Welcome to another update from the GWAA.
There’s quite a bit in this update, so hopefully you’ll find something of interest/use.
“Focus on…”
A new section on the GWAA site. Add your comments or add a theme…
Harry Fecitt has contributed an article on the 22 Derajat Pack Battery.
Podcast and publication from Ed Paice’s recent talk: How the Great War razed East Africa
The latest Legion of Frontiersman Topic Page is on DP Driscoll. You’ve got until the end of the month to read it…
The SA Legion have published some reminiscences on the German South West Africa Campaign.
The African theatres in the news:
“For the Fallen” – photographic tribute to the unsung heroes of the Great War (thanks to Harry for the link)
The November edition of the CWGC newsletter has two articles on African theatres:
Somaliland marks the centenary and the Battle of the bees, aka Tanga
Member Ann Crichton-Harris has an article in the Christmas 2014 edition of Family Magazine: The campaign to be remembered. If you missed getting a hardcopy, you can purchase the magazine
A slightly neglected African theatre: The Suez Canal
World War 1 through Arab eyes – Recruitment in North Africa
BBC World War 1 interactive on Togoland and East Africa
Edward Clay wrote to the Financial Times about the lack of remembrance of the colonial forces. You need to be a registered FT user to read/access.
You may have heard that there is talk of the Imperial War Museum looking to sell its library stock. A number of members have signed a petition – if you haven’t and would like to, here is one
There are a number circulating by different pressure groups.
And one not quite fully in the news: Roads to the Great War’s The British Empire’s contribution to Victory
Help sought
Norman Parsons Jewell diaries – do you know where they are? Some years ago these diaries were lent to someone and have since disappeared. If you know of their whereabouts, please get in touch as the family are keen to be reunited with them.
The Forgotten Heroes 1914-1918 Foundation is crowd sourcing all Arab Muslims (North African) who fought in World War 1. A number also served in East Africa. If you know of any, please add them
There is also a call for papers out – see the Forum for details.
Gerald Rillings is looking for people to write on different sections on the East African Campaign in WW I. See the Forum for details.
One of the things I’m going to be adding to the site in the next little while are places to see in Africa which are WW1 related. If you have any in your vacinity, please do let me know and also if you are able to accommodate people/show them around etc (or know someone who can). Please feel free to pass on any relevant websites to me or this request to others. I’m going this route as the only person who has been able to organise battlefield tours is James and I have various people asking about where they can go and what they can see. By putting info on the web, they can then create their own tour…
Final bits
And for a slightly different Last Post, you can hear Mark Knopfler on guitar
For users of the British Library, the Library has decided to allow some photography of material in its some reading rooms