Stewart - The First Victory

THE FIRST VICTORY

Copyright 2016 Andrew Stewart

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Stewart, Andrew, 1970- author.

Title: The first victory : the Second World War and the East Africa campaign / Andrew Stewart.

Description: New Haven : Yale University Press, 2016.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016031009 | ISBN 9780300208559 (cloth : alk. paper)

Subjects: LCSH: World War, 1939-1945CampaignsAfrica, East.

Classification: LCC D766.84 .S74 2016 | DDC 940.54/233dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016031009

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

CONTENTS

MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS

Maps

Italian invasion of British Somaliland.

Defence of the Tug Argan Gap.

Advance of British and Commonwealth forces from Kenya into Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia.

Advance of British and Commonwealth forces from the Sudan into Eritrea.

Battle of Keren (the opening phase).

Battle of Keren (the final phase).

Advance of Patriot forces.

Illustration credits

4 The National Archives (INF3/415). 9 The War Weekly, April 1941. All other illustrations are courtesy of Ministry of Defence Crown Copyright (2016). Reproduced under the terms of the Open Government Licence http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/.

1 On the left, General Archibald Wavell, the British commander of forces in the Middle East, meets with the South African leader Jan Smuts during his March 1940 visit to Cape Town.

2 The governor of Kenya, Sir Henry Moore, takes the salute as South African troops begin to arrive in the colony. Standing to his right is Major-General Douglas Dickinson, the senior British military officer in the region, and on his left is the South African commander Brigadier Dan Pienaar.

3 Wavell meets with Major-General William Platt, his commander in the Sudan, to discuss strategy.

4 A propaganda picture showing Acting Captain Eric Wilson manning his machine gun at Tug Argan during the heroic defence.

5 The British fort at Moyale, a good example of the defences available to the British and Commonwealth forces.

6 Following Dickinsons dismissal, Major-General Alan Cunningham was appointed as his replacement to lead the advance from Kenya.

7 Troops of the Gold Coast Brigade marching through Kismayu on 14 February following the capture of this key strategic port.

8 During the advance made by the Patriots, the Ethiopian emperor, Haile Selassie, receives advice from Colonel Daniel Sandford (to his right) and Lieutenant- Colonel Orde Wingate (to his left).

9 A contemporary popular magazine rendition of the recapture of Berbera in March 1941 as part of Operation Appearance.

10 The Union Jack flies over Government House in Berbera following the success of Operation Appearance.

11 Pack mules and Bren carriers in a forward area in front of Keren.

12 Indian troops resting at a signal point in a fort overlooking Mount Sanchil.

13 Indian troops marching into Asmara on 1 April 1941.

14 Troops from the Transvaal Scottish march through Addis Ababa.

15 The emperor is driven into Addis Ababa with Cunningham accompanying him in his official car.

16 Italian troops marching down from Fort Toselli after the surrender of the garrison at Amba Alagi.

17 The viceroy of Italian East Africa, the Duke of Aosta (second from left), leaves his mountain fortress following his surrender. Behind him, in the centre of the picture, is Major-General Mosley Mayne.

18 The Patriots on the march entering Debra Tor in July 1941.

19 The enemy positions as seen from inside the fort at the Wolchefit Pass.