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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Lindi, German East Africa


bushfighter

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Lindi is a pleasant, sleepy Swahili town on the southern Tanzanian coastline.



(See endpaper map in the Official History)

The 40th Pathans landed and seized the town on 17th September 1916.

However the Germans did not go away, they just withdrew a short distance up the Lukuledi River valley that runs into Lindi creek.

Fighting in the area continued until the heaviest engagements of the campaign were fought in the Lukuledi valley in late 1917.

Meanwhile Lindi had been developed as an important base, and supplies and men were shipped into the creek and an airstrip was constructed.

Above is a 1917 sketch of the Lindi defences. Several of the original buildings can be seen today.

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The rear of the German Boma with the creek in the background

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View of Lindi Creek entrance

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An ancient tower survives in the old Askari barracks

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Looking up the creek from the jetty

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The colonial jail house

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The dhow harbour

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Colonial buildings in Lindi

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Hi Harry,

Many thanks for posting these photos. It is good to see what remains of some of the buildings that both Issacson and Higgins would have known during their time there. Is there any evidence of the heavy fighting which took place?

It is quite amazing that so many of these original buildings still survive, but then again I suppose that redevelopement in these poor areas is almost unheard of? and consequently buildings are allowed to deteriorate and disappear in their own time.

Great to see what the place looked like :thumbsup:

Regards, Robert

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Robert

Greetings

The Boma is apparently going to be refurbished as a hotel, using Mikindani as a model.

Elsewhere remoteness, massive beaurocracy, tropical lassitude and a plunging currency combine to restrict development.

There is an excellent hotel (by my standards) on the creek front for 18 pounds sterling B & B per night.

I must return to survey the battlefields up the Lukuledi, especially Mahiwa-Nyangao - the biggest of them all.

The best way in is either from Mozambique to the south, or else to fly Dar Es Salaam - Mtwara, and then take a taxi to Lindi for 36 pounds sterling.

I did the latter, stopping off at Mikindani and Sudi, as other threads have shown.

Many of the non-exclusively military photos that I took are being posted on my Facebook page.

Any Member wanting access please send me a Personal Message saying that you are sending me a Facebook Friend invitation.

Harry

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