Remembering Today: Private William James Frederick FISH,

[bushfighter]

This was the 5th South African Infantry's first serious experience of bush fighting.

Previous engagements at Salaita and Latema-Reata had been painful experiences for the Bn.

The unit, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel The Honourable J.J. Byron, advanced from Pongwe at 1400 hours with Belfield's Scouts. (See Sketch 35 on page 302 of the Official History.)

The German 3, 16 and 30 Feldkompagnien, grouped as Abteilung Boedecker, blocked 5SAI's advance and worked a flanking move against the South African right.

This shot-up the Bn's transport.

Boedecker put in an evening attack on the South African left at 1800 hours.

The situation was not stabilised until 2130 hours when two companies of the 6SAI arrived.

At dawn Boedecker's men had gone as another force containing 2 Kashmir Rifles, the 17th Cavalry Squadron, a Section of 27th Mountain Battery (Indian Army) and 2 armoured cars were outflanking the Germans on another route to the east.

5SAI lost 1 officer and 19 men killed, and 1 officer and 64 men wounded - around 20% of the unit strength.

The bodies were buried locally and moved to Dar Es Salaam after the war.

Harry