Michael Pesek

November 2017

Apologies if you receive this as an email more than once – I’m trying a new mailout system.

For readers of German, Michael Pesek has some new blog postings. German militarism in Africa

Thanks to Enika Ngongo for the notification and link to the Belgian Register of war dead. There are currently 1,654 Belgian Force Publique names captured and more will be added as they are discovered. The names with links to the Belgian site (more detail) are included on the GWAA in memory list. There’s also an overview of Belgian involvement.

I was asked recently about the format of the In Memory lists – the information is in a simple spreadsheet to maximum access and to enable those wanting to do comparative studies to do so by downloading the file(s) to sort, delete etc as relevant to them. This does not affect the integrity of the file on the system. Where names are found in primary and secondary source material the references are included. If you know of names not included or sources for names which are on the list, please send the info in to be added to the spreadsheet.

The CWGC has launched its new website. You can search the archive for histories of the cemeteries and memorials.

The log book of HMS Challenger can be found online.
Naval History has published various diaries of naval ships during World War 1.

Languages and the First World War is a fascinating blog looking at non-military aspects of the war including some articles on Africa: body (and) language and Goodbye Tipperary for starters

For books written on the Egyptian Expeditionary Force during World War 1, Stuart Hadaway has a few, also extending into Palestine. Follow the link at the bottom to his booklets available on e-bay.

North Africans feature in this short piece by ITV. Forgotten Heroes are working on a truly global publication introducing the extent of Muslim involvement in the Allied forces of World War 1. There have been some fascinating discoveries concerning Africa – watch this space for further info.

NeverSuchInnocence has included aspects of Africa in their fourth edition.
Other current projects covering Africa:
The Unknown Fallen by Forgotten Heroes 1914-1918 Foundation
Away From the Western Front – using GWAA’s Medical information
Diversity House – Breaking the Myths There are two more events planned for 2018

Cape Corps remembered in Richmond Park, London

Finally
The GWAA website is undergoing a transformation to with a move towards themes such as the Medical one recently launched. Please let me know if there are any objections. Other themes include: Military Aspects, Naval Activity, Organisation (logistics; administration), Land Transport, Planes, Intelligence, Home Fronts and Legacy as well as Resources. Each of the theatres will feature in the themes. It is evidence of the material coming to light that this move can be made and hopefully more people will be inspired to research further.
As part of this revamp, the forum will be closed down as there are various very active discussion forums which meet the need: Great War Forum, Axis History Forum and others listed on the Sources of Info and Links page. The info on the discussion boards will be moved into relevant sections so the info isn’t lost. Where queries come in, the enquirer is invariably redirected to specific individuals I know or suspect can assist which further negates the need for the forum.
This also means the membership registration aspect of the site will disappear reducing the number of spam attacks. This will be replaced by signing up to the newsletter which is sent out each time an update is posted on the site. The need for registered membership is superfluous as no membership fee is charged and most information is freely accessible. There are some articles which require password access to protect copyright and anyone wanting access, can email me for the password. This should save members a lot of hassle – no longer having to renew passwords etc.

October 2017 News

Member news and articles
Michael Pesek – article on German War Crimes in East Africa during WW1; Magdelene von Prins

Brian Tarpey – Captain James Fredrick ELLISON M.C., D.C.M, R.M.L.I

Peter Dickens of the South African League on the South African flag used during World War 1

Kathie Satchwell on South Africans in Delville Wood (an audio account 53mins long)

Medical Project update
Transcribed reports by Dr WW Pike on the medical services in East Africa are now available online. The reports cover British East Africa and German East Africa. Further links are constantly being added to the document.
If you have any additional information, articles or other relevant discoveries, please get in touch or complete the online form.

Legion of Frontiersmen
The LoF archive which is held at the University of Alberta in Canada has recently launched the online catalogue. It can be found in the Bruce Peel Special Collection.

Memorials
The Nigerian CWGC memorial has been reinstated in Abuja after a long absence

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has updated its ways of communicating. To subscribe to the new mailing list etc, visit http://eepurl.com/cWN3mn

Other bits of interest
South African World War 1 VC awards with more of the ceremony here

Diversity House in Sittingbourne, Kent is having a hands-on workshop on Friday 27 October in Maidstone. Come and share your World War 1 Africa stories and/or explore the lives of others who experienced the war a hundred years ago. GWAA will be there.

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