Description
Object description
Irish NCO and officer served with 1st Bn Northern Rhodesian Regt, 21st (East African) Infantry Bde, 11th (African) Infantry Div in Kenya and Somaliland, 1940-1941
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Ireland, India and Northern Rhodesia, 1907-1939: family; education; employment in India; recruitment to volunteer forces in India and Northern Rhodesia; German plan to sabotage copper mines in Northern Rhodesia; work force in copper mines; pro-German attitude of local South African Boers. Recollections of operations as NCO with 1st Bn Northern Rhodesian Regt, 21st (East African) Infantry Bde, 11th (African) Infantry Div in Kenya and British Somaliland, 1940-1941: initial recruitment to North Rhodesian Defence Force and early weapons training; joining regiment and move to Kenya; comparison between recruits from different tribes; use of 'authorised followers'; problems with African troops' motivation; Tanganyikan preference for German rule; punishments in unit; origins of officer corps; unit equipment.
REEL 2 Continues: unit equipment including Boys Anti-Tank Rifle; voyage from Kenya to British Somaliland, 5/1940; taking up positions on Ethiopian border; reconnaissance of Italian positions; use of arrowhead formation; opening fire on Italian positions without permission; extrication of unit; reprimanding NCO for disobeying orders; start of Italian advance; air support; cutting off of unit; drinking water from puddles; passage through Italian lines; exchange of fire between Italians and rearguard; arrival at waterhole and consumption of porcupine; re-gaining British lines.
REEL 3 Continues: Italian Air Force raid; orders to counter attack; his sole counter attack; confused rearguard action; description of Italian hand grenades; reaction to decision to evacuate British Somaliland; Italians' overwhelming superiority; nature of withdrawal from positions at Tug Argan Pass, British Somaliland; lack of Italian pressure; reaction of Somalis in Somaliland Camel Corps towards evacuation; destruction of Hawker Hurricanes on ground; embarkation at Berbera, British Somaliland; unit morale; reception at Aden, Aden Protectorate; return to Kenya for re-equiping including modification of Bren Gun. Aspects of period as officer with 1st Bn Northern Rhodesian Regt in Kenya, 1941: dispute over officers' uniform; officer training; air raid on Malindi; source of Italian intelligence.
REEL 4 Continues: move to Kenyan border and character of terrain; his wounding by panicky NCO; treatment for wounds; Banda tactics; evacuation to Nairobi; return to unit; stories illustrating African servants indifference to Italian fire; award of East Africa Force Badge; his interpretation of award of East Africa Force Badge.