The East African Forces

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Jul 11, 2020

BRITISH ACTIVITY AFTER THE MKALAMO ACTION

The trolley route from Mkalamo south to Handeni. From Mkalamo the trolley line ran south to Handeni and the Germans withdrew down the...

Jun 14, 2020

CENTRE AND EASTERN COLUMNS ON “HANNYNGTON’s LOOP” May 1916

This follows on from THE BRITISH ADVANCE FROM MBUYUNI TO THE SOUTH OF LAKE JIPE Lembeni Station with the Ngulu Gap above the water tank...

Jun 13, 2020

THE BRITISH ADVANCE FROM MBUYUNI TO THE SOUTH OF LAKE JIPE

Lake Jipe with the Northern Pare Mountains in the background In Spring 1916 when the British advance into German East Africa (Tanzania)...

Jun 6, 2020

THE CAPTURE OF MWANZA AND THE BRITISH ADVANCE TO THE GERMAN CENTRAL RAILWAY

Mwanza headland at sunset This article follows the one on the capture of Ukerewe Island. The port of Mwanza was the obvious next target...

May 10, 2020

THE CAPTURE OF UKEREWE ISLAND, VICTORIA NYANZA

Whilst the main British attack into German East Africa (Tanzania) was delivered from the Taveta region of British East Africa (Kenya),...

Mar 23, 2020

ASKARI BRAVERY AT JASIN - SIX AWARDS OF THE AFRICAN DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL

The Suba River above Jasin in dry weather PLEASE REFER TO THE ARTICLE "THREE INDIAN ORDERS OF MERIT AWARDED FOR HARD FIGHTING AT JASIN"...

Mar 13, 2020

3rd (KENYA) KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES ATTACKS LATEMA-REATA NEK

The well-defended Reata summits - a part of the 3 KAR objective in the attack In early March 1916 General Smuts, commanding British...

Feb 22, 2020

HOLDING THE LEFT FLANK. 1st KAR AND THE KAR MOUNTED INFANTRY PAY A PRICE IN BLOOD AT MBUYUNI

The Mbuyuni battlefield from the German positions. The German machine guns dominated the ground. The KAR advanced on the British left...

Feb 20, 2020

SAVING THE SOUTH AFRICANS. Lieutenant E.A. EDEN IS AWARDED A MILITARY CROSS

Unterer Himo hill viewed from the west By mid-March 1916 British forces had successfully crossed into German East Africa (Tanzania) from...

Feb 16, 2020

INTELLIGENCE AGENT F.C. SCOTT FIGHTS TO THE DEATH NEAR MOUNT KILIMANJARO

Looking towards Epiron from the north-east. Kilimanjaro in the right background. In early 1915 German patrols regularly came down from...

Feb 12, 2020

THE UGANDA POLICE SERVICE BATTALION DECISIVELY DEFEATS A GERMAN ATTACK

The site of the old crossing over the Kagera River at Kyaka. The laid-out laundry marks the old northern approach route to the crossing....

Feb 8, 2020

IKOMA FORT AND THE DISAPPEARANCE OF LIEUTENANT J.A. SUTHERLAND

Hidden by trees and on the edge of the Serengeti National Park in north-eastern Tanzania (formerly German East Africa) is a substantial...

Feb 8, 2020

SOMALIS ARE JOINED BY THE LOYAL NORTH LANCASHIRES TO FORM COLE'S SCOUTS

Nairobi HQ planned to disband the Somali Scouts (see Somali Scouts article) and place Captain Berkeley Cole in command of a company of...

Feb 3, 2020

THE TOUGH FIGHT ON MWAIKA HILL, GERMAN EAST AFRICA

On the nights of 9th and 12th February 1915 attacks were made on the Uganda Railway bridge at mile 521 between Nairobi & Kisumu, a...

Feb 2, 2020

TOO HOT TO HANDLE - LOSING MACHINE GUNS TO THE GERMANS AT SALAITA

An Askari of the Schutztruppe - the local German Army When World War I started 1st King's African Rifles (1 KAR) from Nyasaland (Malawi)...

Feb 2, 2020

THE SOMALI SCOUTS

Non-commissioned officers (NCOs) in the Somali Scouts Amongst the new units formed in British East Africa after the start of World War I...

Feb 1, 2020

Ross's Scouts raid across the German border into the Mara Valley

Traditional architecture in the Mara region Ross's Scouts was a European mounted unit formed in British East Africa (BEA) after the...

Jan 31, 2020

THE ASSAULT ON MAFIA ISLAND BY THE KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES

Map showing location of Mafia Island On 30 October 1914 the Royal Navy had ascertained that the German cruiser KONIGSBERG was in the...

Jan 31, 2020

THE BRAVERY OF MEN OF 3 (KENYA) KING'S AFRICA RIFLES ON LONGIDO MOUNTAIN

Longido Mountain lay 10 miles south of Namanga, the British East Africa post on the border with German East Africa (see the map in the...

Jan 30, 2020

THE EXCELLENT SCOUTING SKILLS OF PRIVATE W.H.N. WEBBER DCM, EAST AFRICAN MOUNTED RIFLES

The hills above Namanga After its first major action at Longido (see article The Fighting at Longido on 3rd November 1914) the East...

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