Just returned from a visit to my son and his family who are currently staioned in Kenya.
I have always been interested in the plight of this small African nation where the future Queen Elizabeth whilst on her honeymoon with Prince Philip at "Treetops" learnt of her fathers death King George the 6th in 1952.
What was to follow in the next 8 years was to a very bloody campaign waged against the British in an attempt to kick them out of Kenya, which they finally succeeded with the loss of a lot of British lives!!
Look at the Police raid on a village on the Youtube footage and in particular the recovery of the home made weapons one of which I saw in the Nairobi Museum last week on display. Incredible ingenuity from very poor labourers and farm workers!
Look at the second photo and the Sten barrel on the left a no4 in the centre and a no5 on the right in use.
The last photo shows members of the Kenya Colonial Police with thier own outdated rifles and equipment!
Thought it might provoke some interest in operations there over that period in cluding Operation Scaramouche
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Last edited by Gil Boyd; 02-20-2020 at 11:16 AM.
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
There's a lot more to the that period of history than appears at first glance; a lot of it not very good. However, eliminating the Mau Mau in the bush one by one took an incredible amount of time and effort.
I remember seeing a movie back in the 1950s about the Mau Mau uprising. The movie fascinated me so much I ended up sitting in the cinema through three consecutive viewings -- and got the flogging of my life from my dad as a result (something about a 8-9 year old going missing for over six hours apparently).
To this day, I can't remember the name of the movie, but I remember the hiding I got. Anyone have any idea what the movie was?
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The weapons fascinated me in the museum made by these poor souls who struggled for a decent wage against British rule.................how upper crust it was back then KEENIA !!!!!
'Tonight my men and I have been through hell and back again, but the look on your faces when we let you out of the hall - we'd do it all again tomorrow.' Major Chris Keeble's words to Goose Green villagers on 29th May 1982 - 2 PARA
Tah Gil. I'm pretty sure Simba is the one. It was a drama I saw, and not a documentary. Bl**dy impressive for a pre-teen who wanted to become a soldier!
A chap that I use to work with, sadly no longer with us, served in Kenya during part of his National service. If memory serves me correctly he said that he served in the Gloucestershire Regiment. Interestingly he told me that although he had to do National Service he volunteered to serve in Kenya as part of his National Service and for whatever reason, in his case, he didn't have to do so, but he chose to. He did tell me that he saw action and considered his actions in Kenya justified. If I remember correctly he went out to Kenya, from the UK, by ship and I do remember him telling me that he flew back to the UK by a Handley Page Hermes aircraft. He definitely said a Hermes aircraft, if it was actually a Hastings transport I do not know. Were some Hermes aircraft used by the RAF during the Kenyan Emergency?
Last edited by Flying10uk; 02-22-2020 at 09:00 PM.
One youtube and romanticised movie does not reveal what the situation was in Kenya at that time. There is much more to it than appears, quite complicated, and not a rebellion I believe. I'm not saying it was all good, I'm just saying one shouldn't believe all you see and hear from a few sources, showing only what they want you to know.
Many more of the local population suffered under the Mau Mau than British.
Welcome home Gil, glad you had a good time mate...
The whole post war British colonial withdrawal, is a fascinating period of our history, mistakes were made, yes, but on the whole it was carried out successfully and with great dignity.
Especially when you consider the large number of countries involved and and the sheer logistical nightmare of it.
in an attempt to kick them out of Kenya, which they finally succeeded with the loss of a lot of British lives!!
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Originally Posted by Gil Boyd
