Description
Object description
British officer served with 1/6th Bn Kings African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Bde, 12th (African) Infantry Div in Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia, 1/1941-5/1941
Content description
REEL 1 Background in GB, 1912-1939: family; education; employment. Recollections of operations as officer with 1/6th Bn Kings African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Bde, 12th (African) Infantry Div in Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia, 1/1941-5/1941: background to applying for service in Africa after service with Royal Scots, 1940; learning Swahili language; high morale; character of African troops; differences between African and Scottish troops; advance into Italian Somaliland; attack on Afmadu, Italian Somaliland; bombing attack; character of vegetation in bush; water rationing; advance into Italian Somaliland; release of captured Merchant Navy personnel; quality of rations; opinion of Italian Somaliland; Brigadier Charles Fowkes' bluff at Marda Pass, Ethiopia; opinion of Brigadier Charles Fowkes.
REEL 2 Continues: formation of 'Left Ear Club'; Italian ambush at Arba, Ethiopia; Thorne's looting of sugar for platoon; threat of lightning on high ground; efficiency of different units; entry into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; opinion of Ethiopians; looting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; behaviour of Ethiopians towards prisoners of war; pursuit of Italians southwards; reprimand received for arriving late for attack at Colito, Ethiopia; attack across river at Colito, Ethiopia; African troops' bravery during attack; bayonet attack and use of pangas on Italians; wounding in hip; bluffing of Italians.
REEL 3 Continues: his orders to stretcher-bearers to rescue wounded African soldier at Colito, Ethiopia; how Sergeant Nigel Leakey won his Victoria Cross during Italian tank attack at Colito, Ethiopia; ordering Italian prisoners of war to stand up; question of decorations to unit; removal of wounded to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; South African wounded mistaking him for an Italian; removal to Nairobi, Kenya for convalescence; awards to battalion; rejoining unit without permission; attempt to organise brothels at Dessie, Ethiopia; advance to Gondar, Ethiopia; opinion of company commander; disintegration of discipline on route to Kulkabar, Ethiopia; Italian attempt to deceive unit at Kulkabar, Ethiopia; company commanders flight at Kulkabar.
REEL 4 Continues: moving of Regimental Aid Post (RAP) forward; mosquito problem; withdrawal of unit into reserve; performance of 1/4th Bn Kings African Rifles at Kulkabar, Ethiopia; Italian use of wire mines; work of Abyssinian Patriots; South African attitude towards Haile Selassie; water supply problems; illnesses; specially constructed roads; capture of gold from monastery; use of captured Lira; example of combative Italian; African troops' use of pangas in action; reception in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; problem governing Ethiopia.