Newsletter

Our next seminar is Wednesday 15 April when Trevor Brock will be taking us through A history of GEA at war illustrated through its postal system. It will be at 6pm UK time To participate, please contact Anne or book online for a series of five seminars 5 x online seminars 2026.

Request for information:
From Larry Burden:
I am conducting research on men who served in the Canadian Mounted Police (NWMP & RNWMP) who served in Eastern Africa with the King’s African Rifles, the 25th (Frontiersmen) Royal Fusiliers and the 2nd Rhodesia Regiment.
All four men were killed in action and I am trying to tell their stories in a book I am writing on all of the men who served in the Mounties and died in conflicts from 1885 to WW2.
– Lt. Herbert Fletcher Ireland, 1st/3rd Kings African Rifles KIA 22 Jul 1917
– Lt. Arthur Francis Woodhouse, 4th (Uganda) KAR, KIA 13 Apr 1918
– Corps Sergeant John Wood Bottomley, 25th (Frontiersmen) Royal Fusiliers, KIA 23 Jun 1915
– Captain William Offley McCarthy, 2nd Rhodesia Regiment, KIA 17 Aug 1918
If you are able to assist Larry, please let me know and I’ll put you in touch.

Don’t forget to put the conference date in your diary – Sunday 19 July 2026 at the Africa Centre, London.
And if you’d like to take a lead on one of the seminars, please let me know – there are still some spaces and there’s always next year. Our first was very collegial.

Thank you to all who replied to my message confirming continued receipt of the newsletter. Your support is greatly appreciated. It’s what keeps it going.

Seminars:
The first seminar at 6pm UK time is on Wednesday 11 March. Anne will be looking at shipping records for Africa during the war and what we can use them for.
15 April – Trevor Brock: A history of GEA at war illustrated through its postal system
13 May – Dominic Etzold – L59 and other research challenges
23 September –
14 October – Anne Samson: South Africans in the German Schutztruppe
Thank you to those who have already signed up. The cost per seminar is £2.00 otherwise attend all for an upfront payment of £7.00. You can register here.
There are still spaces available to share your research in a seminar – we can have two inputs per date.

Conference Date: Sunday 19 July 2026 at the Africa Centre, London
Please get in touch if you would like to present on the day. It is hoped that the new GWAA publication on Literature as Memory will be launched that day. Further details will be posted in coming months.

Another tranche of Royal West African Frontier Force journals have been posted on the site. And during this coming week new book titles will be added to the shop, including the 2021 articles from Rhodesian Despatches by Gerry van Tonder. There are pieces on World War 1 and 2.

Monday 9 March is Commonwealth Day (always the second Monday in March). Commemoration of African invovlement, amongst other Commonwealth countries, in both wars will take place at the Commonwealth Gates in London.

On 16 February 2026 Anne posted a blog on what appears to be an increased interest in the African campaigns during the First World War. If you have any insights or suggestions as to why this moght be happening, please let us know. There have also been two new novels released this year in South Africa on the war, both touching on Delville Wood, one being in Afrikaans. Titles will be added to the GWAA Bibliography.
With this increase in interest in mind – what do you suggest is the best introduction text to the First World War in Africa? Many say Charles Miller’s Battle for the Bundu. Do you agree?
And for those of you with an interest in WW2, please suggest some good starter reading for African involvement in that war.

Dear all
Welcome to the first newsletter for 2026.

Cherry Kearton items on auction – 10 February. For those who aren’t aware, Kearton was a member of 25 Royal Fusiliers (Legion of Frontiersmen), who was attached to RNAS when Smuts was at Salaita. He took aerial photos and developed them on site. He was also a natural photographer, preceding David Attenborough in innovative approaches to wildlife photography. He accompanied Roosevelt on his 1911 safari with FC Selous. Some of his camera equipment and photos are being auctioned, including one of his war ribbons.
The catalogue can be viewed here (Chiswick Auctions). The World War collection is lot 86 and Roosevelt is 69 etc.
There is also a blog post about it here. The links were sent by the auction house to people with potential interest.

In new developments for the GWAA, we’ll be trying some online seminars this year to enable people across the globe to share information. Five events of two hours each are planned – there is a small fee for attending. Sign up in advance for all 5 seminars for £7.00 otherwise £2.00 per seminar. Login details will be sent to named individuals.
Time is 6pm UK on Wednesdays:
11 March 2026
15 April – Trevor Brock: A history of GEA at war illustrated through its postal system
13 May
23 September
14 October – Anne Samson: South Africans in the German Schutztruppe

If you would like to present at one of the seminars, please contact me.
The idea is to have two 20 minute presentations with discussion around the topic. It’s an ideal opportunity for to test out theories about the African conflicts, showcase what you’re working on, share information on relevant book(s), etc. Interest is wide-ranging and covers all theatres of the Great War in Africa (and linked conflicts) and its legacy.

The 2026 in-person conference is looking like it might be late June/early July – date to be confirmed in February. If you are interested in presenting a paper at the conference in London, please let me know.

As usual, don’t forget to have a look at what books are available for sale. New titles are expected during 2026. In addition, various research pages have been updated including the spreadsheets. Thanks to members who have continued to supply snippets of information and your ongoing support. If there’s anything you think should be added, please let me know.

With best wishes
Anne