mcmichaelm Posted 15 January , 2011 Share Posted 15 January , 2011 This is the back of the postcard in a previous post from Capetown with the picture of the men at the water's edge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 16 January , 2011 Share Posted 16 January , 2011 Frances Thank you very much and well done on getting used to the site - I still have problems understanding it! The information about Belfield's Scouts moving over to escorting duties in motor transport is particularly interesting. The General must be Smuts. Jack may have been in or near Southern Rhodesia when war broke out as it appears that he may have initially enlisted in 1st Rhodesia Regiment and served with them in German South West Africa. I am still intrigued about what unit he was in when he died - keep digging please. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmichaelm Posted 16 January , 2011 Share Posted 16 January , 2011 Thanks Harry, I have limited information - sent to Ireland when the last member of the family died. I was thinking it was General Smuts. I also think his brother was in Moshi which is in Tanzania as is Kondoa. Would you like me to post a photo of him? I have several. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 17 January , 2011 Share Posted 17 January , 2011 Frances Thank you and yes please post more. Any image of a war-time scene or a person in uniform provides useful information. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carmania Posted 17 January , 2011 Share Posted 17 January , 2011 I came across the following entries about a J E McMichael which might be of interest: The Rhodesia Herald, 3rd March 1911 Southern Rhodesia Volunteers Taken on the strength of Gadzema R Co. - No 4621 Tpr J E McMichael, 21st February 1911 The Rhodesia Herald, 14th November 1912 Southern Rhodesia Volunteers Taken on the strength of Gatooma Rifle Co. - No 6063 Tpr J E McMichael, 7th November 1912 Aled Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KONDOA Posted 17 January , 2011 Share Posted 17 January , 2011 Frances, Very interested in the references to Kondoa Irangi etc, please post whatever is possible , very fascinating. Roop Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmichaelm Posted 30 January , 2011 Share Posted 30 January , 2011 This is Jack McMichael on the left with his friend Ross Seymour. On the back it says: Jack and Ross Seymour Kings African Rifles Nairobi. Frances Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmichaelm Posted 30 January , 2011 Share Posted 30 January , 2011 This is Robert McMichael, Jack's younger brother, taken in Co. Antrim in 1917. He is with his cousins. I think he was in the Air Force. He was killed at some point, but I believe it was after the war. Can you identify the uniform? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmichaelm Posted 30 January , 2011 Share Posted 30 January , 2011 Jack McMichael in younger days: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 1 February , 2011 Share Posted 1 February , 2011 Jack's grave in Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery. The only possible reference to Ross Seymour found is in London Gazette Supplement dated 6 August 1918 page 9226. E.R. Seymour Intelligence Agent in the East African Force Intelligence Department is mentioned in despatches (MID). Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 1 February , 2011 Share Posted 1 February , 2011 Jack's Medal Index CardHarry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveE Posted 1 February , 2011 Share Posted 1 February , 2011 The only possible reference to Ross Seymour found is in London Gazette Supplement dated 6 August 1918 page 9226. E.R. Seymour Intelligence Agent in the East African Force Intelligence Department is mentioned in despatches (MID). Harry This man is Egerton Rothesay Seymour or Rothesay Egerton Seymour, the names appear both ways round in the records, and I rather suspect that 'Ross' could well be a diminutive of Rothesay. In addition to his MID Egerton Rothesay Seymour was also awarded the MC (LG#30597, 26 March 1918, Page 3746) and the citation published (LG#30862, 24 August 1918, Page 9917). Citation read... Intelligence Agent Egerton Rothesay Seymour, E. Afr. Intell. Dept. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He has repeatedly performed marked acts of courage and initiative, and he has on two occasions attacked and routed enemy patrols, though greatly outnumbered. Within the last two months he has himself accounted for sixteen of the enemy during various patrol encounters, and has burned large quantities of enemy supplies, his work being magnificent throughout. Interestingly, if you look at his MIC (Rothesay E. Seymour) he too entered theatre the same date as Jack and was also a Scout #9533 with Belfield's Scouts before being commissioned into the East African Forces. Regards Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmichaelm Posted 5 February , 2011 Share Posted 5 February , 2011 It is amazing to see the photo of the grave with his name on it. We could never hope to go to Dar Es Salaam, though we have talked about it. Thank you so much for that, the medal card and all your help. I have his baptism record which gives a date 23 Feb 1876, which would mean he was 41! Frances Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmichaelm Posted 5 February , 2011 Share Posted 5 February , 2011 That is probably the same Ross Seymour. It makes sense to me. Thanks Frances Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kuzama Posted 9 February , 2011 Share Posted 9 February , 2011 While not the Fusiliers it may well be something to do with EA. The photos comes from Central Press Photos and supposedly shows German troops destroying a railway in EA, but the landscape looks too barren and the track looks narrower that meter gauge.. Can any one shed any light on this ... Kevin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 10 February , 2011 Share Posted 10 February , 2011 Kevin I would guess that this is in German South West Africa - the hats are appropriate for that theatre. Harry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Capt_Starlight Posted 10 February , 2011 Share Posted 10 February , 2011 This is Robert McMichael, Jack's younger brother, taken in Co. Antrim in 1917. He is with his cousins. I think he was in the Air Force. He was killed at some point, but I believe it was after the war. Can you identify the uniform? Uniform is that of an Australian. No rank immediately apparent. If his name is Robert McMichael I can only find is 5261 PTE Robert Henry MCMICHAEL 4 AUST INF DIV (AIF) FD BAKERY. I wonder if he was visiting relatives in Ireland while on convalescent leave (he seemed to be prone to virii and a certain "social disease") ? He is shown as having been born in St Helens in Tasmania and died in 1962 (buried at Lauceston). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athelstan Posted 10 February , 2011 Share Posted 10 February , 2011 Kevin I would guess that this is in German South West Africa - the hats are appropriate for that theatre. Harry I can confirm this is indeed German South West Africa. The rest of this post has been moved to a new post on 'Railways and the Campaign in German South West Africa (see link below). Railways in German South West Africa james w Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcmichaelm Posted 12 March , 2011 Share Posted 12 March , 2011 Thank you for that, but this Robert was born in Anne St, Ballycastle Co Antrim on 14 Feb 1878 and emigrated with his family to S Africa. I know that for sure. I don't think there is an Australian connection, but the photo is genuine. I could name the women in it. I thought it was a South African uniform. If it's Australian, that opens up a whole mystery. Francesca Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 24 March , 2011 Share Posted 24 March , 2011 Bridge 27 On 29th September 1915 2nd Bn The Loyal North Lancashires, stationed at Bura on the Voi-Maktau military railway line, responded to reports of German raiders in the area of Bridge 27. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 24 March , 2011 Share Posted 24 March , 2011 Railway lines at Bridge 27 dated 1913 During operations to the south of the bridge 2/Lt Owen Almond (ex-RSM and commissioned after displaying excellent conduct at Tanga) ambushed a German party killing 3 Europeans and around 30 enemy Askari and porters. Owen Almond then led a charge into the killing ground where he was killed himself in a bayonet fight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 24 March , 2011 Share Posted 24 March , 2011 Area of bush just south of the bridge Captain R.G. Stokes and a relief party travelled in an armoured train from Bura to Bridge 27 to assist in operations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 24 March , 2011 Share Posted 24 March , 2011 Hill slope above Bridge 27 Instead of leaving the train before the bridge, which was dominated by a slope above it, Captain Stokes de-trained his party in the vicinity of the bridge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 24 March , 2011 Share Posted 24 March , 2011 Railway line adjacent to Bridge 27 A Schutztruppe ambush party was waiting on the higher ground and it severely shot-up Captain Stokes' group. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bushfighter Posted 24 March , 2011 Share Posted 24 March , 2011 (Copyright owned by Queen's Lancashire Regiment Museum) The men killed in both Owen Almond's action and the ambush of Captain Stokes' group were buried at Bura. They were: Captain R.G. Stokes 2/Lieutenant O.E. Almond 9046 Lance Corporal C. Dennis 10329 Private J. Noon 10158 Private G.T. Gill 9802 Private C. Butcher 9461 Private J. Cochrane 20607 Private P. Gilbert 10271 Private T. Kenny 10198 Private T.J. Watkinson 9232 Private F.W. Hilton 10119 Private C. Green 9479 Private A. Slade 9474 Private A.T Carter Severely wounded were: 10561 Private Burke, 8676 Private Connor and 9854 Private Hall. Slightly wounded were: 9705 Private Godley and 20612 Private McMahon. The Missing were: 9032 Lance Corporal Meadley, 4496 Private Lyon, 10286 Private Ward and 9273 Private Johnson. In both engagements 1708 rounds were expended and 14 rifles were lost, whilst from Owen Almond's action 2 rifles and 219 rounds were captured. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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