Great War 2 (1939-1945)

Film footage – Africa at war 1914-1945

Anne February 1, 2024

Links are to the Colonial Film website which contains a good synopsis and other details of each film.

1915 – Outposts Of Empire: British East African Troops Entraining On An Expedition Against German Territory (footage held by BFI: ID: 512962)
1916 – Operations of the British Expeditionary Forces in East Africa – Cherry Kearton (25th Royal Fusiliers (Legion of Frontiersmen) footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: IWM 84)
1928 – Safari in East Africa featuring the 5th Battalion King’s East African Rifles returning from a route march (footage held by BFI: ID: 457935)
1930 – King’s African Rifles on parade (footage held by BFI: ID: 603060)
1940 – British News No. 22: SOUTH AFRICA BUILDS ITS OWN ARMOURED CARS; SOUTH AFRICAN TROOPS IN KENYA (footage held by BFI: ID: 671099)
1940 – Men of Africa – no mention of the war despite being released during the conflict: synopsis states: Development programmes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika illustrate that “even in the midst of war, Great Britain does not shirk her responsibilities to her colonies.” – contrast with 1945 Father and Son (footage held by BFI: ID: 13340 and Imperial War Museum: ID: CCE 200)
1941 – War Came to Kenya (footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: CCE 202)
1942 – Showing Natives Of East Africa Being Taught And Trained To Become Effective Units Of A Water Transport Company (footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: AYY 832)
1943 – British News No. 152: INDIANS IN TUNIS; KENYA POLICE AT FOOTBALL; LIGHTER MOMENTS IN THE DESERT; SOUTH AFRICA COAST DEFENCE (footage held by BFI: ID: 671317)
1944 – Lt. Gen. Stone Presents B.E.M. To East African Private Valentino Owori of the East African Pioneer Corps (footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: AYY 754)
1944 – Road to Victory – South African Army at war (footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: COI 839)
1944 – East Africa Army Exhibition in Nairobi in September 1944 (footage at Imperial War Museum: ID: AYY 809)
1944 – An East African Army Field Bakery (footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: AYY 1171)
1944 – An East African Entertainment Unit (footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: AYY 1172)
1945 – Father and Son British Navy, generation/cultural topics – watch online
1945 = East African Chiefs in Colombo – heads of tribes represented in 11th East African Division fighting in Burma (footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: JFU 271)
1945 – African Home Life – recruiting for King’s African Rifles (footage held by BFI: ID: 3003)
1945 – Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese visits 11th East African Division – Leese was commander Allied Land Forces South East Asia (ALFSEA) (footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: JFU 260)
1945 – No 1 East African Entertainment Unit (footage held by Imperial War Museum: ID: JFU 259)
1945 – Colonial Cinemagazine No.3 – rehabilitation of African soldiers in East Africa and a victory parade in Nairobi (footage held by BFI: ID: 4625)
1946 – Colonial troops in England for the Victory Parade on 8 June 1946 (footage held by BFI: ID: 21304)

Info on watching films at BFI

British Empire Medal Rolls and Medal Cards

Anne July 26, 2022

The National Archives in London has the Medal Rolls for the following, they can be accessed online through Ancestry. (see here for the difference between the Medal Rolls and Medal Cards). Indian and West Indian rolls are also available but have not been included as they are not split into theatres where served. Many of those with medal cards are already listed on the GWAA Names of those who survived and died. The others are being added as time allows (or others kindly provide information).
For awards – monetary and medal, take a look at the General Routine Orders (some are already collated on tab 2 of the GWAA Names list, and are at WO 123/288 and WO 123/289) and in the Gazettes – London, Kenya, South Africa (Union and High Commission).

Unit	Reference
2nd Rhodesia Regiment: medal rolls COL/119B; COL/119B1; COL/119B2 (Pages 1-145). COL/147B (Pages 1-140). British War...	WO 329/2337
British South Africa Police miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/6/6 (pages 1-32); COL/6/9 (page 1). 1914-15 Star...	WO 329/2937
British South Africa Police: medal rolls COL/118B; COL/118B1; COL/118B2 (Pages 1-100). COL/146B; COL/146B1; COL/146B2; COL/146B3;...	WO 329/2336
Calcutta Volunteer Battery, East Africa miscellaneous: medal rolls. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
Chaplains Department, East Africa miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/62. Page 1. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
Chaplains Department, Uganda miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/35; COL/5/36. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Customs Preventive Service, West Africa miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/1/1. Page 1-17. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2934
Customs Preventive Service, West Africa: medal rolls COL/124B; COL/124B1; COL/124B2. Pages 1-18. British War Medal...	WO 329/2330
East Africa and Uganda Protectorate Forces: medal rolls EAFR/107; EAFR/107/1; EAFR/107/2; EAFR/107/3. Pages 1-150. British...	WO 329/2364
East Africa Expeditionary Force: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units].	WO 329/2342
East Africa Maxims: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units].	WO 329/2343
East Africa Medical Service: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units].	WO 329/2343
East Africa Miscellaneous Units: medal rolls COL/136; COL/136B; COL/136B2; COL/136B3; COL/136B4; COL/136B5; COL/136B6. Pages 1-244....	WO 329/2343
East Africa Miscellaneous Units: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units].	WO 329/2344
East Africa Mounted Rifles: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units].	WO 329/2343
East Africa Ordnance Department: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units].	WO 329/2343
East Africa Pioneer Corps: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units].	WO 329/2343
East Africa Police: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units].	WO 329/2343
East Africa Railway Transport Department: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units]....	WO 329/2343
East Africa Regiment miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/2. Pages 1-19. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East Africa Transport Corps: medal rolls. British War Medal and Victory Medal [Colonial Units].	WO 329/2343
East African Field Telegraph and Royal Engineer Volunteers miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/20. Pages 1-3. 1914-15...	WO 329/2939
East African Force Ammunition Column miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/73. Pages 1-2. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Intelligence Department miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/24. Pages 1-8. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Local Forces: medal rolls.	WO 329/2365
East African Mechanical Transport Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/9. Pages 1-16. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Medical Service officers: medal rolls. OFF/239 (page 1); OFF 255 (page 5). 1914-15...	WO 329/2956
East African Medical Services miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/21. Pages 1-13. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Military Audit Department miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/11. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Military Labour Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/3. Pages 1-7. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Mounted Rifles miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/1. Pages 1-65. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Natives (Kenya and Uganda local issues): medal rolls EAFR/101 (Pages 1-18). EAFR/102 (Pages...	WO 329/2366
East African Natives (Tanganyika local issues): medal rolls 23-109. Pages EAFR/106/2. British War Medal and...	WO 329/2363
East African Natives: medal rolls EAFR/107/3; EAFR/107/4. Pages 151-400. British War Medal and Victory Medal....	WO 329/2365
East African Nursing Service miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/22. pages 1-7. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Ordnance Department miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/23. Pages 1-3. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Pay Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/12. Pages 1-3. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Pioneer Company miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/4. Pages 1-13. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Police Military Service Battalion miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/66. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Police miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/57. Pages 1-8. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Prison Guards miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/18. Pages 1-2. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Railway Transport miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/64. Pages 1-3. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Somali Scouts miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/65. Page 1. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Supply Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/8. Pages 1-11. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Supply Corps, Indian element miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/8. Pages 1-11. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Transport Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/7. Pages 1-19. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Transport Corps, Indian element miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/7. Pages 1-19. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African unattached and miscellaneous lists miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/6. Pages 1-9. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Units: returned medals and issues to Europeans: medal rolls COVER. Pages 71A. British...	WO 329/2367
East African Veterinary Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/5. Pages 1-10. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
East African Volunteer Artillery miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/17. Pages 1-2. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2939
Gambia Company, West African Frontier Force miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/4/5. Pages 1-17. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2934
Gambia Company, West African Frontier Force: medal rolls COL/108B. Pages 1-40. British War Medal and...	WO 329/2329
Gambia Coy (Weet African Frontier Force) officers: medal rolls OFF/249. Pages 1-3. British War Medal...	WO 329/2305
Indian Army, miscellaneous units miscellaneous: medal rolls. INDIA 1B-2. Pages 1-227; OFF/235A. Pages 1-25. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Indian Expeditionary Force B, Zanzibar Section miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/25/2. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Inland Water Transport, West African Contingent Royal Engineers: medal rolls COL/169B. Pages 1-73. British War...	WO 329/2330
Kings African Rifles miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/60; COL/5/61; COL/5/62; COL/5/63; COL/5/64; COL/5/65; COL/5/66; COL/5/67; COL/5/68;...	WO 329/2938
King's African Rifles officers: medal rolls OFF/248. Pages 1-; 7-9; 22-32; 32-52; 52-63; 63-102; 102-104....	WO 329/2305
Kings African Rifles officers: medal rolls. OFF/248. Page 4. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2956
King's African Rifles: medal rolls COL/128B (Pages 1-128). COL/129 (Pages 1-71). British War Medal and...	WO 329/2360
King's African Rifles: medal rolls COL/128B; COL/128B1; COL/128B2; COL/128B3; COL/128B4; COL/128B5 (Pages 1-46). COL/155B; COL/155B2;...	WO 329/2341
King's African Rifles: medal rolls COL/155B4; COL/155B5; COL/155B6; COL/155B7 (Pages 244-450). COL130B; COL130B2; COL130B3 (Page...	WO 329/2342
King's African Rifles: medal rolls.	WO 329/2363
King's African Rifles: medal rolls.	WO 329/2364
King's African Rifles: medal rolls.	WO 329/2365
Mombasa Indian Volunteer Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/67. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Mombasa Marine Defence Regiment miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/19. Pages 1-4. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Mombasa Town Guard miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/70. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Native Interpreters, Machine Gun Porters, Scouts and Stretcher Bearers - Northern Rhodesia Forces: medal rolls...	WO 329/2359
Nigerian Regiment, West African Frontier Force: medal rolls NIG/101A2 (Pages 1A-10A). COL/163A; COL/163A2; COL/163A3 (Pages...	WO 329/2359
Nigerian Regiment, West African Frontier Force: medal rolls NIG/101A2 (Pages 1A-10A). COL/163A; COL/163A2; COL/163A3 (Pages...	WO 329/2935
Nigerian Regiment, West African Frontier Force: medal rolls NIG/101A2 (Pages 1A-10A). COL/163A; COL/163A2; COL/163A3 (Pages...	WO 329/2936
Northern Rhodesia Medical Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/6/4. Pages 1-90. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2937
Northern Rhodesia Medical Corps: medal rolls COL/121B. Pages 1-2. British War Medal and Victory Medal...	WO 329/2339
Northern Rhodesia Police miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/6/8. Pages 1-90. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2937
Northern Rhodesia Rifles miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/6/7; COL6/11; COL 6/12. Pages 1-16. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2937
Northern Rhodesia Rifles: medal rolls COL/120B; COL/120B1; COL/120B2. Pages 1-25. British War Medal and Victory...	WO 329/2336
Rhodesia Native Regiment: medal rolls COL/122B (Pages 1-26). COL/148B (Pages 1-25). COL/154B; COL/154B1; COL/154B2; COL/154B3;...	WO 329/2339
Rhodesia Regiment miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL 6/5. Pages 1-75. 1914-15 Star. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2937
Seychelles Labour Corps: medal rolls C310. Pages 1-20, 50-53 British War Medal (Bronze). Gold Coast...	WO 329/2309
Sierra Leone Battalion, West Africa Frontier Force miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/4/4. Pages 1-70. 1914-15 Star...	WO 329/2934
Sierra Leone Battalion, West African Frontier Force: medal rolls COL/107B (Pages 1-70). COL/107B2 (Pages 1-2)....	WO 329/2329
South Africa Mounted Rifles officers: medal rolls. OFF/246. Page 1. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2956
South Africa Officers list SA Off 1-3. Silver War Badge	WO 329/3255
South Africa Other Ranks list SA 1-54. Silver War Badge	WO 329/3255
South African Defence Force officers: medal rolls OFF/301. Pages 1-4. British War Medal and Victory...	WO 329/2303
South African Heavy Artillery officers: medal rolls OFF/296. Pages 1B. British War Medal and Victory...	WO 329/2303
South African Infantry officers: medal rolls OFF/257. Pages 7-15. British War Medal and Victory Medal....	WO 329/2303
South African Medical Services officers: medal rolls OFF/269. Pages 1. British War Medal and Victory...	WO 329/2303
South African Military Nursing Service nurses: medal rolls NURSES/17. Pages 1. British War Medal and...	WO 329/2303
South African Military Nursing Service officers: medal rolls. NURSES/17. Page 1. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2956
South African Native Labour Corps (Basutoland): medal rolls COL/185A2. Pages 1A-147A. British War Medal and...	WO 329/2372
South African Native Labour Corps (Bechuanaland): medal rolls COL/185A3. Pages 1A-31A. British War Medal and...	WO 329/2368
South African Native Labour Corps: medal rolls COL/185A. Pages 1A-3A. British War Medal and Victory...	WO 329/2359
Southern Rifles, South Africa miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/6/4. Page 1. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2937
Uganda Intelligence Detachment miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/33. Pages 1-5. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Uganda Medical Service miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/28. Pages 1-7. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Uganda miscellaneous lists miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/34. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Uganda Police Service Battalion miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/31. Pages 1-2. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Uganda Railway Volunteers miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/10. Pages 1-4. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Uganda Railways miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/74. Pages 1-8. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Uganda Transport Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/26. Pages 1-4. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Uganda Veterinary Corps miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/59. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
Uganda Volunteer Reserve miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/5/51. Pages 1-13. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2940
West African Expeditionary Force miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/4/6. Page 1. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2934
West African Frontier Force officers: medal rolls OFF/173. Pages 7, 15-16; 27. British War Medal...	WO 329/2305
West African Frontier Force officers: medal rolls. OFF/173. Pages 3, 4, 9, 10. 1914-15 Star...	WO 329/2956
West African Medical and Nursing Staff, Victoria Hospital, Bathurst miscellaneous: medal rolls. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2934
West African Medical Service officers: medal rolls. COL/6/1 (pages 1-2); OFF/191 (page 4). 1914-15 Star...	WO 329/2956
West African Medical Services officers: medal rolls OFF/191. Pages 3-; 15-. British War Medal and...	WO 329/2305
West African Regiment miscellaneous: medal rolls. COL/4/1. Pages 1-143. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2934
West African Regiment officers: medal rolls OFF/221. Pages 1; 3; 7-8; 15-16. British War Medal...	WO 329/2299
West African Regiment officers: medal rolls. OFF/221. Page 1. 1914-15 Star	WO 329/2955
West African Regiment: medal rolls COL/159B; COL/159B1; COL/159B2; COL/159B3 (Pages 1-114). COL/177B (Page 1). British...	WO 329/2329