Destroyed by Fire - Medals of a proud African officer & Ruler go up in flames.
Saudi Chwa II requested a commission in the British Forces & was appointed an Hon Lieut in the 4th Battalion of the KAR based in Uganda.
East African Forces
The East African Forces were recruited for service from within Kenya, Uganda and Somalia. As the war progressed recruitment also took place in German East Africa now Tanzania.
The British Advance on Dar es Salaam - August & September 1916
The British plan for seizing Dar Es Salaam was to advance south from Bagamoyo whilst a fourth column moved southwest to Ngerengere.
Fight for Zuganatto Bridge - 15 & 15 June 1916
At the end of the Spring rains in 1916 British Columns under General Smuts pushed south down the Pangani River and the Usambara railway line
Surrender of Wilhelmstal in South Pare Mountains - 10 June 1916
High in the South Pare Mountains above Mombo was the German hill-station of Wilhelmstal
Centre & Eastern Column on 'Hannyngton's Loop' - May 1916
Hannyngton was to continue his advance, with the South Pare hills to his right, down to Mkomazi a diversion named 'Hannyngton’s Loop'
British Advance from Mbuyuni to the South of Lake Jipe - May 1916
British advance was westwards from British East Africa (Kenya) through Taveta to Kahe and Moshi.
Capture of Mwanza & the British Advance to the German Central Railway - 14 July 1916
The port of Mwanza was the obvious next target for the Allies.
Capture of Ukerewe Island on Lake Victoria - 9 - 15 June 1916
attack came down Lake Victoria to seize Ukerewe Island. It was important to seize the island in preperation for a later attack on Mwanza
Askari Bravery at Jasin - 18 January 1915
Whilst Indian Army units were fighting for their survival at Jasin on 18 January 1915, King's African Rifles Askari were also fighting hard
Bravery of 3/KAR on Longido Mountain - September 1915
British Military Headquarters hushed up details of the action at Longido West on 20 September 1915 in order not to damage morale.
3rd (Kenya) KAR Attacks Latema-Reata Nek - March 1916
In early March 1916 General Smuts ordered an attack into German East Africa near Taveta.
Holding the left Flank. KAR & KAR Mounted Infantry pay a price in blood at Mbuyuni - 14 July 1915
Colour Sergeant Juma i - an African hero.
Saving the South Africans! E.A. EDEN Awarded the Military Cross - 19 March 1916
By mid-March 1916 British forces had successfully crossed into German East Africa (Tanzania) from the Taveta area. Accompanying the...
Intelligence Agent F.C. Scott flights to the death near Mt. Kilimanjaro - 10 March 1915
Warant Officer Scott had been seen by one of the 5 survivors from the bivouac fighting to the last, surrounded by a group of sepoys.
Uganda Police Service Battalion Decisively defeats a German Attack - 18 February 1916
For conspicuous gallantry when holding with a few men a post, which he had constructed, against an overwhelming number of the enemy with a m
Ikoma Fort & the disappearance of Lieut J.A. Sutherland - 29th June 1917
on the edge of the Serengeti National Park in north-eastern Tanzania is a substantial fort built by the German colonial military authorities
Somalis are joined by Loyal North Lancashire's to form Cole's Scouts - 6 April 1915
The 2 LNL War Diary for 7th May 1915 lists Cole's Scouts as on an operation with a strength of 5 officers, 98 other ranks and 1 Machine Gun.
Magadi Defence Force in action against German invaders
"We came into being at the outbreak of war – a small and mixed party gathered together haphazard."
Tough Fight in Mwaika Hill - 9 March 1915
Mwaika Hill summit consists of two parallel ridges with a shallow rocky valley separating them. Drought's Troop as leading scouts had just r
Losing machine guns to the Germans at Salaita - 28 March 1915
In late March 1915 KAR were chosen to operate against the German position on Salaita Hill east of Taveta.
The Somali Scouts
Amongst the new units formed in British East Africa after the start of WWI was a mounted unit raised by a well-known settler Berkeley Cole
Recovering the SS Sybil from German territory on Lake Victoria - May 1915
The SS Sybil was one of the smaller steamers on Lake Victoria with a capacity of 700 tons and a speed of 9 knots.
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...
Assault on Mafia Island by KAR - 8 January 1915
Lt Col Mackay developed an intelligence operation in German East Africa from his base on Mafia Island, sending agents to & from the mainland
East African Police Service Battalion
The BEA Police selected 400 Askari for the Police Service Battalion plus twelve European officers and two Warrant Officers
Excellent Scouting skills of Private W.H.N. Webber DCM, EAMR -
Occasionally a stiff fight developed with the Germans, but most of the time was spent on reconnaissance patrols.
African Odyssey that ended at Mwele Mdogo - 13 January 1916
Died from the effects of exhaustion after effecting the relief of Mwele Mdogo, Kenya; while suffering from fever he made a forced march
KAR Askari & Somali Scouts in the Tsavo Valley - 1914
On 25th September British scouts operating covertly reported that around three companies of German troops were approaching down the valley
Arab Rifles & Nyasaland Askari fight off a German advance on Mombasa - 22 September 1914
Majoreni - defended by Lieut A.J.B. Wavell, & the 60 Arab soldiers that he had recruited from estates along the coast
An East African Intelligence Department Officer at the Tanga Landing
A resident of East Africa & an Indian intelligence officer were selected to land ahead of the invasion to obtain vital information...
A Skirmish at Mbuyuni - 20 December 1914
A Military Cross to Lieutenant Edward Lionel Musson and a King’s African Rifles Distinguished Conduct Medal to Sergeant Aboukir Ahmed,...
The Fighting at Kisii on 12 September 1914
For doing very good work and displaying great bravery when at close quarters with the enemy, although twice wounded, at the action at Kissi
The fighting at Longido on 3rd November 1914
For gallant conduct on 3rd November 1914, during the engagement at Longido (East Africa), when he assisted to carry a wounded comrade into c