who served in the Regiment, honours and awards awarded to men, a roll of honour, and accounts and diaries of 'A' Squadron's part in the action at El Wak, Somaliland (Somalia) (November - December 1940), 'C' Squadron patrolling with 11th (EA) Division (January - February 1941), the crossing of the Juba River, the campaign in Italian Somaliland and the advance to Addis Ababa (February - May 1941), the battle of the lakes (April - May 1941), operations in the Soddu District (May - June 1941), crossing the Omo River and the fall of Gimma (June - July 1941), 'A' Squadron with the 12th Division, in operations leading to the Battle of Uaddara, the blockade of French Somaliland (from June 1941), operations in the Gondar district (November - December 1941), and appendices containing copies of 23rd Nigerian Brigade and 11th Division Operation Orders and Instructions (1941); a photograph of Webster in uniform of Lieutenant KARC.
History note
Cataloguer SJO