Beau
Geste (Novel)
P.C. Wren
I will assume that if you got this
far on the site, you are interested enough in the subject that this book
needs little introduction. Three brothers join the Legion, each to avert
suspicion on the other two as to who stole the Blue Water: A massive sapphire.
As the mystery thickens their adventure takes them to the Nigerian Frontier
and back: Wild adventure in the French Foreign Legion.
A first addition copy with dust
jacket, such as this one (with illustrated scenes from the Paramount 1926
movie) will cost $100 or more. Decent reading copies can be picked up for
$10. Check out Bibliofind. or
Barnes
and Nobles Used section
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Beau
Sabreur (Novel)
P.C. Wren
Less well known is the further adventures
of Major Henri de Beaujolais, dashing French Hussar, a character first
introduced in Beau Geste: Smashing his way through an Arab mob to rescue
a beautiful American girl. Fleeing to safety across the desert with Mary
and her maid, the three are set upon by Arabs and brought before the Emir
and Sheik of the tribe. In the swift moving events that follow the Emir
and Sheik are revealed as two of the most engaging rascals in fiction -
and Beau Sabreur as one of its most gallant heroes
A first addition copy with dust
jacket, such as this one (with illustrated scenes from the Paramount 1926
movie) will cost $100 or more. Decent reading copies can be picked up for
$10. Check out Bibliofind. or
Barnes
and Nobles Used section
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Soldiers
of Misfortune (Novel)
P.C. Wren
Another trio joins the French Foreign
Legion, by Wren again ... who else?
Adventures thronged upon young Sir
Otho when, masquerading as Bob Blame, he became a professional boxer. Then
a heat knockout - the girl he loved - sent him staggering and dazed off
to the French Foreign Legion, his two cronies marching beside him. An absorbing
tale of love, mystery, daring; of a delightful old ex-pirate and a sympathetic
pugilist, a lovable heroine, and a hero with the same devil-may-care spirit,
the clean manliness, the endearing charm, of the immortal Beau Geste
Decent reading copies can be picked
up for $10. Check out Bibliofind.
or
Barnes and Nobles Used section
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Wages
of Virtue (Novel)
P.C. Wren
Does anyone else write Legion novels?
In this one, Merline is attacked in the African jungle and left for dead.
His wife marries Merline's long lost friend within the year. Merline is
later discovered, witless and ragged, by an English doctor in an African
Village. The doctor removes a bullet from Merlines brain restoring his
sensibilities. Discovering his wife's new marriage, Merline decides, out
of love for her, to stay 'dead' and to spare her further anguish.
After wandering about Algeria for
a few years, Merline enlists in the French Foreign Legion under the name
of John Bull. After fourteen years a young recruit, Rupert,
joins the Legion. They become good friends. They eventually desert together
but Merline is fatally shot by an Arab.
Rupert buries his friend and escapes
to England. In telling his tale to his mother, he unconsciously reveals
the story of her long lost husbands sacrifice.
And you don't find plots like that
anymore.
Decent reading copies can be picked
up for $10. Check out Bibliofind.
or
Barnes and Nobles Used section
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Under
Two Flags (Novel)
Ouida
Review by Jeff Ewing
Oxford Popular Literature reprint of Ouida's Under Two
Flags, the archetype of the Foreign Legion novel (although the protag is
in the Chasseurs d'Afrique). The first half concerns the languid
guardsman Bertie Cecil and his rather superfluous existence in London high
society in the 1850s. He gets himself in a jam, and has to abscond
in order to save his brother's and a "married and titled" woman's name.
He goes to Algeria and enlists, and is tormented by a
cruel officer, loved by a cantiniere and meets a beautiful princess.
This is as far as I've got, but it's all written in high victorian style,
and presumably paid by the word, so you get amazing descriptions like this:
[Bertie Cecil the protag has just cut off an arab's arm, and the cantineiere
has shot another one] "'That was a pretty cut through the arm; better it
had been through the throat. Never do things by halves, mon ami Victor,'
said Cigarette; carelessly, as she thrust her pistols back into her sash
and looked, with the tranquil appreciation of a connoisseur upon the brown,
brawny, naked limb, where it lay severed on the sand, with the hilt of
it's weapon still hanging from the sinewy fingers."
It's crammed with Zouaves, Turcos, Zephyrs and peppered
with army slang from Algeria. You might also want to look for the
book she got all this from, Antoine Camus' _Zephyrs, Spahis, Turcos, Tringlos:
Les Bohemes du Drapeau_, 1864.
Available
from Amazon Books. Also check out Bibliofind.
or Barnes and Nobles Used section
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Legion
of the Damned
Bennett J. Doty
A Fascinating autobiographical account
of life in the Legion in the 1920's. The author saw action in Syria against
the Druses but detested being used as a common laborer when the campaign
was won. Subsequently deserted but was captured. A real life adventure
by an American author.
Out of print. Check out Bibliofind.
or Barnes and Nobles Used section
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BATTLE
IN AFRICA 1879-1914.
Whitehouse, Howard.
This is a unique analysis of colonial campaigning in the
late Victorian & Edwardian era. The author guides the reader systematically
through each stage of an African campaign, then offers a comparative analysis
of British, French, German, Belgian & Italian experiences in various
campaigns, and also gives a rare emphasis on the indigenous African 'enemy'.
Prof. illus in a period style.
1988, paper, 8 1/2 x 12, 48 pp, prof. illus with drawings,
diagrams & maps. sb $12.95
Available
from Articles of War
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Uniforms
of the French Foreign Legion 1831-1982
Martin Windrow
Illustrated by Michael Chapell
Not just a beautiful selection of
color plates but a detailed history of the Unit and its uniforms from the
Legions inception until 1981. Many period photographs.
Sadly out of print. I would suggest
a frequent search of Bibliofind.
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Resistance
in the Desert
Moroccan Responses to French
Imperialism 1881-1912
Ross E. Dunn
A study of African response to European
Colonialism between 1881 and 1912. It concentrates on the Muslim pastoral
tribes of South Eastern Morocco. The book deals extensively with the resistance
movements but also shows how trade, negotiation and collaboration existed
simultaneously with the resistance.
Available
from Amazon Books
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El
Raisuni
The Sultan of the Mountains
Rosita Forbes
The life story of Mulay El Raisuni,
the Berber Chieftain fictionalized in the movie, The Wind and the Lion,
as told to the English Traveler and writer Rosita Forbes in the mid 1920's.
A fascinating account and terrific
adventure story of one of Morocco's formative characters. Lots of photographic
plates. A must read for anyone interested in early 20th century Moroccan
history and one of the most often cited books in bibliographies on Morocco.
Out of print. I would suggest a frequent search of Bibliofind.
Back to Book Index |
Lords
of the Atlas
The Rise and Fall of the House
of Glaoua 1893 - 1956
Gavin Maxwell
In 1893 the dying Sultan Moulay
Hassan was retreating to Marrakech with his defeated rag tag Harka. He
was well received by Madani El Glaoui, a Moroccan Sherifian chieftain whose
importance heretofore was his control of one of the three mountain passes
through the Atlas and control of the main salt mine in Morocco. It was
a power tenuously held onto by the Glaoua, a small tribe that could barely
muster 2000 musket armed horsemen. El Glaoui's generous treatment
saved the live of the retreating Sultan and his Harka. In reward he was
presented with modern arms for his generosity and a 77 mm Krupp cannon.
Thus, forever was changed the power base of the Moroccan Atlas. Madani
astutely preserved this power base during Morocco's turbulence before the
Great War and served France's interests during it. A gripping read form
the author, strangely enough, of Ring of Bright Water.
Out of print. I would suggest
a frequent search of Bibliofind.
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March
or Die:
The Story of the French Foreign
Legion
Howard Swiggett
One of the first books available
on the history of the French Foreign Legion. An easy read and a good intro
to the subject. Out of print but I have seen it frequently available from
used book stores.
Check out Barnes
and Nobles Used and Out of Print Section
Back to Book Index |
THE
FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION
A COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE LEGENDARY
FIGHTING FORCE. WAR, FRANCE, FRENCH FOREIGN LEGION
Porch, Douglas.
A model of historical research, this is a very detailed
study of the entire history of France's most well known unit, the French
Foreign Legion, from its formation in 1831 until 1962 when it left North
Africa.
1991, 6 1/2 x 9 1/2, xxiv, 728 pp, illus, maps, extensive
source notes, bibliog & index. $ 35.00
Available
from Articles of War
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THE
CONQUEST OF MOROCCO.
Porch, Douglas.
A good study of a neglected area, the entire course of
France's military & political efforts to subdue and occupy Morocco
and her Arab & Berber chiefs 1903-19l4, including the numerous
military campaigns in the North African desert.
1982, paper, 6 x 9, 333 pp, illus, maps,
index. sb $ 11.95
Available
from Articles of War
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THE
CONQUEST OF THE SAHARA.
Porch, Douglas.
The first overall history of France's exploration &
military subjugation of the North African Saharan desert, from 1880 to
1905, when the last of the tribal bands were subdued.
1984, paper, 6 x 9 332 pp, maps, bibliog, index. sb $
11.95
Available
from Articles of War
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FRANCE,
SOLDIERS AND AFRICA.
Clayton, Anthony.
The first comprehensive analysis of the military dimension
of French Colonial rule in Africa. It chronicles in great detail the remarkable
achievement in mobilizing native troops in the service of the French Empire.
The first detailed study of the organization & operations of the myriad
types of native colonial units is studied. The acquisition, expansion and
subsequent decline of French colonies is traced from the Restoration Monarchy
through the l9th Century, both World Wars, and the post war through Algeria.
Special attention is paid to the African soldiers of the Armee D'Afrique
and the Troupes de Marine. This is an excellent source in English on a
neglected area of military history.
1988, 6 1/4 x 9 1/4, 444 pp, illus, maps, extensive unit
organizations, notes, bibliog, index.
Sadly out of print inthe U.S. Still available from the
U.K but be prepared for those horrendous British Prices. About $70 including
shipping. Regular searches on Bibliofind.
may turn up copies of this as may searches on Barnes
and Nobles used section.
Back to Book Index |
THE
SCRAMBLE FOR AFRICA
WHITE MAN'S CONQUEST OF THE DARK
CONTINENT FROM 1876 TO 1912
Thomas Pakenham
An in depth study of the carving
up of Africa by the six major European players around the turn of the century.
Pakernham takes us through each region exploring social, political and
military aspects of the events. Not a lot of coverage on North Africa,
ore South Africa, but goes into France's foray into the Sub Saharan
territory, the western Soudan and Chad.
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DAR
AL-KUTI AND THE LAST YEARS OF THE TRANS-SAHRAN SLAVE TRADE
Dennis D.Cordell
In this original study, the author
examines the expansion of contact between Muslims and non Muslims along
the Islamic frontier in north central Africa in the nineteenth and early
twentieth centuries.
This history shows how regions distant
from the European economy became linked to it
A fascinating read that focuses
on the rise to power of Al Sanusi, the separation of his lieutenant Rabih
(defeated by the French at Kousser) and Al Sanusi's own demise at the hands
of the French in 1911.
Back to Book Index |
RACE
TO FASHODA -
EUROPEAN COLONIALISM AND AFRICAN
RESISTANCE IN THE SCRAMBLE FOR
AFRICA.
Lewis, David. L.
This study draws together the stories of the European
Scramble for central Africa 1870-98, with expeditions from England, France,
Italy, Germany & Belgium competing with each other and with Native
Africans for
this rich area. Culminating in the Fashoda Incident of
1898, a focal point of the Sudan - Abyssinian border, the author describes
the various expeditions, eccentric personalities and draws on extensive
new material from both European & African sources.
304 pp, extensive source notes, bibliog, index., illus,
maps.
Back to Book Index |
SMALL
WARS
Colonel C.E.Callwell
A comprehensive treatise on the
techniques used by regular armies against tribesmen and irregular soldiers
throughout the world in the second half of the nineteenth century. In 1896
it was adopted by the British Army as an official handbook. The third edition
was updated and printed in 1909 and this copy is a facsimile reproduction
of that.
Contains 15 maps.
Chapter headings include
(Each chapter has as many as 50
sub headings, so as you can see, this is a very comprehensive study)
I Introduction
II Causes od small Wars
III Objective of Small Wars
IV Difficulties under which Regular Forces Labor
V The Influence of the Question of Supply
VI Boldness and Vigor, the Essence of Effective
Operations
VII Tactics favor the Regular Army, Strategy,
their Enemy
VIII To Avoid Desultory Warfare, the Enemy Must
Be Brought To Battle
IX Division of Force
X Lines of Communication
XI Guerilla Warfare
XII Tactics of Attack
XIII Tactics of Defense
XIV Pursuits and Retreats
XV Employment of Feints
XVI Surprises, Raids and Ambuscades
XVII Squares in Action, on the March and in Bivouac
XVIII Principles of Laager and Zeriba Warfare
XIX Hill Warfare
XX Bush Warfare
XXI Infantry Tactics
XXII Cavalry and Mounted Troops
XXIII Camel Corps
XXIV Artillery Tactics
XXV Machine Guns
XXVI Service of Security
XXVII Night Operations
In print in paperback from Amazon
Books
Back to Book Index |
DEFENSE
OF DUFFERS DRIFT
E.D.Swinton
Classic study from 1907. Lieutenant Backsight Forethought
undergoes a series of dreams regarding defending a drift (creek) during
the Boer War. After repeatedly failing in his tactical approaches, he finally
succeeds in his sixth dream by building on the experiences of the first
five.
A classic study of small unit tactics, as valuable today
as it was then. these tactics can be applied to any colonial wargaming
venue.
Still in print and available from Amazon
Books
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|
THE
CONQUEST OF THE WESTERN SUDAN
A Study In French Military Imperialism
A.S. Kanya-Forstner
One of the most often cited works
on bibliographies from other books. This is the definitive in depth study
of the French expansion into West Africa. As the author notes in the preface,
this is not primarily a military history of the Westrn Sudan, but a book
whose theme is the politics of military expansion. In attempting to explain
how France found herself at the end of the nineteenth century in control
of a vast territorial empire, Kanya-Forstner has concentrated on the roll
of the French Military who undertook the conquest.
Out of print, but a regular search
of Book Finder should bring up
a copy or two.
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|
THE
AFRICAN POLICIES OF GABRIEL HANOTAUX 1894-1898
Alf Andrew Heggoy
An almost purely political study
of one of the driving forces of French Colonialism. Gabriel Hanotaux was
one of the key driving forces behind French Imperialism whose name ranks
with Jules Ferry, Theophile Declasse and Eugene Etienne as staunch advocates
of France's African Destiny.
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|
THE
GREAT WAR IN AFRICA (1914-1918)
Byron Farwell
Gripping read of the progress of
the First World War in Africa. This was really the end of the Colonial
period in Africa, and many of the native troops that had carved out the
Europeans' empire in Africa, now fought each other under their European
masters for final dominance.
Includes graphic descriptions of
the conflict in West Africa between the French and English against the
German colonies, as well as the more well known East African and West African
campaigns.
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|
SAHARA
UNVEILED
A Great Story of French Colonial
Conquest.
Patrick Turnbull
A basic overview of the conquest
of the Sahara, including a good overview description of Laparrine's conquest
of the Southern Sahara and the Senussi revolt during the Great War.
Back to Book Index |
|
THE
SEGU TUKULOR EMPIRE
B.O. Oloruntimehin
The author provides a detailed examination
of the Tukulor Empire from its rise in the mid nineteenth century until
its collapse after its major conquest at the hands of the advancing French.
There is no other work in English,
that I have found that is as complete and detailed as this study. An in
depth look at the formation and unification of the Tukulor, their political,
cultural and military organizations. The author writes it from the African
perspective giving an image of this strife stricken nation gallantly trying
to survive and establish some order while fending off almost constant violent
confrontation.
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|
TRIBES
OF THE SAHARA
Lloyd Cabot Briggs
A self explanatory title. Study
of the indigenous peoples brought into the French Empire. This helps with
an understanding of the people of the area, their motivations and life.
Studies several groups including the hunter gatherer tribes, as well as
the pastoralist, nomads and of course, the Tuaregs Berbers and Arabs.
Back to Book Index |
|
THE
SANDS OF THE TAMANRASSET
The Story of Charles de Foucauld
Marion Mill Preminger
Interesting and somewhat romantic
study of this fascinating character that leaves one wondering why a movie
has not been made about this man.
A spoiled aristocratic playboy in
the Hussars. de Foucauld is sent to North Africa with his regiments. There,
he is brought under the spell of the Sahara which changes his life. In
search of adventure he goes under cover as a Jewish Rabbi on a secret mission
for France, in Morocco at the time when a Christian would face death or
worse. He later re discovered his lost faith as a catholic after wandering
the vastness of the Sahara brought him to ponder the meaning of life and
the purpose of his own existence.
He became a military doctor, at
one point tendering aid to the survivors of the El Moungar disaster. He
became a hermit in a remote Saharan missionary and was later murdered during
the Senussi revolt in 1916.
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|
WARS
OF IMPERIAL CONQUEST IN AFRICA 1830-1914
Bruce Vandervort
Excellent broad overview of the
carving up of Africa. Very easy to read, covering all the main conflicts.
If there is one book to own for a basic overview of the conquerors and
conquered, the how's and where's. this is it.
Back to Book Index |
|
THE
HORSEMEN FROM BEYOND
Basil Freestone
The books starts out as a description
of the engagement of Waima, when French and British forces blundered into
each other and engaged themselves in a serious battle. this fateful encounter,
in which many lives were lost, was ultimately written off as a blunder
by two superpowers trying to survive a cold war with each other during
the carve up of Africa in the 1890's.
In exploring the tangle of military
and political events of this disaster we are introduced to Samori Tourey,
Commander of the Faithful and leader of the Mandingo Empire of West Africa.
It is Samorey's playing off of these two superpowers that leads to the
clash at Waima and eventually to his own downfall at the hands of the French.
A very readable study into West
African military history at the height of French colonialism.
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|
NEW
FRENCH IMPERIALISM 1880-1910
The Third Republic and Colonial
Expansion
James Cooke
A look at the political aspects
of the colonial experience. useful for those interested in the national
politics that helped drive the colonial expansionism of France.
Back to Book Index |
|
VICTORIAN
COLONIAL WARFARE
Africa
Donald Fetherstone
This book is about, as its name
suggest, British colonialism in Africa. It is however an interesting read
as it also covers West Africa in some depth, the wars there of which also
had an impact in French dealings in the region. Few wargamers will be unfamiliar
with Fehterstone's work and will find this a fascinating read. A must for
the Anglophile gamers!
Back to Book Index |
|
LES
BATISSEURS D'EMPIRE
Histoire Des Troupes De Marine
Tome II 1871-1931
BUILDERS OF THE EMPIRE
History of the Colonial Marines
Part 2, 1871-1931
This book is an absolute must for
those wishing to wargame the French conquest of West Africa. If like me,
you are visualy motivated, you will live this book. It is written in comic
strip and therefore gives the reader not only a history lesson of the conflict
(if somewhat basic) that is more than adequate to "game" the period it
also provides him with accurate visual color references for uniforms, scenery
and buildings that are dificult to find from other sources.
It is of course, in French, but
it's basic French. If you learned no French in school a few minutes with
a dictionary is all that is needed to bring this book into an understandable
format.
I
have included a couple of scans showing the French siege of Sikasso, and
its fall in in 1898. The wealth of well researched information provided
in each scene is remarkable. In just these two frames alone we get an accurate
painting guide for French Marines in both Denim blue and Khaki tunics,
with and without the white summer pants as well as the Tirailleurs Senegalese
and of course the Bambara and Mandingo defenders. We get glimpses of the
mud brick walls, and a thatched roof hut. The prior frame, not shown gives
very good panoramic view of the city, with the French 8 cm mountain guns
being set up ready to make the breach for the assault. Absolutely terrific
book.
I had some difficulty finding this
book after it was recommended by English Internet comrade, but I eventually
found it from A&C Libraire
in France for less that 100F including shipping.
A&C don't have online ordering, but if you cut and paste the information
below, change the information in italics as appropriate and fax it to the
number shown, you should get the book for about $15 including shipping. |
Librairie A&C
19, avenue de la République
75011 Paris
France
Fax 011 33 1 40 21 97 55
Cher Jean-Yves Nasse
Je voudrais acheter ce livre.
Des séries Mémoire D'Europe
LES BATISSEURS D'EMPIRE HISTOIRE TROUPES DE MARINE TOME II 1871-1931
Serge Saint-Michel & Rene Le Honzec
Envoyez s'il vous plaît à
(your name
address street
addrress city
state, Zip Code
Country)
Charge à ma carte de crédit.
(Enter type of credit card visa/MC etc, the number, expiration
date and name on the card)
Je comprends que le prix est approximativement 75 FF plus l'affranchissement.
S' il y a un problème, ou si vous avez une question, envoyez-s'il
vous plaît l'email moi.
(your email address here)
Merci beaucoup.
(your name here - signature) |
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|
FROM
ADVERSARIES TO COMRADES-IN-ARMS
West Africans and the French Military
1885-1918
Charles John Balesi
A pretty self descriptive title
that essentially covers the Tirailleur and Spahis Senegalese, their recruitment,
training and use in the conquest of the Western Sudan. It also explores
the relationships between the native troops, their foes and master. Good
study for those wishing to go a little deeper into the subject.
Back to Book Index |
|
AFRICAN
CITIES AND TOWNS BEFORE EUROPEAN CONQUEST
Richard W. Hull
A small but invaluable resource
for those wargamers who wish to make their own terrain for the game table.
This book is full of photographs, diagrams and contemporary etchings of
African architecture. If you ever wanted to make a model of a kraal, and
needed the dimensions and blueprints - this is the book. Covers the many
differing styles found throughout Africa
Back to Book Index |
|
WEST
AFRICAN RESISTANCE
The military response to colonial
occupation
Michael Crowder
A review by Chick Lewis -
World traveler, wargamer extrodinaire and a jolly decent chap:
I've been reading it and it is just
fascinating. An excerpt from the jacket blurb:
"West African Resistance is a
study by nine historians of West Africa, three of whom are themselves African,
of the military response to the colonial occupation of West Africa.
Apart from the fact that the extent and effectiveness of African resistance
to European invaders has been largely underestimated by historians, those
studies of the African campaigns which have been made have been primarily
concerned with the military strategy and problems of the European invaders.
Very little attention has been paid to the way African military commanders
reoriented their military strategies and deployed their armies against
the better-armed European invaders.
The nine case studies in this
volume have been selected to give readers, both general and specialist,
an indication of the wide range of types of resistance offered the Europeans.
Successes as well as failures are studied. Small states like that of Bai
Bureh in Sierra Leone are given the same detailed treatment as the mighty
Ashanti."
Contents:
Ghana-Asante
Mali-Tukulor
Senegambia-Mahmadou Lamine
Guinea-Samori
Dahomey
Nigeria-Ijebu
Nigeria-Ebrohimi
Sierra Leone-Bai Bureh
Nigeria-Sokoto Caliphate
This volume is packed with details
certain to gladden the heart of any wargamer.
Extracts from the book - to whet
your appetite
--------------
Ghana-Asante (Ashanti) - Siege of
the British fort in Kumasi 1899 - pg 47
" - - - A corps of crack shots,
composed of professional hunters, was armed with rifles including a few
.303 carbines and .22 rook rifles captured in Kumasi. The bulk of
the Asante warriors, however, still had their ancient muskets. The
extraordinarily heavy fire brought to bear on the British columns was usually
achieved by a fighting formation of three lines, each consisting of a company
commanded by its own captain. The first line would fire and double
to the rear for freshly loaded guns while the second line ran forward,
discharged a volley, and was replaced by a third line, after which the
first company was ready to begin the cycle again. For hand to hand
fighting the Asante carried long knives in skin scabbards at their girdles,
but usually they preferred the gun using their forest craft to remain hidden
from the enemy. During the night the Asante camps kept up a morale-boosting
ritual of question and answer by drums, roughly resembling the traditional
claims and counter claims of prowess exchanged elsewhere by European regiments."
Back to Book Index
---------------------
Guinea-Samori - regarding the arms
of Samori's soldiers - page 122
"Even before the 1888 crisis there
were developments in the way Samori's men were armed. Apart from
the individual European weapons which were the personal property of the
combatants, Samori provided them with guns and he took great care that
every man in the army had one. Up to 1875 or 1876 these were guns
obtained from traders, easily repaired by local blacksmiths who also made
the ammunition for them. But when he reached the borders of the Fouta-Djallon
he took care to import more modern weapons from Sierra Leone. This
was a time when arms manufacture in Europe was developing very rapidly
from the technical point of view and Samori set himself to study
and understand the rapid succession of different models. For instance,
he
distributed a number of Chassepot
rifles among his men but soon noticed their defects - the big cardboard
cartridge was heavy and soon rotted in the humidity. From 1885 he
systematically replaced these weapons with Gras rifles which had a light-weight
metal cartridge and Kropatscheks which were really Gras repeaters (known
as "data", ten mouths). In his last years he was interested in the
Lebel rifles, but could never obtain them in sufficient numbers.
A technical reason obliged him to stay faithful to the Gras and Kropatschek
guns; he had managed to build up groups of workmen who were able
to copy these rifles extremely well so it was obviously sensible to go
on using them. Constant changes in the rifles meant, of course, that
it would
have been difficult for these village
craftsmen to keep up with developments and the work in any case could not
go beyond a certain level of precision.
Moreover, the spread of quick-firing
rifles (which does not necessarily mean repeating rifles) was very slow
at first. As late as 1888 Samori had only a few hundred of these
and it was only in anticipation of the conflict with
France that he began to buy them
in increasing numbers. in the end he had about 6,000 modern weapons
at his disposal in 1893 when he retreated towards the east, and this total,
which was never to be repeated, lasted him until his defeat. At first
these precious weapons were reserved for the very best fighters, that is
for the cavalry and especially the sovereign's personal body-guard.
Before 1888 the latter was the only section of the army to have a uniform
inspired by that of the French riflemen: blue clothing with red belt and
tarboosh. "
Back to Book Index
------------------
Dahomey - the origin of the
Amazons - page 148
"By the 1880s a substantial part
of the Dahoman army was made up of female soldiers - the famous Amazons.
In the eighteenth century the Dahoman Kings had, in emergencies, enlisted
some of their wives as soldiers. It was, however, only in the early
nineteenth century that the system became institutionalized. The
Amazons became a permanent part of the royal forces as a result of the
fact that after a dynastic revolution in 1818 the usurping monarch, King
Gezo (1818-58), felt his position to be so insecure that he created from
amongst the women of his palace a permanent body of soldiers who would
defend him in any civil conflict. At the time the Amazons' personal
loyalty to the ruler was assured by the fact that only young non-Dahoman
captive girls were selected as members of the corps. After Gezo's
death, however, this selection policy broke down and Amazon officers were
recruited even from the important Dahoman families. They were therefore
as heavily involved in Dahoman politics as were their male counterparts.
In the last decade of the nineteenth century the Amazons no longer satisfactorily
fulfilled their role as the monarch's civil guard. They had, however,
developed into one of the most important units in the Dahoman army.
They probably first became involved in Dahomey's foreign wars in the 1840s,
when the first of the major Fon wars with the Egba necessitated the employment
of every available soldier. The Amazons soon became the most warlike,
and the most feared, of all the Dahoman troops. It was they who tended
to suffer most severely when the Fon either won a Phyrric victory or sustained
a costly defeat. During the most desperately fought of all Fon wars,
the struggle against the French, their losses were so severe that as a
fighting force they were completely destroyed. These female soldiers
had all the privileges of important royal wives: they lived in the royal
palaces; they had their food prepared for them; anyone who met them on
the roads had to make way for them. They had also to obey the regulations
which governed the lives of the King's wives. The most onerous of
these was that although they obviously could only enjoy the favours of
their royal spouse infrequently, they were forbidden any relations with
other men. Any deviation from this rule was punishable by death.
No doubt this enforced state of chastity does a good deal towards explaining
their ferocity. "
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Dahomey - modern armaments for the
Dahomans - page 158
"At the beginning of their campaign,
as the haphazard nature of their attacks on Cotonou showed, the Fon had
thought that the expulsion of the French would be an easy matter.
This fits in with later rueful admissions that they thought of the Europeans
as traders, or sailors, who would not, or could not, fight. This
illusion was destroyed by the events of the 1890 war when it was realized
that the French were exceptionally powerful adversaries. The defeats
of the 1890 war did not, however, produce a peace at any price movement.
The only group in the Fon leadership which had deviated from the general
line was one which refused to make peace at all. The realization
that the French were powerful adversaries did not alter the obligation
to guard and preserve Dahomey. Indeed, in order better to protect
their country, the Fon set about equipping their army with more efficient
weapons. Between January 1891 and August 1892 they bought 1,700 rapid-firing
rifles*, six Krupp cannon of various bore, five machine-guns, 400,000 assorted
cartridges and a large quantity of shell. These they bought from
German firms trading at Whydah. It is more than likely that they
bought other armaments from Germans operating in Lome."
*(A. L. D'Albecca, La France au
Dahomey, Paris, 1895, Annex I p. 216. They purchased the following
types of rifle: 300 Peabodys; 133 Winchesters; 648 Chassepots; 200 Albinis;
240 Sniders; 200 Spencers.)
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- Amazons with Machine guns !!!
I've GOT to work those into a game against the French Foreign Legion !
Does anybody know the make of these "machine guns?"-Chick!
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Nigeria-Ijebu - The 1892 British
expedition to subdue the Ijebu - page 178
"The force immediately available
to the Lagos Government consisted only of the local constabulary, the 'Lagos
Hausa', whose numbers Carter had recently raised from 250 to 500.
Of these only some 150 could be spared to take part in the expedition,
and the Colonial Office agreed with the Governor that reinforcements were
needed. These were to consist of, first, an equal number of constables
from the Gold Coast - the 'Gold Coast Hausas' - and secondly a company
from the West India Regiment stationed in Sierra Leone, the Colonial Office
having thought it 'safer that some regular forces should be engaged'.
Permission was then obtained to add a number of Ibadan 'war boys' who had
volunteered their help and who were to be used as either troops or carriers.
The commander of this mixed force of Africans and West Indians was to be
the Inspector-General of the Gold Coast Police, Colonel F. C. Scott, C.B,
a veteran who had fought against the Ashanti eighteen years before.
In addition to the four officers already attached to these forces, seven
Special Service officers from England were seconded to the expedition,
one a cavalryman, another a gunner, and the rest infantry of the line.
The armament of the force was as
heterogeneous s its composition. The Gold Coast constables were equipped
with Martini-Henry rifles whereas their Lagos counterparts had Sniders.
The West Indians seem still to have been using Martini-Henry's rather than
the Lee-Metfords now issued to regular British units. The Ibadan
auxiliaries were armed with ˜trade guns', the majority of these being presumably
the flint-lock muskets known on the cost as ˜Dane guns', although a few
may have had Sniders provided by their chiefs. The expedition was
also allotted three seven-pounder guns, one Maxim machine-gun, two Nordenfelt
machine-guns, and three rocket troughs."
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Nigeria-Ijebu - Armaments of the
Ijebu in 1892 - page 181
"Precise information about the weapons
of the Ijebu forces can no longer be obtained, but it is possible that
all the warriors were equipped with some kind of firearm. From early
in the century Ijebu traders, profiting from
their contact with Europeans at
the coast, had been able to obtain muskets,and the Ijebu had used these
on a large scale in the Owu war about 1820, at a time when firearms were
scarce among other Yoruba. Just as they had been foremost in obtaining
muskets, so they had also pioneered (with the Egba) the use in their wars
of the greatly superior breech-loading rifles which were available on the
coast from about 1870, and many, perhaps most, of their warriors in 1892
were armed with Sniders. Apart from the riflemen, the rest of the
army must have carried Dane guns, firing shot or slugs, and also half-inch
bolts of iron of which four could be discharged at a time. After
the battle of Yemoji a large quantity of ammunition (presumably ball cartridges)
for the Sniders was found in the Ijebu camp, with gunpowder in barrels
marked with the name of Regis Aine, the Marseilles traders with a branch
at Palma (Orimedu) between he lagoon and the sea. In addition to
their firearms, most warriors probably also carried swords or cutlasses
as auxiliary weapons for close fighting, but in the event these cannot
have been used in this war. Despite their long acquaintance with firearms,
the Ijebu (like other Yoruba)
never evolved any drill for their
efficient handling, and after the introduction of rifles they continued
to load and fire these weapons from a standing rather than a prone position,
sacrificing a major advantage of the breech-loader over the muzzle-loader.
Moreover, it is unlikely that they were using the recently-introduced smokeless
cartridges in their rifles, while the Dane guns were packed with banana
fibre as wadding, greatly
increasing the smoke from the discharge.
Thus, neither protection nor concealment could be hoped for in any defensive
position, however well-chosen.
Despite the fact that the Ijebu
are reported as having used ˜cannon (akka); that is, small bronzee pivot
guns for the defence of their towns in the early years of the century,
they paparently brought no artillery into the field. Nor had they
obtained any form of machine-gun, a surprising improvidence, especially
if the report is true that their neighbours and allies the Ijesa were using
a Gatling aginst the Ibadan in the Kiriji war during the early 1889s."
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Another "Must run" Darkest Africa
scenario ! The Ijesa surprise the Ibadan
with a Gatling. Not a European
figure on the table. - Chick
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Nigeria-Ebrohimi - Reconnaissance
of the Trader Nana's defenses - page 221
"It had become clear that a full
scale offensive would have to be mounted against Nana if he was to be broken.
Heugh, therefore, against the express instructions of Moor, decided to
reconnoitre the Ebrohimi creek with a view to discovering whether the town
could be taken through a naval operation. He armour-plated his boat
before setting out apparently not expecting anything more than desultory
firing by wandering rifle men. He miscalculated badly. After
going up the creek for some hundred yards, the British party ran into heavy
fire from a masked battery of twenty-three heavy cannon somewhere in the
mangrove swamp. Heugh's boat was pierced through in a number of places
by shot which Heugh' described in an exaggerated report as averaging 7-9
pounds. The British casualty list included two dead; one man lost
a foot and another an arm; four others were injured. The boat was
all but sinking by the time the survivors managed to get it back to the
ship.
Frederick Lugar, who was then in
the service of the Royal Niger Company, was in the district when the above
incident took place. His impressions recorded in his diary are an
interesting commentary on the state of affairs at the time. There
was, according to Lugar, considerable levity about the impending encounter
with Nana. He thought little of the leadership of the British
forces, noting that Captain Evanston, commanding the militia, was an officer
with ˜no experience at all'. Lugard had learnt enough about Nana
and his town to reach the conclusion that Nana would be 'a hard nut to
crack', but the British forces were 'looking forward to a great picnic',
praying that Nana would not give in after all their preparations.
Heugh's reconnaissance was a foretaste of the expected 'picnic'.
The outcome, Lugard noted, was 'a great scare' and a considerable cooling
of the marital ardour of the British forces. "
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Chick
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