Description
Object description
British officer served as intelligence officer with 5th Bn King's African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Infantry Bde, 12th (African) Infantry Div in Kenya and Ethiopia, 1940-1941; served with 5th Bn King's African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Bde Group in French Madagascar, 1942
Content description
REEL 1 Aspects of period as civilian with Colonial Service in Kenya, 1939-1940: expectation of war, 1939; prior Officer Training Corps training at school and University of Cambridge; arrival in Kenya; unpreparedness for war in Kenya, 1939; response for call for recruits to Pioneer Corps; support for war from settlers; internment of 'enemy aliens'; expectation of Italian invasion of Kenya. Aspects of training with Kenya Regiment in Kenya, 1940: release from Colonial Administrative Service to join regiment; basic training and instructors; selection for officer training; training syllabus and adaptation to African conditions. Recollections of period as officer with 5th Bn King's African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Infantry Bde, 12th (African) Div in Kenya, 1940: posting to battalion; move to Marsabit.
REEL 2 Continues: outpost and patrol duties at Marsabit; skirmishes with Italian irregular forces; airfield at Marsabit; security at patrol bases; Italian Air Force attacks; use of civil aircraft for military purposes; an improvised bombing raid; patrolling management of African troops; the tribal mix; assimilation of British officers; arms and transport; keenness of troops for rifles; motivation of African troops; accommodation; discipline; African troops' fear of crossing ocean; unit morale; rations and drink. Recollections of operations as intelligence officer with 5th Bn King's African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Infantry Bde, 12th (African) Infantry Div in Ethiopia, 1941: duties as intelligence officer; sources of intelligence.
REEL 3 Continues: interrogation of prisoners of war; quality of intelligence gleaned; use of Ethiopian and Italian interpreters; attitude of Italian civilians and Fascists; intelligence gathered from Ethiopian Patriots; assessment of intelligence; information from brigade; air co-operation; use of civilian agents; unreliability of intelligence gleaned from Somalis; problems of Italian intelligence gathering; Italian reluctance to operate at night; Italian use of tanks and armoured cars; performance of Italian infantry and artillery; Italian morale; atrocities carried out by Ethiopians; psychological warfare; tactics employed in Ethiopia.
REEL 4 Continues: success of attack on Italian positions at Mount Fike; description of attack on Mount Fike; importance of success at Mount Fike; surrender of Italian forces; reasons for lack of escapes; interrogation of prisoners of war; layout of Italian positions; contrast between Italian positions on Mount Fike and Vichy French positions on Madagascar; difficulty in crossing River Gilo; Italian armoured counter-attack at Bubissa; effect of tank attack; entry into Soddo; prisoners of war; taken during advance to Jimma; intelligence reports from Soddo.
REEL 5 Continues: quality of intelligence and best informants; how Italian prisoners of war feared Ethiopians; crossing River Omo; night operations and march to outflank Italian forces; technique for night river crossings; cohesion of night march; character of Italian positions; capture of Italian artillery positions by surprise attack; Italian retreat and surrender at Jimma; premature demolition of road to Jimma and bridging River Omo; relations with guerrillas; return to Kenya; garrison life in Jimma; Italian views of their defeat.
REEL 6 Continues: Recollections of operations as officer with 5th King's African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Bde Group in French Madagascar, 1942: African troops' fear of the sea; attitude to orders to go to French Madagascar; garrison duties in Diego Suarez; threats to port; intensive training in hills; formation of intelligence section; degree of contact with civilians; climate; landings at Majunga; advance inland; character of Tananarive; effect of parade in Tananarive on local population; aims of Vichy French forces; attitude of Vichy French; advance southwards and Vichy French delaying tactics; tactics for clearing roadblocks; unit casualties.
REEL 7 Continues: surprise attack on main Vichy French position; reconnaissance of Vichy French positions; quality of intelligence; comparison between Vichy French and Italian opposition; how terrain favoured ambushes; need for flank guards; opinion of French artillery; capture of prisoners of war; garrison duty after Armistice, 10/1942; supply problems; return to Kenya.
