Description
Object description
British officer served with Western Arab Corps, Sudan Defence Force in Nyala, Sudan, 1932-1935; served as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Governor General of Sudan at Khartoum, Sudan, 1935-1936; served with Western Arab Corps, Sudan Defence Force at Fasher, Sudan, 1936-1938; commanded Sudan Defence Force Bde in Eritrea, 11/1946-6/1947
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as officer with Western Arab Corps, Sudan Defence Force at Nyala in Sudan, 1932-1935: family's military background; pattern of military service prior to secondment to Sudan; journey to Khartoum; advice on reception at Headquarters, Sudan Defence Force in Khartoum; description of essential kit purchased; Wolseley Helmet and causes of sun stroke; uniform worn; use of mosquito boots; reason for use of tin boxes; hunting rifles; driving conditions during lorry journey to Fasher including overnight stops.
REEL 2 Continues: telling time by stars; learning Arabic; Arabic language examinations; nature of Arabic learnt; use of interpreters; method of speaking Arabic and nature of conversations; co-operation with district commissioners in Nyala; method of acquiring intelligence during patrols; Sudanese troops' method of estimating range; nature of terrain and Royal Air Force's problem with emergency airstrips; communications and supplies in Nyala, 1932-1935; use of Greek civilian owned vehicles to move supplies; rations.
REEL 3 Continues: terrain in Nyala District; tribal recruitment policy; paternalistic influence of local chiefs on discipline; length of training of Sudanese troops; comparison between British and Sudanese troops; question of excitable inaccurate shooting of Sudanese troops; nature of night training; acquiring fieldcraft skills from Sudanese troops; Sudanese skill at riding; annual routine; role of British officers detailed as 'floaters'; character of annual manoeuvres.
REEL 4 Continues: origins and description of Nyala Fort; custom of purchasing silver trumpets; lack of civil disturbance; description of horse shows; accompanying Sudan Police patrols; story of attitude of condemned Sudanese felon; interest in wildlife and flora; daily routine; recreational activities including playing polo; attending Sudanese officers' tea parties; use of Sudanese clerk; relations with Sudanese officers and appreciation of their historical oral tradition; attitude of Sudanese towards Egyptians; question of Sudanese independence and attitude of Sudanese officers.
REEL 5 Continues: question of promotion; opinion of Sudanese officers; long serving Sudanese NCOs; Sudanese attitude towards travel; Sudanese NCOs' training role; occasional reduction of Sudanese NCOs to ranks; nature of offenses; attitude towards administration of corporal punishment to troops; use of Koran to determine truth; taking advice of Sudanese NCOs; Sudanese troops' pay and importance of accurate issue; leave; accommodation; practise alarms for patrols; presence of Sudanese troops' families including education of children, wives' head woman and attitude towards adultery.
REEL 6 Continues: story of buying ex-police overcoats from GB for Sudanese troops; protocol for meetings and exchange of gifts with village chiefs; Sudanese troops' religious observance; effects of Ramadan on Sudanese troops; question of 'spells'; economic influence of Sudan Defence Force at Nyala; provision of fodder; Sudanese troops' allotments; description of accommodation; health issues; medical provision; absence of Christian missionaries; religious provision for British officers; presence of European women at Fasher; question of liaisons with Sudanese women.
REEL 7 Continues: Aspects of period as Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to Governor General of Sudan in Khartoum, Sudan, 1935: posting to Khartoum, 4/1935; story of teasing fellow officer; annual routine; dances; touring using Royal Air Force Vickers Victoria aircraft and Nile steamer; inter-corps postings in Sudan Defence Force. Aspects of period as officer with Western Arab Corps, Sudanese Defence Force in Fasher, Sudan, 1936-1938: duties as second-in-command; nature of Royal Air Force airfields in Darfur Province; intelligence gathering activities; attitude of district commissioners; situation on border with Italian Somaliland and degree of threat from Italians; mechanisation of Sudan Defence Force.
REEL 8 Continues: character of lifestyle with provincial headquarters at Fasher; duties; presence of European women in Fasher; background to return to GB, 1938. Aspects of period commanding Sudan Defence Force Bde in Eritrea, 10/1946-6/1947: background to taking command of brigade; effects of Anglicisation on Sudanese troops; dispositions of Sudanese Defence Force; attitude towards end of posting, 6/1947; attitude of Eritrean and Italian civilians; relations with civilian administration; relations between Eritrean and Sudanese troops; visits to Sudan, 1947 and 1958.