Aitken replaces Stewart
- Category:
- Military
- Front:
- Africa
- Date:
- 31 October 1914
- Author:
- Łukasz Skowroń
With the arrival in Mombasa of Indian Expeditionary Force “B”, its commander, Major-General Arthur Aitken, became commander-in-chief of all British forces in East Africa. The British chronology of the war records this change under 31 October 1914, when a conference of his staff with the local commanders was held in Mombasa.
Until then the British forces in British East Africa had been commanded since September by Brigadier-General James Marshall Stewart, commander of Indian Expeditionary Force “C”. His troops, about 4,000 men, were primarily to defend the railway from Mombasa into the interior. Aitken had come with a different mission: with Force “B” he was to conquer the whole of German East Africa. Both operations therefore had to be brought under one command, and Aitken was the senior in rank.
Stewart did not lose his force, but from then on he was subordinate to Aitken. In the plan agreed in Mombasa he was given a supporting role. At the same time as the landing at Tanga, his troops were to attack the German positions at Longido, north-west of Kilimanjaro, and draw part of the enemy’s forces there.
Aitken did not hold supreme command for long. At the beginning of November both attacks, at Tanga and at Longido, ended in failure. After the defeat at Tanga Aitken was recalled, and command in East Africa passed to General Richard Wapshare. The two Indian forces were merged and for the following months defended British East Africa. Aitken returned to England, and in 1915 he was reduced to the rank of colonel. Only after the war was he cleared, and in 1921 he was restored to the honorary rank of brigadier-general.
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Meanwhile
(04)Elsewhere in the same days.
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Related events
(04)The same battle, people or subject.
- 16 October 1914 · AfricaIndian Expeditionary Force "B" sails for AfricaOn 16 October 1914 General Aitken's Indian Expeditionary Force "B" sailed from Bombay. Some 8,000 soldiers were to conquer German East Africa.
- 4 December 1914 · AfricaWapshare replaces AitkenAfter the defeat at Tanga Gen. Arthur Aitken was recalled. Command of the British forces in East Africa passed to Gen. Richard Wapshare.
- 3 November 1914 · AfricaSkirmish at LongidoOn 3 November 1914 Gen. Stewart's troops attacked the Germans on Mount Longido near Kilimanjaro. After a day's fighting the British withdrew.
- 21 December 1914 · AfricaBritish take JasinAt the end of December 1914 Gen. Michael Tighe's troops cleared the Germans from the British East Africa border and took Jasin on the Umba river.