War Office,
25th September, 1917.
The Colonial Office has forwarded for publication
the following Despatch on military
operations in the Nyasaland Protectorate: —
From the Governor of Nyasaland,
To the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Sir,
Government House,
Zomba, Nyasaland,
30th April, 1917.
I have the honour to transmit herewith a
despatch from Brigadier-General Edward
Northey, C.B., A.D.C., in which he submits
the names of various officers, non-commissioned
officers and men serving under him for mention
in despatches. The despatch reached me only
on the 26th instant.
2. General Northey briefly reviews the operations
conducted by him. The record is a
brilliant one of consummate success at all times
and at all points, the more so when regard is
had to the small striking force at his disposal,
the large area involved, and the difficulties in
establishing and maintaining long lines of communication
in a wild and unhealthy country.
Particular and well-deserved stress is laid on
the services of the administrative branches.
3. It is probably beyond my province, as it
certainly is beyond my capacity, to offer any
comment on the marked ability General
Northey has displayed in the conduct of the
operations entrusted to him; but I can properly
give expression to the feeling of security which
I and all in Nyasaland have experienced at all
times since he commenced his advance.
4. In all his recommendations I most cordially
concur. He asks me to add the names of
others at the Base or on the Lines of Communication
south of the Lake with whom I have
been more in contact and whose services in my
opinion deserve mention for conspicuously good
work.
5. The services of Temporary Major Charles
Thorburn as Officer Commanding Base and Lines of Communication
and of Lieutenant-
Commander G. H. Dennistoun, D.S.O., R.N.,
in command on Lake Nyasa, are dealt with by
General Northey. I would add to these the
following: —
Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert
Hyde Young Hearsey, Principal Medical
Officer, Nyasaland Government, as Director of
Military Medical Services, has rendered important
assistance in maintaining the medical services
and supplies at the front, and in establishing
and controlling hospitals and convalescent
camps at the base, discharging at the
same time the duties of his civil office.
Temporary Captain Ernest Costley-White,
Assistant Transport Officer Base and Lines of
Communication, has given invaluable service in
organising the carrier transport on the lines of
communication, and in maintaining the supply
of carriers for General Northey's forces at the
front.
Temporary Captain Vincent John Keyte,
Assistant Supply Officer Base and Lanes of
Communication, has been responsible for procuring
all food supplies for the native troops
and carriers, and has discharged his duties with
marked assiduity and success.
Temporary Captain Thomas William Armitage,
Chief Mechanical Transport Officer, has
displayed considerable organising capacity, and
it is due to his ability and energy that the
increasing mechanical transport service has been
maintained and efficiently controlled.
Temporary Captain William Henry Evans,
Staff Officer Base and Lines of Communication,
has shown conspicuous energy and ability in
the discharge of the onerous and responsible
duties of that office.
Temporary Lieutenant John Conrad Abraham,
Station Staff Officer Fort Johnston, has
worked indefatigably, and has been most successful
in the handling and embarkation of
troops and stores at the Lake terminus.
6. When forwarding in my despatch of the
1st November, 1915. Lieutenant-Colonel Hawthorn's report on
the military operations, up to
that time I drew attention generally to the
valuable assistance in many directions afforded
by the various civil departments. Their services
have continued in increasing magnitude,
and in particular the district residents have
been unremitting in their efforts to recruit
native labour for the carrier service and otherwise
on which the success of General Northey's
operations has so largely depended. In his
despatch he gives some indication of the numbers
involved. To the recognition due to
residents must be added that of the valuable
support they have received from Native Chiefs
and Headmen.
7. My despatch would be incomplete without
notice of the ever ready and valuable services
rendered by His Majesty's Consul-General at
Lourenco Marques and the Consuls at Chinde
and Beira. I must also add a few words on the
satisfactory manner in which the great strain
on the railway and telegraph services has been
met by the staffs of the Shire Highlands and
Central Africa Railways and the African
Transcontinental Telegraph Company,
I, have, etc.,
G. SMITH.
Governor.
From Brigadier-General E, Northey, C.B.,
A.D.C., Commanding Nyasaland-Rhodesia
Force.
To His Excellency the Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Zomba,
Nyasaland.
Ubenat, German East Africa,
10th March, 1917.
Your Excellency,
I have the honour to forward herewith a
list of Officers, N.C.O.'s and Men of the Force
under my command whom I recommend for
mention in despatches for their splendid work
during the past year.
A brief summary of the operations which
have been carried out is as follows: —
From January to. May, 1916, the time was
spent in reorganising the forces on the border,
converting the garrisons between lakes Nyasa
and Tanganyika into mobile columns, and
arranging for supply and transport.
The results since obtained reflect the greatest
credit on the Administrative Services; I think
the difficulties to be overcome can hardly be
realised by any but those who have experienced
them.
Arrangements were made by which we were
able in a few months to deploy, feed, and
munition columns operating a hundred miles
north of Bismarckburg, at and east of Iringa,
and fifty miles east of both Lupembe and
Songea.
The distances by road from Bismarckburg
to New Langenburg, thence to Iringa, and
from Iringa to Songea, are each about 200
miles. None of the roads are more than improved
native paths, and the country is all
hilly or mountainous, much of it being dense
bush and very unhealthy.
It must also be remembered that, up to our
own frontier, all supplies had to be brought
either through Rhodesia, some1 600 miles from
the nearest railway, by native porters, or from
Chinde up the Zambesi, through Nyasaland
and up the Lake, a distance, of 700 miles, with
constant transfers from sea-going ship to sternwheeler,
railway, motor, carriers, and lake
steamer.
In addition to the troops with, the columns
many thousands of carriers had to be fed; and
it must be borne in mind that each carrier eats
the equivalent in weight of his own load in
three weeks.
This colossal task was considerably helped
later by the arrival of light motor lorries, by
the untiring efforts of the mechanical transport
units, and the splendid work of the South
African Engineers, under Major Colin Clark,
in cutting and maintaining roads through most
difficult hilly country. In six months 450
miles of motor road were made, and from
Mwaya to the Poroto Hills, just north of
New Langenburg, the road level varied from
1,500 to 8,000 feet above sea level.
On May 25th we
attacked the enemy all
along the frontier, and by the end of July had
cleared him out of the whole of the New Langenburg
and Bismarckburg districts, occupying
about 20,000 square miles of very rich and
fertile country and capturing many prisoners
and much war material.
During August and September we made a
complete wheel to the eastward, pivoting on
the north end of Lake Nyasa, and driving our
enemy, who had now been reinforced from the north, eastwards
from the districts of Iringa, Ubeua and Songea, the occupation
of Iringa
being timed to synchronise with the arrival of
General Van Deventer at Kilossa.
From October to February the troops under
my command had some very hard fighting. In
addition to our original opponents we had to
deal with Major Kraut (the late adversary of
the 2nd Division) on our right, while the
Tabora forces, under General Wahle, ordered
to join Kraut, came down on our left and
across our lines of communication. Kraut, in
his attempt to contain Colonels Hawthorn and
Murray, suffered very heavily on the Ruhudje
River, and the Tabora forces lost about half
their numbers in getting across.
Between 30th
October and 26th November we
inflicted over 600 known casualties on the
enemy—that is to say, that number were actually
dead and buried or captured. There were,
of course, a proportionate number killed and
wounded, and many deserters, whom we did
not pick up.
The known enemy casualties we have inflicted
up to date are:—Europeans: 56 killed,
275 captured; native soldiers 336 killed, 1,093
captured. To them must be added the many
hundred askaris wounded, and deserters, who
have got away.
Our casualties have been slight in proportion.
We have also captured two out of four 10.5
cm. howitzers, one 8.8 gun, one 6 cm. gun,
three smaller guns, nine machine guns, and
forced General Wahle to abandon two naval
12-pounders soon after he captured them from
us near Iringa on his way to join Kraut.
The enemy companies which recently escaped
southwards to the Fortuguesa border under
Kraut have been reduced to an average of ten
Europeans and fifty askaris each, about one third
of their strength in September.
I cannot speak too highly of the work done
by Colonels Hawthorn and Murray, whose
columns have been marching and fighting the
whole time, even throughout the last few
months of constant heavy rain.
Both these commanders are young, active
and most reliable, and thoroughly understand
the tactical use of all arms. I strongly recommend
them for advancement when they can be
spared from service in this theatre.
My Staff has been none too large, and in
consequence of the great distances covered, and
the composition of my troops, i.e., the staff
work has been out of all proportion to the
actual size of the Force. That all has worked
smoothly and well is very largely due to the
tact, ability and unceasing devotion to duty
of my Chief Staff Officer, Major William
Arthur Cecil Saunders-Knox-Gore, D.S.O.,
who is well fitted to fill higher Staff appointments
in the future.
The greatest assistance has been given to me
all through by the Civil officials of Nyasaland
and Rhodesia, and by the Commandant-
General of the Rhodesian Forces, Brigadier-General A. H. M. Edwards,
C.B., M.V.O.
The medical officers, nurses and orderlies
from the Union of South Africa, Nyasaland
and Rhodesia, under the able direction of
Major Hugh Stannus Stannus, Deputy-Director of Medical Services,
have combined
most efficiently to fight the many diseases,
especially malaria, incidental to a tropical campaign,
and to lessen the sufferings of wounded
often at great distances from a hospital.
Communication between different columns
operating far apart, with the Central Railway
via Iringa, and with the bases in Nyasaland
and Rhodesia, has been kept up only by the
most constant hard work on the part of the
Signal Units (telegraph, wireless and visual)
and by the indefatigable energy of despatc hriders.
The services of the Hon. H. C. Duff, C.M.G.,
Chief Political Officer, and of Mr. J. S. K.
Wells and Mr. C. F. Chesnaye, in the administration
of the conquered territory have been
invaluable.
Our supplies have come forward from south
of Lake Nyasa regularly and satisfactorily,
under great difficulties; I am sure Your Excellency
will agree with me as to the valuable
services rendered by Lieutenant-Commander
G. H. Dennistoun, D.S.O., R.N., in command
on Lake Nyasa, and by Temporary Major
Charles Thorburn, Reserve of Officers, as
Officer Commanding base and lines of communication,
and by all those working under
them, whose work, though far from the fighting
line, has been none the less arduous
throughout the campaign.
The list of recommendations for award or
mention in despatches which I now have the
honour to submit covers a period of arduous
campaigning extending over seventeen months,
no such recommendations having been made
from this force since 11th October, 1915.
In conclusion, I wish to thank Your Excellency
for your constant support and loyal cooperation
in meeting my constant demands
on Nyasaland for assistance of every description,
without which our efforts could not have
been so productive of success.
Your Excellency will no doubt add a few
names for mention of those serving under you
at the base and on lines of communication
in Nyasaland and on the Lake, who have conspicuously
contributed to the solution of our
transport difficulties.
I have, etc.,
EDWARD NORTHEY,
Brigadier-General, A.D.C.,
Commanding, Nyasaland-Rhodesia Force.
[List of officers and men mentioned in this despatch follows.
Regiments/units include:
Staff
South African Mounted Rifles
South African Engineers
South
African Infantry
South
African Rifles
South
African Motor Cyclist Corps
British South Africa Police
King's African Rifles
Northern Rhodesia Police
1st Rhodesian Regiment
Intelligence Service, Nyasaland-Rhodesia Force
Mechanical Transport Service
Medical
Services
Indian Subordinate
Medical Department
Political Officers
