From Luton to East Africa

Henry Bennett

Saturday 10th February 1917: Mrs. Daisy Bennett of 78 Russell Rise, Luton, has received an interesting letter from her husband. Sapper Henry Bennett, whowas employed in the Luton Post Office before the war, is now in East Africa with the motor air-line service of the Royal Engineers. He writes:

“Arriving at Mombasa last June, I was quickly sent up to Neutnoshi, which as at that time the Headquarters of the R.E.’s Signals. A couple of days in a rest camp here which, being situated on the hillside close to a splendid water supply, together with liberal rations, and an occasional fine view of the snow clad top of Kilimanjaro, the highest point in Africa, led me to imagine that I was in for a good time. I was able to get a place on a draft for General Van De Venter’s division, then at Kondoa Irangi. I had no idea where this place was, and at that time cared still less, but was not long in discovering I had a motor trip of nearly 300 miles in front of me. This may not appear any great hardship, but it proved no ‘joy ride’. The vehicles were transport lorries, and we were carried as extra weight rather than as passengers. The road was simply a rough track through the bush or desert. The passengers on these cars were frequently obliged to dismount and help push through sand drifts, whilst at other times they were enveloped in a cloud of dust which caused difficulty in breathing. One portion of the track lay through a long fly belt. No animal could pass this way, and owing to their absence the tetse flies took full revenge on the unfortunate travellers. During this trip I went without a wash for three days, water being so scarce.
 The Germans have laid out something of a small town at Kondoa, and it was a treat to see a building again, although the telegraphic headquarters were housed under canvas. On one stretch of our line, giraffes were very troublesome, and frequently carried a mile or so of wires away into the bush, and after such periods we had to indulge in good hard ‘slogs’ in order to bring our work up to date. Having spent three weeks in this place, where mosquitoes were more numerous than rations, I moved further on towards Dodoma and took up duty at Cypherkuil. This was only a bush clearing with a supply dump where water was very scarce and lions plentiful, one fine specimen being shot an hour before sunset within 100 yards of camp.   I set off for Kilimatinde, which lies between Dodoma and Tabora. Part of this journey was covered by rail, but the last 50 miles by ox convoy. I shall not forget this trip, which I can scarcely describe in words, but it will suffice to say that some of the water I used resembled that running down the gutters in George Street after a heavy storm. My food consisted of a little rice, and ‘mealie meal’ per day, which had to be cooked whilst the oxen rested. Arriving at my destination, we relieved the men there and found ourselves with plenty of work. We were now feeling the effects of short rations, and even went so far as to partake of native beer and ground nuts in order to overcome hunger. On November 1st a good supply arrived, and so far has continued, although still many of the most common dishes at home would be luxuries here. Vegetables I have not seen for months.”

Source: Luton News, 15th February 1917

Old Bedfordian in East Africa

Jan Smuts c.1914 [Wikimedia]

Wednesday 12th April 1916: An Old Bedfordian has written describing his part in the advance of General Smuts in East Africa and the Battle of Latema-Reata [1]:

“I am awfully sorry I have not been able to get a letter off for at least a month. I did write two at different times, but I was not able to get either off. One was written during a most ferocious battle. They both got soaked through in my haversack. I got detached from my regiment with my ‘army’, so I saw and was in General Smuts’ big advance – Saleito, Taveta, and the big action at Latema and Reata. That was the biggest scrap I have been in out here. We began at 9.30 a.m, and by 5 p.m. we had made good about a fifth of their position on the two hills, and then we did a big assault which carried us a little way further, but not as far as we hoped. At 7.30 we had another biff, but were pushed out again, except about 200 men who dug themselves in on the crest. At 9.30 we had another dig, and again got pushed out, except another 200 or 300, who dug in. Then on and off all night the line were attacking or being counter attacked until about 3.30 a.m. At dawn we advanced to have another dig, but found the enemy had evacuated, leaving their dead, one gun , and three machine guns. My ‘army’ was awfully lucky – one officer and two men wounded – but I had two of my guns put out of action (one with seven bullet hits). I had also a mule killed, and one porter killed and two wounded. I had not the luck to go on any further with the advance, stopping then, and rejoining my regiment.”

Since that time our officer had suffered a frustrating time, suffering from a bout of fever which had caused him to be transferred to hospital in Nairobi: “I hope to be up and about in a couple of days as my fever was apparently not malaria proper, but just the result of being run down after a couple of months of pretty strenuous work. I had a very comfortable run up in a hospital train. Our arrival at Nairobi was quite amusing. There were hordes of females with cups of tea, bread and butter and rusks, expecting wounded heroes; but fully 99 per cent of our trainload were prosaic malaria. All the same the tea was very comforting.”

Source: The Ousel, 24th May 1916 [Z447/23]

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[1] The Battle of Latema-Reata took place on 11th and 12th March, 1916 and resulted in a German withdrawal at the cost of 270 British casualties.

Bedford Boys in East Africa

D. Bowe Harris in uniform, March 1917 [HT9/26/5/13]

Friday 4th February 1916: The scoutmaster of the 1st Bedford Troop has received this letter from Private D. B. Harris, an old boy of Bedford Modern School, who is serving in East Africa with the Indian Expeditionary Force:

I need not describe the various and many pests such as flies, mosquitos, jiggers, and snakes etc., that we have to contend with out in this countery, as you have probably heard all about them before. Since our Company have been out here we have trekked about two thousand miles, ie., nearly all around the Victoria Nyanza and down the coast. We’ve not done much ‘scrapping’ out here, as the enemy are a pretty elusive lot. … People at home don’t realize the part the Colonials are playin in far away East Africa. They are, of course, naturally more occupied with the things in Europe. Admitted the ‘scrapping’ here is not half as vigorous as in Flanders and elsewhere – still one does not get a sporting chance at the enmy here, as the dense bush, bad water, and the fever which, of course, follows, are our worst enemies. In the bush one cannot see above 10 yards it is so thick … There are several Bedford Boys serving in this country whom I’ve met:- Captain Landon, Sergeant Duncan, Privates Bralesford, Lowinstein and Fyanda (all Grammar), Brooks (Modern), Coxwell, senior, Coxwell, junior, and Lieutenant Traill (all Elstow), and several others whose names I’ve forgotton. So Bedford is doing its bit in this country.

Source: Bedfordshire Times, 4th February 1916

Honours for Luton Hoo Sons

 Lieutenant Harold Wernher

Tuesday 4th January 1916: Congratulations are in order for Lieutenants Harold and Alexander Wernher, two of the three sons of Lady Wernher of Luton Hoo. Harold Wernher, who has been serving in France with the 12th Royal Lancers since the beginning of the war, has been mentioned in dispatches for gallant conduct in the Field as one of just four officers from his regiment singled out by Sir John French for that honour. Alexander Werner, aged just 18, has been serving with the Buckinghamshire Hussars. After three months working on the staff of the 1st Army he has now been officially appointed to the staff of General Sir Horace Smith-Durrien and has left with him for South Africa.

Lieutenant Alexander Wernher

Lieutenant Harold celebrated his 21st birthday in 1914 with three days of functions and entertainments at Luton Hoo, at which a number of presentations were made to him by the Luton Corporation and other local bodies. He had hoped to be able to take a close interest in local affairs but has been prevented from doing so by the war. At his brother’s coming of age celebrations Alderman H.O. Williams of Luton proposed a toast to Alexander, in which he referred to the part played by younger sons had in the spread of the Empire and looked to the young man to play his own part in the service of the nation. Given the part Lieutenant Alexander is now to play in the German East African campaign, the Alderman’s words seem prophetic. 

Source: Luton Times, 7th January 1916

Letter from the Cameroons

British gun firing at Fort Dachang, 1915 (Wikimedia)

Thursday 22nd April 1915: The impact of this World War extends far beyond the battlefields of northern France and Belgium, and there are Bedfordshire men involved in theatres of war very far from home. Mr. S. Wheatley, the Secretary of the Biggleswade Licensed Victuallers’ Association has received two letters from his son Reg Wheatley, a former Biggleswade cricketer now in the Cameroons (West Africa). It seems there has been some difficulty with mail as Reg had not yet received his Christmas parcel from home and these letters have taken some time to arrive. On March 3rd Reg wrote:

“At the present time I am at Victoria, but I am going back to Duala today.[1] I came here just for a trip, for we have had a very hard time of it the last few months, and I was pleased to get a spell. Things are about the same at Duala, but our troops are having some stiff fighting up country, and we are losing some very valuable officers. We lost a colonel, a captain, and two lieutenants last week”

“It seems the Germans have returned so far inland, and have got some good fortified positions, which they intend to hold; in fact, the Germans are very lively everywhere, much more than people at home realise. Two-thirds of the white men here are overdue to return home and no chance of getting away, unless a man is ill and no further use. A lot of our fellows are overdue, but the general refuses to let them go, for he cannot get relief for them, so it is impossible to say when anyone will get home. I am not going to look forward to getting home, then I shall not be disappointed. I do not mind if I keep good health, for we ahve all got to do our duty for good old England.”

“HMS --- is leaving here, and is to be relieved by another cruiser, which I think is quite right, for they have a lot of sickness among the sailors, and have also had a lot of deaths; they do not seem to realise what a dangerous country this is, and they will not take the necessary precautions. “

A couple of weeks later, the situation had not improved. On 18th March Reg Wheatley says:

“Things are about the same at Duala, plenty of work, etc., in fact, more than we can do. We have a lot more boats to fit with armour plate and guns, for we must get ready for the rainy season, when we shall have to do a lot more work up the rivers, etc. Since the rivers have fallen we cannot get up with our boats, and the Germans have come back to the places we captured last rainy season. I think it will take another twelve months here or even longer. We tried to shut the dock here last Sunday to get a day’s rest, but the General would not hear of it. We have orders to work every day.”

“My old boat, the M.S.Alligator, that myself and Captain Ford brought down here, which I was on until the New Year, has been in the thick of it. While patrolling one of the rivers it got three maxims turned on it, and it got absolutely ridded. I am sorry to say Captain Ford got seriously wounded. It’s a toss up if he recovers or not. He sent for me to see him last evening, and the poor fellow was in great pain, but very cheerful. The bullet entered his left lung, and until they get it out he will be in danger. We all hope he will recover.”

“I suppose Archie and Bert will go to France; good luck to them. I am proud to think my brothers have answered their country’s call, and even if we never meet again don’t worry, for you know it’s my wish, and I am sure it’s theirs too to do their duty to our country, and to protect our wives, mothers and fathers, and keep the old flag flying and say ‘Britons never shall be slaves’. We shall win, because that’s the spirit throughout the British Isles”.  

Source: Bedfordshire Standard 23rd April 1915

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[1] The German colony of Kamerun was invaded by the British and French after the outbreak of war in 1914. The coastal city of Douala surrendered to the Allied forces on 27th September 1914. At the time Reg Wheatley was writing the Germans were still holding out in the interior. The campaign ended in Allied victory in February 1916.