This photograph shows some of the officers of the H.Q. Coy of the 1st Battalion, Northern Rhodesia Regiment. in Kenya in March 1942 before they embarked for Ceylon. A brief summary of their war time activities lifted from the internet 1st Battalion Dispatched on 3 September 1939 to guard the Belgian Congo border from an imagined invasion by a mythical 1300-strong mechanized force supposedly raised in Portuguese Angola. Recalled three weeks later, then moved overland to Kenya with a pause for training in Tanganyika. Sailed from Mombasa on 11 May 1940 and reached Berbera four days later, then occupied the Tug Argan position. Defended there during the Italian invasion of British Somaliland (along with such legendary formations as the Somaliland Camel Corps) until forced to withdraw and evacuate by sea to Aden on 16 August. Sailed to Mombasa, arriving 17 September. Assigned to 21st East African Infantry Brigade (under 11th East African Division, then 1st South African Division). After advancing in May from Moyale as part of Cunningham's offensive from Kenya, the battalion served on garrison duty in Abyssinia and Kenya. Sailed for Ceylon from Kilindini on 10 March 1942 with 21st Brigade. Arrived Colombo and underwent two years of garrison and jungle training. To Chittagong in July 1944. Employed in construction role near Palel until October, the battalion then took part in the advance Palel-Tamu-Kalewa through December and were still in Burma at the end of the war. The Burma Star website has them with the 25th Brigade. 25th Brigade 11th (K) Btn Kings Own African Rifles 26th (TT) Btn Kings Own African Rifles 34th (U) Btn Kings Own African Rifles 1st Btn Rhodesian Regt Commanded by Brig. N. Hendricks The officers are named on the back of the photograph and I would appreciate any help in positively identifying them.
Back Row L-R Major Hawkins (Unknown), Tony Fawssett. (Anthony A S Fawssett 108160) Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment Davison Front Row 'Doc' Wellstead Robin H Medley. ( 95597) Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Regiment Frank Johnson 'Scottie' Kinghorn. (J.P. Kinghorn (67671) Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders?)
Indeed, it is a rather unfortunate stain and if it was anywhere else on the photograph it draw so much attention.
