East African Mounted Rifles

The East African Mounted Rifles (EAMR) was a mounted infantry regiment. It was formed in British Kenya at the outbreak of World War I. The regiment served in the East African Campaign. The EAMR was primarily composed of white volunteers. This included Boer settlers and members of the Legion of Frontiersmen. They faced initial challenges due to a shortage of horses. This resulted in some men being mounted on polo ponies or mules.

Numbering approximately 400 men, the EAMR first saw action in September 1914, supporting the recapture of Kisii, Kenya. They subsequently participated in an attack on Longido in German Tanganyika in November of the same year. The regiment continued with frontier operations until April 1915. Then, it was reassigned to guard duty along the Uganda Railway.

The EAMR proved to be a valuable source of officers. It also provided non-commissioned officers for other units, notably the King’s African Rifles. However, this constant transfer of personnel, coupled with volunteers returning to their farms, significantly depleted the regiment’s strength. The EAMR participated in limited actions in 1915 and 1916. Its numbers dwindled drastically. By the end of 1916, only four men remained. By May 1917, only three men remained, and the unit effectively ceased to exist soon after.

Despite its short lifespan, the EAMR’s legacy continued through post-war veterans’ reunions. The East African Reconnaissance Squadron of World War II is considered a successor unit. It carries on the traditions of the EAMR.

Formation

At the outbreak of World War I, British East Africa (present-day Kenya) faced rising tensions. It bordered German East Africa (Tanganyika). These tensions followed the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and the July Crisis. Lieutenant Colonel Launcelot Ward, recently retired, was recalled to command British East African forces. He formed local defense forces. These forces were created to augment the existing, relatively small British garrison. This garrison was primarily composed of elements of the King’s African Rifles.

Following Britain’s declaration of war on Germany on August 4/5, 1914, a recruitment office opened in Nairobi. Several small, independent units were quickly established. These included the Plateau South Africans, Arnoldi’s Scouts, Wessel’s Scouts, and Bowker’s Horse led by William Bowker. These units were soon amalgamated to create the East African Mounted Rifles (EAMR). A separate infantry unit, the East African Regiment, was briefly formed but subsequently disbanded to provide personnel for other units.

The EAMR was conceived as a mobile, regimental-sized force intended to counter potential German incursions from Tanganyika. The planned structure included six mounted infantry squadrons, a Maxim gun section, and a signals unit.

Recruitment was open to any white volunteer capable of riding a horse and handling a rifle. The EAMR’s ranks were filled primarily by Boer settlers and members of the civilian Legion of Frontiersmen. Many recruits possessed prior military experience, having served with British forces in India or during the Second Boer War. A significant number were also experienced big game hunters. Experienced personnel filled key leadership positions within the regiment, including commanding officer, second-in-command, adjutant, regimental sergeant major, and quartermasters. The Magadi Defence Force, a scouting unit under the command of Frank O’Brien Wilson, was also integrated into the EAMR. Notably, Bertram Gurdon, 2nd Baron Cranworth, a former member of the Norfolk Artillery, served as a lieutenant.

Initially, a lack of available uniforms meant that volunteers wore their own clothing. Local women sewed the initials “EAMR” onto the shoulders of their shirts. They sometimes included the initials of the previous smaller units. A standardized uniform was eventually introduced in July 1915, although many members continued to prefer their own attire. In a unique attempt at camouflage, some of the regiment’s horses were painted with iodine stripes to resemble zebras.

A depiction of a pig-sticking spear in action

The East African Mounted Rifles (EAMR) were initially equipped with breech-loading rifles provided by the colonial government. Davies Evans, a Boer War veteran, intervened. Thanks to him, the unit was re-equipped with more modern magazine-fed rifles. The EAMR was also initially issued pigsticking spears, but these were quickly withdrawn after several near-fatal accidents.

Horses were requisitioned from local farms, but the supply proved insufficient. As a result, some members of the EAMR were mounted on polo ponies or even mules.

The EAMR conducted its training in Nairobi. Their drills frequently attracted an audience, including Monica Belfield, the daughter of Governor Henry Conway Belfield. This association led to the unit acquiring the nickname “Monica’s Own.” By the end of August 1914, the EAMR had grown to a strength of 400 men. However, a significant number of these men were subsequently transferred to serve as officers and non-commissioned officers in the King’s African Rifles and other units, impacting the EAMR’s overall strength.

Early actions

Early actions of the East Africa Campaign

A significant number of these men were transferred to serve as officers and non-commissioned officers in the King’s African Rifles. They also served in other units. This impacted the EAMR’s overall strength. The East African Mounted Rifles first saw action in an attack on German forces occupying the Kenyan village of Kisii. The 4th battalion of the King’s African Rifles carried out the primary assault. The EAMR provided flank support. The EAMR were first transported by rail to Kisumu. Then, they traveled by boat across Lake Victoria. They landed at Karungu and came under attack. At that point, they were forced to withdraw into the reeds. They eventually reached Kisii on September 12. They found that the King’s African Rifles had already secured the village. This occurred following a German retreat after an inconclusive initial engagement. The EAMR subsequently returned to Nairobi.

On November 3, 1914, 360 men of the EAMR supported an attack. Indian troops led this assault on the Tanganyikan town of Longido. They successfully captured the settlement. In March 1915, a detachment from the regiment was designated as a mobile reserve on the Kenya-Tanganyika frontier. On March 9, this detachment became the first to spot and engage a German column under Lieutenant von Haxthausen. They drove the Germans from a ridge. The German forces were forced to retreat across the Mara River. Later that month, the unit also participated in the attack on Gararagua, Tanganyika.

The EAMR proved to be an effective fighting force in the campaign. Their approach to the war resembled “another safari.” They used civilian camp followers and independent supply arrangements. This resulted in significantly lower rates of dysentery compared to other units. The EAMR initially provided valuable service on the frontier. However, their greatest contribution was in providing leadership for the King’s African Rifles. Consequently, the unit was reassigned to guard duty along the Uganda Railway. Between April 12, 1915, and May 10, 1916, German forces attempted to mine the railway 57 times. EAMR patrols thwarted many of these attempts.

Fading Away

By early 1915, volunteers began returning to their farms, gradually depleting the unit’s ranks. A squadron of the EAMR participated in the September 1915 recapture of Longido. They formed a firing line on a ridge overlooking the German position. The squadron suffered losses of two killed, one wounded, and four missing, leading to their withdrawal. Although the overall attack was unsuccessful, the missing men were later recovered by a King’s African Rifles patrol. In August 1916, a mere dozen members of the EAMR took part in the advance on the German Tanganyika Railway. By the end of 1916, only the commander, Major Clifford Hill, a sergeant, and two troopers remained. By May 1917, the unit had dwindled to just Hill, the sergeant, and one trooper. At that point, it is described as having “faded away.”

Despite its short existence, the EAMR’s legacy is preserved through a regimental history written by its medical officer, Dr. C. J. Wilson, in 1938. The unit is also commemorated on the Cavalry of the Empire Memorial in Hyde Park, London. Post-war, annual regimental reunions were held. These reunions were conducted in conjunction with the Kenyan Ex-War Service Federation. This was partly to maintain a potential nucleus for future defense forces. The East African Reconnaissance Squadron, formed during World War II, is considered a successor to the EAMR. In 1960, surviving veterans of the East African Mounted Rifles were honored with a public pageant.