Description
Object description
British officer served with 5th Bn King's African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Infantry Bde, 12th (African) Infantry Div in Kenya, Italian Somaliland, Ethiopia and French Madagascar, 1940-1942
Content description
REEL 1 Recollections of period as officer with 5th Bn King's African Rifles in Kenya, 1939-1940: background with King's African Rifles officers' reserve; opinion of Italians; call up, 8/1939; expansion of regiment; importance of formal drill to troops; loss of officers to other newly formed battalions; importance of good tribal mix amongst recruits; use of mixed tribal sections; use of sport to build esprit de corps; troops' recreational activities; religious affiliations; cooking arrangements; morale and discipline; case of flogging after leaving Kenya; Askari attitude to discipline.
REEL 2 Continues: use of requisitioned vehicles for transport; character of Transport Section; introduction of carriers; mortars; opinion of wireless sets. Recollections of operations as officer with 22nd (East African) Infantry Bde, 12th (African) Infantry Div in Kenya and Ethiopia, 1940: company headquarters at Moyale, Ethiopia and Wajir, Kenya; plan to fall back if Italians advanced into Kenya; patrolling Kenyan/Ethiopian border at Moyale, Ethiopia; opinion of state of intelligence; clashes with Italian patrols at Buna, Kenya; withdrawal from Moyale, Ethiopia and Italian Air Force attack; patrolling from Buna, Kenya.
REEL 3 Continues: night approach march; withdrawal of Italians and attempt to harass it; effect on unit morale of raid and information gleaned; rest and refit at Nanyuki, Kenya; value of rifle; move to Kenya/Italian Somaliland border; arrival of Cape Corps, South African Army transport company and question of arming drivers. Aspects of operations as officer with 5th Bn King's African Rifles 22nd (East African) Infantry Bde, 12th (African) Infantry Div in Italian Somaliland, 1940: comforts of safari on campaign; advance to Kismayu and Mogadishu; sight of Italian prisoners of war. Recollections of operations as officer with 5th Bn King's African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Bde, 12th (African) Div in Ethiopia, 1940-1941: Brigadier Charles Fowkes keenness to reach Addis Ababa first; assault river crossing in Awash Gorge; terrain and Italian positions.
REEL 4 Continues: casualties; bridging the River Awash; arrival in Addis Ababa as first unit; arrangements for entry; location of headquarters; how Italians were allowed to continue holding of perimeter defences against bandits; question of threat from Ethiopia irregular forces; opinion of Italian defensive positions; move southwards; Italian positions at Mount Fike; nature of attack at Mount Fike; wounding by machine gun fire; terrain at Mount Fike; treatment at regimental aid post; evacuation by ambulance; medical treatment in hospital; evacuation to Kenya by air.
REEL 5 Continues: Aspects of period as officer with 5th Bn King's African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Infantry Bde, 12th (African) Infantry Div in Ethiopia and Kenya, 1941-1942: return to battalion at Jimma, Ethiopia; move to Yatta, Kenya; action to disarm unruly Somali battalion. Aspects of operations as officer with 5th Bn King's African Rifles, 22nd (East African) Infantry Bde, 12th (African) Infantry Div in French Madagascar, 1942: voyage from Kenya to French Madagascar; amphibious attack at Mayotte Island; landings at Tulear; Vichy French use of roadblocks; Vichy French aims; advance through French Madagascar; contrast between east and west coastal populations of French Madagascar; artillery support available during campaign; importance of keeping troops well informed; story illustrating power of witch doctor.
