Walters, Peter Ernest (Oral history)

British NCO served with Kenya Defence Force and Kenya Regt in Kenya, 1931-1939; NCO and officer served with 1/3rd (Machine Gun) Bn, King’s African Rifles, 23rd (Nigerian) Bde, 11th African Div in Kenya, Ethiopia and French Somaliland, 1940-1941; served with Armoured Car Regt, King’s African Rifles in Kenya and Madagascar, 1942-1944

REEL 1 Recollections of period as NCO with Kenya Defence Force and Kenya Regt in Kenya, 1931-1939: background to enlistment; training and basic field work; character of personnel; joining Kenya Regt, 1937; training; prospect of war; uniform worn; character and organisation of Kenya Regt; training in Kampala, Uganda after outbreak of Second World War; tactical exercises in northern Kenya; forced marches; effects of terrain; rations and water discipline; equipment carried. REEL 2 Continues: effect of joint exercise on race relations; blistered feet amongst white officers; footwear worn by African troops. Recollections of operations as NCO and officer with 1/3rd (Machine Gun) Bn, King’s African Rifles, 23rd (Nigerian) Bde, 11th African Div in Kenya, 1940-1941: construction of defensive line; attitude to approach of war; joining unit; strength and organisation of unit; language problems in Nyasa Coy; character of Nyasa troops; discipline and punishments; religion; problems with venereal disease. REEL 3 Continues: gambling and drinking; messing arrangements; training on Vickers Machine Gun; organisation of machine gun detachment; daily training routine; digging in machine gun positions; tactical roles of machine guns; use against Italian artillery on River Tana;; gas training; move to River Tana; preparations of defensive positions at Garissa. REEL 4 Continues: character and construction of River Tana defence line; logistical arrangements and programme of road improvements; air activity on border; patrols; Italian inactivity; Italian Air Force bombing raid; off duty activities; mess and leave arrangements; motivation of African troops. REEL 5 Continues: attending OCTU at Nakuru; Tactical Exercises Without Troops and lectures; public speaking; reaction to discipline and length of course; selection for OCTU; opinion of relevance of officer training; man-management and handling troops skills. Recollections of operations as officer with 1/3rd (Machine Gun) Bn, King’s African Rifles, 23rd (Nigerian) Bde, 11th African Div in Ethiopia, 1941: return to unit in Ethiopia; condition of his platoon. REEL 6 Continues: seizure of Marda Pass; difficulties of operating in Ethiopia; capture of Harar; Italian positions on Marda Pass; effects of shellfire on troops; handling of casualties; difficulty of communications; command process; effect of terrain on operations; Italian POWs; character of roads; move to Dire Dawa; health of troops during campaign; change in command. REEL 7 Continues: obstacle of the River Awash; scarcity of fuel and moving by vehicle; problems of transport; character of unit discipline; description of Dire Dawa; crossing River Awash by Bailey Bridge; motorised dash to Addis Ababa; Italian surrender; entry into city; accommodation in barracks; character of city; problems with alcohol and prostitution in Addis Ababa. REEL 8 Continues: period of reorganisation; assignment to FOCOL; composition of FOCOL; advance towards Jimma; nature of Italian opposition at Soddu; Italian stand on River Kolito and use of armour; accidental bombing by RAF aircraft; assistance received against Italian armour from Sergeant Nigel Leakey who was awarded the Victoria Cross 19/5/1941; East African armoured cars; behaviour of troops under shellfire at Soddu; crossing of River Kolito; surrender of Italians at Jimma. REEL 9 Continues: character of Jimma; attitude of Italian civilian population. Aspects of operations as officer with 1/3rd (Machine Gun) Bn, King’s African Rifles, 23rd (Nigerian) Bde, 11th African Div in French Somaliland, 1941: orders to provide internal security duties in French Somaliland; patrolling railway line; terrain and climate; railway and station facilities; relations with Somali tribesmen; patrol technique; wireless communications; return to Jimma, Ethiopia and Kenya. Recollections of operations as officer with Armoured Car Regiment, King’s African Rifles in Kenya and Madagascar, 1942-1944: re-equipping and retraining as armoured car regiment; armoured cars supplied. REEL 10 Continues: proposed reconnaissance role in armoured cars; organisation of unit; communications; range of vehicles; attitude of Africans to armoured cars; formations for patrols; cross-country driving; unsuccessful night training; turret layout; range of communications; landing on Madagascar; in encampment near Joffreville; briefing for move to Madagascar; orders to fraternise with Vichy French population; conditions for native population; attitude of troops to posting. REEL 11 Continues: contacts with French settlers; duties as adjutant; state of discipline; training restrictions; sickness; change in attitude of French towards British forces; opinion of Corsican administers; opinion of French Police; return to East Africa, 1944; transfer to Colonial Service, 1945.