The Gold Coast Regiment in the East African Campaign

by Sir Hugh Charles Clifford

On reaching the river, patrols were sent out to scout the high ground on the southern bank, and when this was reported clear of the enemy, it was in due course occupied by the Gold Coast Regiment. These movements had resulted in No. 1 Column having slipped in behind the enemy’s rear, while his front was still being engaged by the 1st Battalion of the 3rd King’s African Rifles and No. 27 Mountain Battery. He was not, however, completely encircled, as a gap still existed toward the south, by means of which he was able later to extricate himself from the dangers that threatened him.

At 2.30 p.m. orders were received to push on towards Mitoneno by the main path running from the east along the south bank of the river, and the 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Regiment of the King’s African Rifles were at the same time ordered to advance by a track leading along the right bank. As Mitoneno was approached the King’s African Rifles became engaged with the enemy, and the Pioneer Company of the Gold Coast Regiment was pushed forward to get into touch with the right of their line, to achieve which the Pioneers had to cross to the north bank of the Mbemkuru.

At 4 p.m. it was ascertained that the enemy was in position on the south bank also, and two sections of I Company, under Captain McElligott, were sent forward to get abreast of the Pioneer Company and to attempt to envelope the enemy’s left. At the same time the rest of I Company and A and B Companies were brought up to be in a position to launch an attack when the exact disposition of the enemy’s forces were more clearly known, as, owing to the thick bush, the precise situation remained very obscure. Half an hour later the rest of I Company, under Captain Dawes, was sent forward to join up with the detachment under Captain McElligott, on the right. The 129th Baluchis had in the meantime dug themselves in to the right rear of the Gold Coast Regiment, and as a consequence a large gap was left between I Company’s right and the left flank of the Baluchis.

At 4.40 p.m. Captain Dawes reported that he was heavily engaged; that the enemy were working round his right flank; and that he required support. A Company was accordingly sent forward to his assistance, Major Goodwin assuming the command of the firing-line.

The firing all along the front was now fast and furious, and the reserve of small-arms ammunition with the Gold Coast first line was accordingly sent forward, and an urgent message for more was dispatched to the ammunition-column. It was then ascertained that the latter was a long way to the rear of the column and that no further supply of ammunition could be expected for some time to come. This rendered the position one of considerable anxiety, for the firing continued to be very heavy.

Two sections of B Company, under Lieutenant Woods, were now sent forward to reinforce and prolong Captain Shaw’s right. A little later a detachment of the 129th Baluchis, a corps which at that time had been almost depleted of its officers, were also sent to prolong the right; but pushing too far forward, and losing their sense of direction after they had come into contact with the enemy, they passed across the front of the right extremity of the firing-line, and as a consequence they suffered a number of unnecessary casualties. About 80 of them, however, eventually joined B Company on the extreme right, and were later joined by 40 more men of their regiment. The two remaining sections of B Company, under Captain Methven, had a little earlier been sent to reinforce the right, but very soon two sections, under Lieutenant Woods, had to be sent back to fill a gap between I and A Companies.

The position with regard to small-arms ammunition was now very serious. The transport-carriers had vanished to a man, and no word could be gained of the ammunition column. However, 20 boxes of cartridges were borrowed from the Baluchis by the Gold Coast Regiment and were taken to the firing-line by the battery carriers—trained men who had stuck to their duty—under the leadership of Captain Foley. Later, when at last a supply was received from the long-lost ammunition column, Lieutenant Baldwin, in charge of the carriers attached to that body, rendered great service in bringing ammunition up and taking it forward to the firing-line.

By 5.30 p.m. the Gold Coast Regiment had thrown the whole of its reserves into the firing-line, and the Pioneer Company, which had been sent to the left, was urgently recalled, but considerable delay inevitably occurred before it was able to rejoin the rest of the Regiment. On the arrival of the Pioneers, just as darkness was falling, one section was at once sent to reinforce Captain Shaw, the remainder being held in reserve.

At 6.15 word reached Colonel Rose that the King’s African Rifles on his left had been withdrawn, and Major Goodwin was accordingly instructed to draw in his left. The firing had now died down, only occasional shots being heard. The firing-line was therefore drawn in; a perimeter camp was formed; and the night passed without incident.

On the 2nd October, scouts sent out reported that the enemy had retreated; and patrols from the Baluchis and the 2nd Battalion of the 2nd King’s African Rifles were dispatched to the west and the south-west to try to pick up his spoor. The rest of No. 1 Column closed upon the camp formed overnight by the Gold Coast Regiment, where it duly dug itself in.