Description
Object description
British officer commanded 6th (Tanganyika) Bn King's African Rifles in Tanganyika, 1929-1935; served with 2nd Bn South Wales Borderers in Malta and Palestine, 1935-1938; commanded 1/4th Bn King's African Rifles in Uganda, 1938-1940; commanded 1/4th Bn King's African Rifles, 21st (East Africa) Infantry Bde, 11th (African) Infantry Div in East Africa, 1940-1941
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as officer with South Wales Borderers, 1911-1929: officer training at Royal Military College, Sandhurst, GB, 1910-1911; flow of Welsh speaking recruits into South Wales Borderers, 1914; service with 4th (Service) Bn South Wales Borderers, 40th Bde, 13th (Western) Div during Gallipoli Campaign, 7/1915-1/1916; postings, 1916-1929. Recollections of period commanding 6th (Tanganyika) Bn King's African Rifles in Tanganyika, 1929-1935: background to secondment to command battalion at Dar Es Salaam, 1929; kitting out; initial impressions on arrival in Tanganyika including reception and local economy; scale of military establishment in East Africa.
REEL 2 Continues: methods of recruitment; medical screening of potential recruits for venereal disease; story illustrating enthusiasm of potential recruits to enlist; how medical treatment of African troops' wives was complicated by local customs; tribal recruitment policy; policy of teaching African troops English; African recruits' training; African troops' footwear; opinion of African NCOs; discipline of African troops: use of corporal punishment; patience necessary; role of King's African Rifles; African troops' conditions of service.
REEL 3 Continues: seasonal routine including training patrols and visits to outstations; story of uprising against Germans in Mahenge Region, 1905; battalion organisation; conditions of service; army's disapproval of married officers; recreational activities; social life; attitude of South African Boer settlers; relations with colony's governors including Sir Harold MacMichael; how King's African Rifles financed; story of healer's (described as 'witchdoctor') curse on African NCO; illustration of African medicine.
REEL 4 Continues: further details of effect of witchdoctor's curse on African NCO; later use of British NCO of Army Educational Corps to teach African troops English, 1938; Africanisation in civil service in Tanganyika. Aspects of period as officer with 2nd Bn South Wales Borderers in Malta and Palestine, 1935-1938: return to regimental duties, 1935; preparation of Malta's defences; service in Palestine. Recollections of period commanding 1/4th Bn King's African Rifles in Uganda, 1938-1940: taking command of battalion at Bombo, Uganda, 1938; tribal recruitment policy; combined exercises with Royal Air Force and reaction of African troops; prior recollection of combined exercises with Royal Navy with 6th Bn King's African Rifles in Tanganyika; sight of Italian threat; outstations; role of battalion.
REEL 5 Continues: situation on Ethiopian border; British officers' arrest by Italians, 1940; relations with Governor Sir Philip Mitchell and his view of King's African Rifles; tours to 'show the flag'; training territorial unit; mobilisation plans; Africanisation of civil service in Uganda; Africanisation policy in King's African Rifles; business role of Greek and Indian communities; effects of expansion of King's African Rifles; system for British officer secondment; opinion of war preparations; story of problems caused by African soldier's wife's adultery.
REEL 6 Continues: dispute with Catholics over adultery case; morale, recreations and conditions of service for African troops; Governor Sir Philip Mitchell's Makerere College project; benefits of relationship with Governor Sir Philip Mitchell and his assistance in facilitating communications between African troops and their tribal communities; African troops' leave. Aspects of operations commanding 1/4th Bn King's African Rifles, 21st (East Africa) Infantry Bde, 11th (African) Infantry Div in East Africa, 1940-1941: mechanised transport; degree of co-operation with other units; African troops' performance; dispelling suspicions between East and West African troops.