Remembrance Sundays East Africa

POPPY DAY KENYA

November 2021

Janet Barlow lays a wreath at the MCC War Memorial.

MCC held its annual Remembrance Service at the War Memorial in keeping with the armistice signed in Europe on 11 November 1918. Buglers of the KAR play the last post.

The East African weekend of Remembrance celebrating the end of WWI in Africa was held over 26th – 28th November, two weeks later than Europe, in keeping with history. The services in Tsavo were organised to remember the ‘unremembered’, uncounted troops from the Carrier Corps and the askaris in the Kings African Rifles, who lost their lives in the Great War.

Services were held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Taveta Military Cemetery, Voi Cemetery and Maktau Indian Cemetery. The services were attended by Brigadier Balumba, Major Ambuka and the Quarter Guard from 15 Kenya Rifles based in Mariakani, Brigadier Ronnie Westerman the British Defence Attache and Janet Sudi-Maina of the British High Commission, as well as numerous MCC Members including organisers Tom Lawrence and James Willson, author of the ‘Guerrillas of Tsavo’.

Images by Joan Willson, courtesy of Guerrillas of Tsavo.

Brigadier Bulumba of the Kenya Army with members of 15 Kenya Rifles laying a wreath at Voi Cemetery.

Janet Sudi-Maina laying a wreath at Maktau Indian Cemetery on behalf of the British High Commission. Buglers Cpl. Johnson Katana and Lance L/Cpl Stephen Ledama of 15 Kenya Rifles, and Piper Byron in Voi War Cemetery.

The Quarter Guard from 15 Kenya Rifles after the Voi War Cemetery Remembrance Ceremony, led by Major Ambuka (centre right) and attendees Bizzie Frost, Tom Lawrence and WO1 Elias Tuwa far right.

East African Weekend of Remembrance