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Remembered Today:

29 Motor Ambulance Convoy (MAC) and East Africa


themonsstar

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Years ago I was fortunate enough to be given a little Kodak negative holder, this contained over 50 negatives. The person who owned it said there were soldiers wearing shorts and pointy hats and he thought maybe it was from the South African campaign (1899-1902). After receiving the negatives I soon realised if related to the East African campaign.

The original owner was a Thomas (Tom) Southern, Army Service Corps (ASC) he joined the British Army on the 11th Dec 1915 on the Lord Derby scheme ( deferred employment due to being married).

On his Attestation paperwork he stated he had prior service in the armed forces. Tom stated he had served in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Cheshire Regiment 1900, he volunteered to serve in the the Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa (No 27576) his service was with the 76 company (Rough Riders), 22nd Battalion, he was discharged from the 42nd company IY, and was issued the QSA medal with 3 clasps.

On 6 April 1916 he started his training at the depot ASC, and was posted to 699 MT company ASC, by the 2nd May 1916 had been promoted to acting sergeant.

699 Mt Coy was re-designated as 29 Motor Ambulance Convoy (MAC) was a specialised motorised transport used on the lines for evacuation of casualties. on the 19th June 1916, 29 MAC was embarking for East Africa.

Fortunately Tom had written in the index of the negative book,which did helped with the placing the unit in East Africa, however the writing in some places is hard to read, and the negatives were possibly mixed up when they were first printed as you read index.

1. Surfing at Durban.

2. 2 jocks Cungella Camp.

3. Surfing at Durban.

4. Rickshaw boys, Durban Town hall.

5. Cungella Camp.

6. Cungella Camp.

7. Cungella Camp.

8. Drinkers at Cungella Camp.

9. Ladies bathing booth Durban.

10. SSGT Wilson, Sgt Luke & Boys.

11. Landing cattle at Lindi.

12. Sgt Southern at (Trooato or Truvato?) house.

13. Mixed bathing at Durban.

14. Sgt Southern Masasi hospital.

15. German 4.1 gun destroyed.

16. A few of the boys at (naruise?).

17. A few of the boys at (naruise?).

18. Masasi mission hospital Christmas.

19. Auto car overturned Masasi.

20. QSM ( Quarter Master Sgt) Short at Kisswani.

21. The remains of the original company Kisswani.

22. Staff car at Masasi mission.

23. Sgt Wood joyriding.

24. Coconut palms at Lindi.

25. German 4.1 gun outside (Helada or Holatada?).

26. Landing cattle at Lindi.

27. Curunia this could be the (troopship Caronia) at Kisswani Kilua.

28. Our camp at Masasi.

29. German prisoners at Lindi.

30. Lindi Harbour.

31. Coconut palms at Lindi.

32. Gold Coast Regiment, bathing at Lindi.

33. Sgt Southern at Masasi.

34. German 4.1 gun outside Mtama.

35. The cook at Kisswani.

36. Curunia this could be the (troopship Caronia) at Kilwa.

The index stops here, however, the negatives go on.

The first 3 photographs are of little Kodak negative book.

post-7206-0-24095200-1362570292_thumb.jp

post-7206-0-52344000-1362570304_thumb.jp

post-7206-0-90945500-1362570316_thumb.jp

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Sgt T.Southern at Trooato? House Durban SA 1916.

Drinkers at Cungella Camp outside Durban SA 1916.

2 Jocks Cungella Camp Durban SA 1916.

post-7206-0-44459600-1362570557_thumb.jp

post-7206-0-95854600-1362570642_thumb.jp

post-7206-0-52433600-1362570652_thumb.jp

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SSgt Wilson & Sgt Luke and the boys

QMS Short at Kilwa Kivinje

The remains of the origanal company at Kilwa Kivinje.

post-7206-0-81427200-1362571944_thumb.jp

post-7206-0-40163500-1362572013_thumb.jp

post-7206-0-69523100-1362572063_thumb.jp

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Sgt Southern with a German 4.1 gun destroyed.

German 4.1 Gun outside Helada?.

German 4.1 Gun outside Mtama.

post-7206-0-02436300-1362572655_thumb.jp

post-7206-0-87690800-1362572773_thumb.jp

post-7206-0-98895900-1362572832_thumb.jp

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Great pictures! Thank you for sharing.

All the best,

Gary

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Thank you for sharing these rare pictures of the WW1 campaign in German East Africa.

Jean-Paul

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  • 3 months later...

Just a small contribution regarding 29 MAC, found in the IWM collection:

http://www.iwm.org.u...bject/205250382

Object description:

German East African Campaign. Masassi Roma Camp, situated about half-way between

Lindi and the Ruwuma River. Portuguese Border Line (showing 29th MAC Camp).

There is also a fascinating range of pictures of the campaign, mostly unknown to me

and worth a look!

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Cheers for the link Olav.

Looking at the pic from the link, I would go with the 3 pic in post No10 being the same area.

Thank you

Roy

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  • 2 weeks later...

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