It might seem odd that I am posting these in the Burma & India section of the forum but there is a good reason for it. The first four are official East Africa Command photographs and are from a series of at least 10 with the prefix 75. I presume that they were taken for publication. The first is numbered 75/2 and has the note, Not to be used on the reverse.
The second in the series that I have is numbered 75/5 and has a caption. Firing a timed programme over the heads of a K.A.R. Bn. Demonstration at Naivasha, (Kenya). Nov. 1943. The third photograph, 75/6, shows the explosion of the shells during the firing demonstration.
The fourth photograph in the series is numbered 75/10 and has no caption. I can only assume that it was taken on the same day as the other two photographs. Therefore it would appear to be the Officers and wives of the Field Regiment watching the firing at Naivasha, which would appear to account for the wearing of steel helmets.
The next sequence is numbered 89 and there must have been at least 12 photographs in the series. The first that I have, 89/2, has no caption but is of Lt.-General Sir William Platt inspection some African soldiers. Lt.-General Sir William Platt was the G.O.C. East Africa Command from 1941-1945.
The second photograph in numerical sequence, 89/5, appears to show Lt.-General Platt arriving, or departing at the inspection site.
The next photograph 89/9, gives the first clue as to the identity of the artillery unit. The caption reads: Gen Platt inspecting 62 Battery before leaving. 62nd (East Africa) Field Battery along with 57th (East Africa) Field Battery made up the 1st (East Africa) Field Regiment, East African Artillery. The 1st (East African) Field Regiment was later renumbered the 301st Field Regiment.
The next photograph, 89/12, is fully captioned. Gen Platt shaking hands with an African W.O. In 18 months service had been N.C.O. i/c LP?, No 1 of a gun & had learnt to drive & to serve Lieutenant Wall?
This photograph is a captioned snapshot. It appears to show the officers of the 301st Field Regiment. The caption reads. Group taken at 301 Field Regt's last demonstration in Nov. 43 before leaving Kenya.
The 301st (East Africa) Field Regiment was sent to Ceylon in February 1944 to join the 11th (East African) Division. Travelling on a troopship named H.M.T. Khedive Ishmail, she met a Japanese submarine off the Maldives and was sunk with great loss of life. Bless them all.
Gen Platt shaking hands with an African W.O. In 18 months service had been N.C.O. i/c LP? Line Party (Observation Post telephone Signals) or OP AC Observation Post Assistant (scribbled bit after Africa) , No 1 of a gun (in command standing at the rear of the gun) & had learnt to drive & to serve Lieutenant Wall? See photo of gun firing #2 Man to the rear in slouch hat is No1 then count anticlockwise up to No6 who prepares ammunition from the limber. At this time an African senior NCO would have been unusual on the guns hence his introduction to the visiting officer. I would have thought this impossible for any soldier of any nationality with such short service to achieve a senior NCO rank let alone the Command of a Gun or prepare the Ammunition. Edit: The man in the slouch hat appears to be holding a compass so may be the GPO (Gun Position Officer) or an IG (Instructor Gunnery) checking the gun alignment. My eyes aren't what they used to be. Suggest checking with Derek Barton or Sheldrake regarding the caption. Edit 2: Platt was Hon Col Wiltshire Regt. William Platt - Wikipedia.
More on the Khedive Ishmail here: Sinking of the Troopship Khedive Ismail (royalmarineshistory.com) and here: SS Khedive Ismail | British Army Nurses
