Intelligence Gallantry Awards for the East African Campaign of World War I
By Harry Fecitt MBE TD
The East African Campaign of the Great War
Between 1914 and 1918 German and Allied antagonists fought hard battles over some of the most inhospitable country in Africa. The fighting and associated military activity ranged over today’s nations of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Ruanda, Burundi, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, and finally ended in Zambia. Many troops moved north to fight from South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The enemy to Britain and her Allies was the stubborn and well-managed Schutztruppe based in German East Africa (Tanzania). This force was led by General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, a pragmatist who understood both the terrain and the climate and also the limitations that they imposed on military activities as well as the opportunities they offered. The war was mainly fought by African troops known as Askari; British white troops, principally from South Africa, were introduced but they could not cope with the demands of a fiercely hot climate, monsoon deluges and a supply system that never really functioned well because of its dependence on over-worked African porters.
Tropical diseases killed or laid low far more Allied soldiers than German bullets did. Malaria and blackwater fever debilitated Europeans and Indian sepoys, jigger fleas burrowed under toenails, crocodile and lion seized unwary men, unsuitable rations caused beriberi and other diseases, snakes and scorpions crawled into boots and bedding, and in the bush irritated elephant and rhino suddenly charged unsuspecting soldiers, sometimes driving them into dense thickets of thorn trees from which extraction was painful and lengthy. On the whole the Germans coped with the conditions in a better manner than the Allies did, probably because of their low number of Europeans and high number of doctors. (A contingent of German doctors was visiting German East Africa when war broke out, and they were enrolled in the Schutztruppe. Meanwhile a local German tropical research centre developed methods of producing quinine in bulk.)
Intelligence activities in East Africa
When war broke out, the Germans were better prepared as they had established agents in British locations such as Mombasa port and Zanzibar island. The British started from scratch with no intelligence resources, and they suffered a comprehensive military defeat at Tanga in German East Africa in October 1914. After that, an East Africa Intelligence Department was formed, often staffed by former white hunters who knew the tribes and their dialects. These men commenced patrolling into enemy territory where they collected information and recruited agents, hoping that these men would remain loyal.
Developments led to operations such as the removal of used toilet paper from German latrines, as this paper had often once been official correspondence. From perusal of these documents, enemy orders of battle and lists of officers were compiled. But by the end of the war most human intelligence activity was in the form of patrols that either regularly contacted agents in place, or covertly tracked enemy movements through the thick bush. General von Lettow gradually fell back in stages from the north-east of his territory to the south-east, occupying new positions dug by local villagers and utilising food and equipment dumps placed on withdrawal routes by his logisticians, who organised large-scale farming to provide crops. These dumps became targets for Allied intelligence patrols to locate and destroy.
As more of German East Africa was occupied by the Allies, many of the agents recruited were previous Askari who had absconded from the Schutztruppe. The biggest risk they faced was being captured by their former German employers, as instant hanging was the punishment meted out to those who changed sides.
Examples of British gallantry awards
In appendices at the end of this article are lists of all the intelligence gallantry awards that have been gleaned from archives, including the dates of notification in the London Gazette. Most were published without citations but some citations can be found in East Africa General Routine Orders (EAGROs) and in unit war diaries. When perused, the available citations can vividly illustrate what serving in the East African bush was like for British intelligence officers and operators. The dominating factor was that you had to be prepared to fight to get your information and to destroy the enemy’s resources, and the Schutztruppe was ready to kill to stop you. When isolated in the bush, taking a bad wound was often a death sentence, as swift casualty evacuation from a behind the-enemy-lines location was often an impossibility.
One intelligence officer won two Distinguished Service Orders (DSO) and he was Philip Jacobus Pretorious, the Chief Scout for the South African General Smuts who was the British theatre commander in 1916. The citation for the Bar gives an indication of the life that Pretorious led behind German lines: ‘He remained continuously behind the enemy’s lines, and made valuable use of the services of the enemy’s natives. He burned several of the enemy’s food depots, causing considerable havoc amongst their supply arrangements, and killed or captured several of the enemy. His personal courage and initiative were quite exceptional’.
And a sentence in the citation for his first award indicates the tracking skills that men like Pretorious and their African scouts employed: ‘On one occasion he tracked up a bombing party of the enemy and forced them to surrender’. During 1915 and early 1916 German demolition parties constantly attacked the Uganda Railway, running from Mombasa to Lake Victoria, and the branch line built for the invasion of German East Africa.
A DSO and two Military Crosses (MC) were received by another famous scout, the Australian Arnold Wienholt. His DSO Citation reads: ‘For continuous gallant conduct and endurance under most trying circumstances during a period of six months in the bush. He performed a most arduous march, during which his party were more than once attacked by superior enemy forces, through the unknown country which he had to reconnoitre and report on; and finally succeeded in gaining touch with a column as ordered. He performed many other successful reconnaissances during which he had several encounters with the enemy, and furnished valuable information with regard to their movements. Throughout he showed great courage and endurance, and rendered most valuable service’. Arnold’s story can be accessed on-line at: http://www.kaiserscross.com/188001/339222.html.
A more straightforward intelligence task during a big offensive earned Hugh Treherne Barrett an MC: ‘He reconnoitred the enemy’s position, and subsequently guided a column three miles by night, enabling them to deploy unobserved between picquets of the enemy to within 250 yards of the position’.
Sometimes intelligence officers had to take over in battlefield situations when the local infantry officers were killed or incapacitated by wounds, as can be seen in George Dawall Howarth’s MC citation: ‘He assumed command and successfully withdrew an infantry regiment from a very difficult situation’. An Indian unit from a princely state attacked a well-defended German fort and lost its leaders to enemy fire; George Howarth, the local intelligence officer, took command, evacuated the wounded and withdrew the battalion.
Intelligence officer John Sydney Harmsworth happened to be the senior officer in a post in Uganda’s Kagera district when the enemy attacked and his citation for a MC describes his successful reaction: ‘For his excellent conduct of the defence of KACHUMBI POST, of which, by virtue of his rank, he assumed command when it was closely attacked in superior strength on 18 Feb 16, the action resulting in a loss to the enemy, besides his machine gun, of 4 Germans and 55 Askaris killed or captured, and 1 German and 10 Askaris who escaped wounded and subsequently died, out of a total attacking force of 5 Germans, 75 Askaris, and 1 machine gun; our casualties being nil’.
Dudley John Groves’ MC was earned for more developed intelligence duties: ‘He organised and commanded a chain of native irregular scouts. He carried out his task with conspicuous success under the most trying conditions’; whilst Johan Daniel Hamman’s similar award was a result of successfully tracking a breakaway party of German raiders who themselves commenced operations behind British lines: ‘He followed an enemy force and kept in continuous touch with it, obtaining most valuable information as to the enemy’s movements. His behaviour throughout was marked by the greatest gallantry and resource’.
The ability to fight as professionally as an infantryman is vividly illustrated in the citation for Egerton Rothesay Seymour’s MC: ‘He has repeatedly performed marked acts of courage and initiative, and he has on two occasions attacked and routed enemy patrols, though greatly outnumbered. Within the last two months he has himself accounted for sixteen of the enemy during various patrol encounters, and has burned large quantities of enemy supplies, his work being magnificent throughout’.
The African scouts who took enormous risks in the field were sometimes rewarded with the Imperial Distinguished Conduct Medal (as opposed to the African Distinguished Conduct Medal which was reserved for members of the King’s African Rifles and the West African Frontier Force). Guile was displayed by Scout Masumbuko Bin Nganga as his citation describes: ‘He was one of a party under a N.C.O. sent to obtain water, which was urgently, needed, from a post held by the enemy. Though the rest of the party failed to procure any water, he, by the skilful use which be made of the local natives, succeeded in obtaining it. On the following day, when in charge of an outpost station, he handled his men with great judgment on the approach of an enemy patrol. He also skilfully disarmed two native soldiers of the enemy who had approached his post’.
Silver rupee coins were the reward for informants and agents behind enemy lines, but they were not easy to transport through thick bush. The citation for Serjeant Hamisi Bin Abdullah describes his bravery and his emphasis on saving the treasure chest: ‘He displayed marked courage, and coolness in action when with the baggage guard. Having rallied some armed scouts together with some troops of other units, under heavy machine gun fire, he succeeded in beating off the enemy’s first attack, and by his resource saved some baggage and ammunition and, in particular, a regimental chest containing silver from falling into enemy hands’.
Armed African Scout Sergeant Major Maketta Muhenya’s citation was straightforward: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has carried out much Intelligence work with marked courage and ability’. He worked on the south-eastern shores of Lake Victoria in a unit nicknamed the ‘Skin Corps’ because its members had no use for clothing or uniform.
The final year of the Great War in East Africa
During 1918, the war in East Africa entered Mozambique, then a Portuguese colonial territory; there the African inhabitants had often suffered from the authorities’ predatory attitudes which included requisitioning village food crops without compensation. The Germans seized upon the opportunity and always paid with bolts of cloth for the food they obtained, having previously secured the cloth from Portuguese forts that they had captured. The average Mozambican village chief became a firm ally of the Germans, who then were never short of local information about Allied military movements; British intelligence officers found they had an uphill task to secure reliable information from a population that favoured the enemy.
The war in East Africa ended in a dramatic fashion when General von Lettow totally dislocated British expectations by quickly marching around the east side of Lake Malawi and entering Zambia in its north-east corner. There were no British troops available to halt this German march towards Portuguese Angola in the west and it was only the Armistice agreement in Europe that halted the Schutztruppe – a military force that was never beaten in the field.
After advancing from a standing start in the British Protectorates, Allied human intelligence efforts had gained ground and momentum in German East Africa and had then been checked in Mozambique and finally bamboozled in Zambia.
SOURCES:
⮚ East African General Routine Orders in The National Archives.
⮚ London Gazette announcements.
⮚ Medal Index Card entries.
⮚ Unit war diaries where available.
⮚ Arnold, Spencer & Steward. The Award of the Military Medal to African Soldiers of the West African Frontier Force & the Kings African Rifles from 1916 to 1919. (Self-published 2010).
⮚ Colonel R. Meinertzhagen CBE DSO. Army Diary 1899–1926. (Oliver and Boyd 1960). ⮚ Major P.J. Pretorius CMG DSO & Bar. Jungle Man. (Travel Book Club 1949).
⮚ Arnold Wienholt DSO MC. The Story of a Lion Hunt. (Andrew Melrose 1922).
ENDNOTE
The books by Pretorious and Wienholt are well worth reading. Meinertzhagen’s book cannot be trusted as it is difficult to separate fact from fiction.
NOTES:
A. East African General Routine Orders (EAGROs) were the local authority for publishing honours and awards.
B. The London Gazette (LG) was the central authority for publishing honours and awards, but it did not always include citations.
C. The Official History (OH) was published well after the war by the British Government to be the definitive history of the East Africa conflict, although only the first half was actually published. The second half can be seen in its draft form in the National Archives.
D. A Medal Index Card was kept for each British soldier in London. On it was recorded his entitlement to medals and also the units that he served in.
E. The local infantry regiment was the Kings African Rifles (KAR). Battalions were numbered 1 & 2 (Nyasaland), 3 & 5 (Kenya), 4 (Uganda), 6 (German East Africa after conquest), 7 (Zanzibar & offshore islands).
F. Brevet rank was often awarded as a field promotion in recognition of ability that did not qualify for a gallantry medal.
G. Honorary rank was awarded to officers with special qualifications (eg: knowledge of native dialects or enemy-occupied terrain) who did not go through normal officer selection and training procedures.
APPENDIX 1
AWARDS OF COMPANIONSHIP OF THE DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER
| NAME | RANK | UNIT | AWARD | LONDON GAZETTE DATE | REGIMENTAL No. | CITATION AND COMMENTS |
| Pretorius, Philip Jacobus | Major | East Africa Protectorate Forces Intelligence Department | Bar to DSO | 17.12. 17 | 131 79 | No London Gazette citation. Citation in EAGRO 12 Aug 18: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He remained continuously behind the enemy’s lines, and made valuable use of the services of the enemy’s natives. He burned several of the enemy’s food depots, causing considerable havoc amongst their supply arrangements, and killed or captured several of the enemy. His personal courage and initiative were quite exceptional. |
| Dooner, Hugh Brandon MC | Temporary Captain | East Africa Intelligence Corps | DSO | 27.7.1 8 | 896 8 | No citation See Pretorius’ book p 176 – LINDI area. EAGRO 8th March 1919 shows Mention in Despatches. Also awarded MC. |
| La Fontaine, Sidney Herbert MC | Temporary Captain | East Africa Intelligence Department | DSO | 27.7.1 8 | 896 8 | No citation Also awarded MC. |
| Meinertzhagen, Richard | Major | East Africa Intelligence Department & Royal Fusiliers | DSO | 2.2.16 | 133 6 | No citation See Army Diary by himself & also the Official History. His own book is not to be trusted as he is an over-inventive writer. |
| Pretorius, Philip Jacobus | Tempoary Lieute nant | East Africa Intelligence Department | DSO | 24.11. 16 | 2 | For conspicuous gallantry and good work during several months. On one occasion he tracked up a bombing party of the enemy and forced them to surrender. EAGRO 51 of 12 Jan 17 (citation) |
| Shakespear, George Frederick Cortland MC | Captain & Brevet Major | Indian Army 88th Carnatic Infantry & East Africa Intelligence Department | DSO | 1.1.18 | 26 | APPOINTED GSO2 INT (General Staff Officer Grade 2, Intelligence) in EAGRO 934 of 21 Oct 1918. |
| Wienholt, Arnold, MC | Captain | East African Force Intelligence Department | DSO | 15.10. 18 | 120 55-6 | For continuous gallant conduct and endurance under most trying circumstances during a period of six months in the bush. He performed a most arduous march, during which his party were more than once attacked by superior enemy forces, through the unknown country which he had to reconnoitre and report on; and finally succeeded in gaining touch with a column as ordered. He performed many other successful reconnaissances during which he had several encounters with the enemy, and furnished valuable information with regard to their movements. Throughout he showed great courage and endurance, and rendered most valuable service. |
APPENDIX 2
AWARDS OF THE MILITARY CROSS
| Wienholt, Arnold MC | Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department | Bar to MC | 4.09.1 8 | 104 97 | (MC awarded London Gazette 25th May, 1917.) No citation EAGRO 12 Aug 18. |
| Barnes, James Hugh | Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 4.6.17 | 547 7 | No citation. |
| Barrett, Hugh. Treherne | Lieutenant | Nyasala nd Field Force. Intelligence Department | MC | 24.4.1 7 | 2 | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He reconnoitred the enemy’s position, and subsequently guided a column three miles by night, enabling them to deploy unobserved between picquets of the enemy to within 250 yards of the position. MKAPIRA German East Africa. EAGRO 183 of 1917 shows Date Of Action as 30 Oct 16. |
| Botha, Cornelius Thomas Ludovicus | Captain | East African Protecto rate Forces Unnatta ched List & Belfield’ s Scouts & Intellige nce | MC | 27.7.1 8 | 896 9 | No citation EAGRO 5 Aug 18 shows Unnattached List East Africa Protectorate Forces attached Int Dept |
| Carlisle, Edmund Laurence | Honorary Lieute nant | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 4.6.17 | 547 7 | No citation |
| Charton, Godfrey Markham | Lieutenant | East African Protectorate Forces Intelligence Department | MC | 1.1.18 | 33 | No citation |
| Church, Arthur | Lieute nant | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 1.1.18 | 33 | No Citation |
| Clarke, Frederick Allison | Warra nt Officer | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 27.7.1 8 | 896 9 | No citation |
| Cooper, Percival Harold | Honorary Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence | MC | 4.6.17 | 547 8 | No citation |
| Critchley Salmonson, Ronald Egerton | Captain | 1st/4th Kings African Rifles & Royal Fusiliers & Intelligence | MC | 26 Jun 16 | 631 6 | No citation Probably for operations on the KAGERA Front. See Official History pages 42 & 48. EAGRO 03 July 1916 states Royal Fusiliers & INTELLIGENCE DEPT |
| Cuninghame, Richard John | Temporary Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department & East African Police & King’s African Rifles | MC | 1.2.17 | 114 5 | No citation Medal Index Card shows EA Intelligence Department East Africa Police & Kings African Rifles EAGRO |
| Dickson, Thomas Ainsworth | Temporary Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 26 Jun 16 | 631 6 | No citation EAGRO 03 July 1916 |
| Dooner, Hugh Brandon | Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Corps | MC | 4.6.17 | 547 8 | No citation EAGRO 8th March 1919 shows Mention in Despatches |
| Drought , James Justinian | Temporary Lieutenant | East African Protectorate Forces East African Mounted Rifles & East Lakes Border Police & Intelligence | MC | 26 Jun 16 | 631 6 | No citation Probably for scouting operations on south-east shore of Lake Victoria EAGRO 03 July 1916 states INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT |
| Gray, Charles Vivian | Honorary Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department & Kings African Rifles | MC | 1.2.17 | 114 5 | No citation. Reconnoitred route to KIBATA, transferred to 1st/2nd Kings African Rifles. Ex-East Africa Mounted Rifles & Ross’s Scouts before Intelligence Department. Appears in EAGROs Dec 1918 Army List shows in 2KAR |
| Grey, Charles | Temporary Lieutenant | Rhodesia Native Regiment & General List | MC | 1.1.18 | 37 | No citation. In NORFORCE operating from Malawi. EAGRO 15 Jan 18 shows attached Intelligence Department EAGRO 76 of 10.02.1915 states Rhodesia Native Regiment and Chief Intelligence Officer. |
| Groves, Dudley John | Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 16.8.1 7 | 836 9 | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He organised and commanded a chain of native irregular scouts. He carried out his task with conspicuous success under the most trying conditions. He has at all times, set a magnificent example, and has materially assisted in the success of the operations. Medal Index Card shows ex-East Africa Mounted Rifles. EAGRO 519 of 21 May 17 shows date of action 15 Mar 17 – 8 May 17 |
| Hamman, Johan Daniel | Honorary Lieutenant Intelligence Agent | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 18.1.1 8 | 956 | Citation in LG 25 Apr 18 page 5003: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He followed an enemy force and kept in continuous touch with it, obtaining most valuable information as to the enemy’s movements. His behaviour throughout was marked by the greatest gallantry and resource. In recognition of conspicuious gallantry and devotion to duty from 21.7.16 to 6.9.17. EAGRO 953 of 17 Sep 17. For Naumann pursuit. Cape Corps History p 119 |
| Harmsworth, John Sydney | Temporary Lieutenant | Intelligence Department | MC | 31.5.1 6 | 540 7 | For conspicuous gallantry and good work when in command of a post which was heavily attacked in superior force by the enemy. The result of the fight was that practically the whole enemy force was killed or captured without any loss to our side. (Uganda Volunteer Reserve), transferred to the Baganda Rifles EAGRO citation 19 Apr 1916: For his excellent conduct of the defence of KACHUMBI POST, of which, by virtue of his rank, he assumed command when it was closely attacked in superior strength on 18 Feb 16, the action resulting in a loss to the enemy, besides his machine gun, of 4 Germans and 55 Askaris killed or captured, and 1 German and 10 Askaris who escaped wounded and subsequently died, out of a total attacking force of 5 Germans, 75 Askaris, and 1 machine gun; our casualties being nil. |
| Harrington, Wilfred Francis | Captain | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 27.7.1 8 | 896 9 | No citation |
| Howarth , George Dawall | Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 26.5.1 7 | 518 2 | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He assumed command and successfully withdrew an infantry regiment from a very difficult situation. EAGRO 270 of 19.3.17 gives Date Of Action as 9 Oct 16. KISANGIRE with the Jhind Inf. Official History draft Chapter XIII page 4. Prompt Award. EAGRO 768 of 1 Aug 17. EAGRO 314 of 28 Mar 17 corrects initials, Medal Index Card shows East Africa service & EAGRO No 331 30 Mar 17 shows award. |
| La Fontaine, Sidney Herbert | Temporary Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 1.2.17 | 114 5 | No citation EAGRO |
| Lardner Burke, George Darley | Temporary Captain | South Africa Special Service Company (Intelligence Department) | MC | 2.4.19 | 432 9 | No citation Intelligence work in support of Barton’s 3rd/1st Kings African Rifles at NAKOTI, Potuguese East Africa as listed in EAGRO 1 Jul 18 |
| Layzell, Stanley Charles | Captain | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 1.1.18 | 40 | No citation GSO2 INT in EAGRO 934 of 21 Oct 1918, formerly SSO (Station Staff Officer) (Class FF). |
| Nightingale, Hugh Cecil | Honorary Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 1.2.17 | 114 5 | No citation. Recomended for taking over double-company at MKALAMO – see 130th Baluchis War Diary letter signed by Sheppard. In EAGROs. |
| Phillips, James Erasmus Tray | Captain | South African Intelligence Department | MC | 1.2.17 | 114 5 | No citation EAGRO |
| Seymour, Egerton Rothesay | Intelligence Agent | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 23.8.1 8 | 991 7 | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has repeatedly performed marked acts of courage and initiative, and he has on two occasions attacked and routed enemy patrols, though greatly outnumbered. Within the last two months he has himself accounted for sixteen of the enemy during various patrol encounters, and has burned large quantities of enemy supplies, his work being magnificent throughout. See 1st/4th Kings African Rifles despatch No 12 of 20 Sep 17 (this is part of the unit war diary). He routed a patrol west of NGOMANO. WO158/466 (this is a National Archives file reference number). |
| Shakespear, George Frederick Cortland | Lieutenant | Indian Army. 88th Carnatic Infantry & East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 26.6.1 6 | 631 7 | No citation EAGRO 03 July 1916 Awarded Brevet rank of Major. |
| Todd, William | Warrant Officer IntelligenceAgent | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 7 Feb 19 | 194 4 | No citation |
| Trichard Carolus Johannes | Warrant Officer | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 27.7.1 8 | 896 9 | No citation |
| Wienholt, Arnold | Warrant Officer | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 26.5.1 7 | 518 7 | For conspicuous gallantry and endurance as leader of a patrol. The patrol covered some 200 odd miles of the most difficult country and obtained valuable information. He was subsequently separated from his patrol, severely wounded and captured by the enemy. He ultimately escaped, and made his way back to our lines across 100 miles of unknown bush. EAGRO No 777 of 3 Aug 17. Also see EAGRO 280 of 21 March 1917 – it gives dates 26 Jun-21 Jul & 9 Feb 17. |
| Wood, William Henry | Honorary Lieutenant | East Africa Intelligence Department | MC | 1.2.17 | 114 5 | No citation EAGRO. He was active in the 5th Light Infantry area around Mwele and south of Gazi, bringing in German white and Askari prisoners – see 5LI War Diary for May and June 1916. |
APPENDIX 3
AWARDS OF THE IMPERIAL DISTINGUISHED CONDUCT MEDAL
| LONDON GAZETTE DATE | REGIMEN TAL No. | RANK | NAME | UNIT | CITATION |
| 28 MARCH, 1918. | I.D. 1445 | Private | Masumbuko Bin Nganga, | Intelligence Department | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was one of a party under a N.C.O. sent to obtain water, which was urgently, needed, from a post held by the enemy. Though the rest of the party failed to procure any water, he, by the skilful use which be made of the local natives, succeeded in obtaining it. On the following day, when in charge of an outpost station, he handled his men with great judgment on the approach of an enemy patrol. He also skilfully disarmed two native soldiers of the enemy who had approached his post. On all occasions he has shown courage and ability of the highest order. |
| 18 FEBRUARY, 1918. | B.I. | Serjeant | Hamisi Bin Abdullah | Intelligence Department | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He displayed marked courage, and coolness in action when with the baggage guard. Having rallied some armed scouts together with some troops of other units, under heavy machine gun fire, he succeeded in beating off the enemy’s first attack, and by his resource saved some baggage and ammunition and, in particular, a regimental chest containing silver from falling into enemy hands. He |
| has consistently done fine work. | |||||
| 18 FEBRUARY, 1918. | 935 | Private | Ali Bin Mwichan di | Intelligence Department | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He was acting in conjunction with a detachment of troops which engaged three enemy companies, and was under very heavy fire for four hours. He also accompanied a party of infantry, which cut its way through the enemy lines, and it was largely owing to his guidance that the remainder reached our lines safely through thick bush. His conduct has been at’ all times exceptionally praiseworthy. |
| 3 OCTOBER, 1918. | 332 | Colour Sergeant | Bin Mzee | (Armed Scout) Commando | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty throughout the whole period that our intelligence patrols were operating, and especially for his initiative during a particular engagement, when, after the death of the white officer, he assumed command of our scouts and ruga-ruga, and repelled two enemy companies with four machine guns in a fight lasting five and a half hours. |
| 26 JANUARY, 1918. | Intelligence Agent | James Robert Richardson | Intelligence Department | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He remained at a critical juncture, although very ill, in touch with the enemy, and sent in valuable information, which enabled a small post to make dispositions to meet the enemy’s attack. During five attacks he has shown most conspicuous gallantry, rallying his native scouts and displaying the greatest coolness and resource in action, although hopelessly outnumbered. He kept constant touch with the enemy for a period of over four days under the most trying circumstances, setting a splendid example of pluck, endurance, and determination. |
| 18 FEBRUARY, 1918. | A. 11 | Lance Corporal | Juma Bin Heri | Intelligence Department | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When under heavy fire he rescued a wounded man and succeeded in getting him away safely. Later, he worked hard encouraging and rallying his men under trying circumstances. His coolness and disregard of danger set a magnificent example, and his work has been excellent throughout. |
| 3 MARCH, 1917. | Sergeant Major | Maketta Muhenya, | Armed African Scouts. | For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has carried out much Intelligence work with marked courage and ability. |
APPENDIX 4
AWARDS OF THE MILITARY MEDAL. (NO CITATIONS ARE AVAILABLE)
| C 27 | Armed Scout | Sebe Rehan | Intelligence Dept. | EAGRO No. 166 of 25th February 1918. Page 5197. | |
| 1374 | Private | Abdulla bin Ferozi | Intelligence Dept. | EAGRO No. 166 of 25th February 1918. Page 5197. | |
| 1394 | Sergean t | Mange bin Muenge | Intelligence Dept. | EAGRO No. 166 of 25th February 1918. Page 5197. | |
| London Gazette 26 May 1917 | 958 | Private | Lukian o bin Jamisi | Intelligence Dept. | EAGRO 270 of 19 March 1917 gives date of action as 1st January 1917. |
| London Gazette 26 May 1917 | 965 | Private | Hamid bin Salim | Intelligence Dept. | EAGRO 270 of 19 March 1917 gives date of action as 1st January 1917. |