World War II East African Campaign Memorabilia

World War II East African Campaign Memorabilia

The collection includes sharp edged weaponry, other militaria, memorabilia, and ephemera related to the World War II East Africa Campaign, and General Smuts.

• Correspondence with General Smut’s office, incl. three original letters signed by Smuts’ private secretary, Mr. Henry W.A. Cooper, dated 22 July 1947, 8 December 1950, 13 June 1950 and 3 November 1959.  The letters inter alia discuss political events during the time of the Union, and are dated shortly before and after the Prime Minister's passing.  Also, an undated thank you note signed by Smuts.
• A Maasai Askari’s sword, a Askari knife, and a Turkana tribal wrist knife. The short sword has a handmade, double-edged blade with no markings, animal hide sheath and grip, and straps made of tendon. The knife is marked 'CHAPA YA ASKARI' which translates from Swahili to 'Mark Of Soldier'
• A Broadhurst Clarkson, 3 draw military telegraph signalling telescope. The telescope is covered in stitched brown calf leather, two protective leather end caps plus a shoulder carry strap. Fully functional with clean undamaged lenses, mark stamped ‘TEL. SIG. MK.VI’.  Used by the Kings African Rifles (KAR)
  
• KAR shoulder titles and button, and The Africa Star medal complete with ribbon
• Rare handcrafted trench art box, made in British P.O.W camp no. 356 (Eldoret, Kenya), by Italian prisoners of war captured in Abyssinia after the Allied conquest of 1941. The box is made from, and inlaid with, East African hardwoods, with handmade hinges and a clip. The lid of the box depicts an air battle (separation visible the bottom inlay)
• Two original photographs, of General Smuts, at a airfield (probably Nairobi) during one of the South African Commander-in-Chief's visits to South African troops in East Africa, date unknown
• Four original photographs of Smuts’ visit to Allied troops in East Africa, probably on a visit to troops of the 2^nd S.A. Infantry Brigade Group
• Two original photographs of the South African Air Force Hurricanes at a airfield in Kenya, ca 1940, annotated on the back with the names of and ranks of ‘The crew’, ‘taken after raid’
• Two original photographs of the fortified position of Mersa Matruh, respectively annotated on the back ‘Mersa Matruh’ and ‘German & British graves (Bardia)’
• A Christmas tin, ca 1940, sent as a Christmas gift to soldiers in World War II by the South African Gifts and Comforts Committee, some rust, scratches and small dents but hinges are intact, embossed with the image of Smuts, inscriptions still clear
• A collection of original newspaper clippings on General Smuts
• Collection of newspaper clippings, covering conflicts in East Africa, North Africa and European war theatres, for the period 1941 to 1942
• No Picnic on Mount Kenya, The Story of Three P.o.W.s’ Escape to Adventure, by Felice Benuzzi - Published by William Kimber and Co., Limited, London, 1952
• Pienaar van Alamein, Die Lewensgeskiedenis van ‘n Groot Suid-Afrikaanse Soldaat, by A.M. Pollock (Foreword by Field-Marshal J.C. Smuts), published by the Cape Times Limited, 1943, with newspaper clippings (dated 1943 to 1960) about General Pienaar
• South African Forces World War II (Volume I), East African and Abyssinian Campaigns, by Neil Orpen, published by Purnell and Sons (S.A.) Pty. Ltd., Cape Town, 1968
• International buyers to please confirm shipping charges with seller before placing orders