The Battle of Narungombe: Uncovering the Fallen of the East African Campaign

On 19 July 1917, British forces in East Africa fought one of the fiercest battles of the campaign at Narungombe in what is now Tanzania. 

Dr John Burke shares the previously untold story of the men of the King’s African Rifles (KAR) who fought and died in that battle but whose names have, until now, been lost to history. 

The Battle of Narungombe

Image:  Location of Narungombe, in southern Tanzania (Google Earth)

Telling this story is only possible because of the work undertaken as part of the CWGC’s Non-Commemoration Programme and a pivotal relationship between the organisation and the Kenya Defence Forces. 

Working in partnership to uncover and digitise a collection of service records long thought to have been destroyed, we are finally learning more about those who fought and died in this war, but whose contributions as individuals were forgotten.

The East African Campaign

The East African campaign of the First World War differed greatly from the static trench-based fighting seen on the Western Front. This was a mobile conflict, fought over a vast expanse of sparsely populated, unforgiving terrain, and was characterised by short and small-scale engagements. 

Despite forays into most territories of the region, the conflict was centred on German East Africa, present-day Tanzania. Although its capital, Dar-es-Salaam, was captured by British forces in September 1916, the German armies under the command of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, all the while pursued by a much larger British force, continued to lead a mobile hit-and-run campaign until their final surrender on 25 November 1918.

Image: Cropped section of TNA, WO 300/371, German East Africa: Military Road Map, 1916.

The Battle of Narungombe formed part of the British offensive of July 1917, which was aimed at encircling and defeating German forces, totalling around 9,000, that were still actively marauding across the south of Tanzania. 

As part of this offensive, three British columns set forth inland from the port of Kilwa towards Liwale, whilst further to the south, another British force marched out of Lindi in an attempt to cut off any lines of retreat. 

A series of fierce skirmishes ensued, and as the British columns advanced through hilly and unforgiving terrain, an element of the German force withdrew to concentrate at Narungombe. This site was of huge strategic importance, as it provided one of the largest watering holes in the region. As such, its capture was vital, and on the night of 18 July 1917, after forcing the enemy’s rearguard from the watering holes at Kihumburu, the British set up camp some 2 miles north of Narungombe. 

The die was now cast.

The order of battle

The German force at Narungombe, under the command of Captain von Lieberman, occupied a formidable defensive position. This mile-long front consisted of a series of trenches, breastworks, redoubts and strongly constructed machine-gun positions that spanned the upper slopes of the two hills through which the main road passed.

The right flank was protected by swamps, while the left flank extended into, as one contemporary report put it, an ‘impenetrable belt of thick bush, through which a single man could crawl with difficulty’ (WO 95/5319/1). 

Indeed, in describing the terrain, Sir Hugh Clifford, in his history of the Gold Coast Regiment, stated that: 

"From the British camp at Kihumburu, the main road runs due south and almost straight to the centre of the German position, dipping into a valley a few hundred yards in advance of the British camp, and thereafter rising gradually in a long glacis to the hills upon which the enemy was entrenched. The country hereabouts is undulating, and covered throughout with high grass, and patches of thorn-scrub set fairly thickly with rather mean-looking trees; but immediately in advance of the enemy’s position, the grass had been cut, leaving stalks about two feet six in height, for a distance of some three hundred yards, and thus depriving the attacking force of any cover." (Clifford)

Upon these defences were stationed 8 German companies, two pieces of captured Portuguese artillery, and 48 machine-guns. Facing them were 3 British columns totalling around 1,700 men, 20 machine-guns, and two artillery units. 

Image: Sketch showing the German defences (TNA, WO 95/5319/1_2, p. 102)

The British order of battle was for No. 1 Column to attack the centre, with No.2 and No.3 Columns attacking the left and right respectively. The three British columns were comprised of a cosmopolitan mix of regiments drawn from across East, West and South Africa, as well as undivided India.

No. 1 Column consisted of the Gold Coast Regiment, the 8th South African Infantry (minus two companies), the 33rd Punjabis, the 2nd/2nd KAR, and the 27th Mountain Battery, under the command of Colonel Orr.

No. 2 Column consisted of the 1st/3rd KAR, the 7th South African Infantry, and the 22nd Mountain Battery, under Colonel Ridgeway. 

No. 3 column consisted of the 3rd/3rd KAR, two companies of the 8th South African Infantry, and the 40th Pathans, under the command of Colonel Taylor.

 

Image: Map of the lines of attack  (H. Moyse-Bartlett, The King’s African Rifles, p. 365.)

At daybreak on 19 July 1917, the British advance began. To the centre marched No.1 Column, with the Gold Coast Regiment leading the assault. 

Progress through the long grass was slow, with sniping fire slowing this further, but by 8.15 am, the advanced guard became heavily engaged within a short distance of the enemy’s well-entrenched positions. Lieutenant Eglon, who had led the advance, was amongst those killed in these early stages. 

The 2nd/2nd KAR were then sent to the right to protect the flank, along with the 33rd Punjabis, whilst the 8th South African Infantry was deployed to the left.

Image: Sketch map of Narungombe Fight (TNA, WO 106/273)

As No.1 column attacked the centre, No.2 column, with the 1st/3rd KAR in the lead, were ordered to advance with a view to enveloping the enemy’s left flank. By 10.45am, the 33rd Punjabis were being heavily pressed and orders were sent for the 1st/3rd KAR, who were situated immediately to their right, to press on the attack. 

The 7th South African Infantry were also ordered up from the reserve, and stokes mortars were sent forward to assist in the assault. 

By midday, the whole of 1st/3rd KAR, save for 1 company in reserve, were heavily engaged, fighting to within 400 yards of the enemy position. However, over the course of the next two hours, no further progress was made, and two enemy counterattacks were fought off.

Image: Sketch showing the advance of No. 3 Column (TNA, WO 95/5322/9, p. 10)

In the meantime, No.3 column was ordered to attempt a wide turning movement on the right of the enemy’s position, with the additional objective of gaining the waterholes in the vicinity. 

At 10.30 am, the 3rd/3rd KAR were ordered to lead the attack, despite their relative inexperience, supported by two companies of the 8th South African Infantry on either flank and the 40th Pathans in reserve. The Column was initially successful in occupying a low ridge facing the water, although at noon, the enemy launched a fierce assault upon their position, which resulted in heavy losses.

By this time, the enemy’s fire had grown intense along the whole line, and the 8th South African Infantry, who were positioned to the left of the Gold Coast Regiment, attempted to advance but were halted by a withering barrage from the enemy. Moreover, matters were made worse when the British artillery and mortars ignited the long grass, with flames engulfing much of the line.

A raging fire & a desperate struggle

By early afternoon, the British advance had effectively stalled, and with the bushfire raging, visibility was reduced to a matter of yards. Nonetheless, on the right flank, No. 3 Column was ordered to push on and assault the heavily entrenched German positions. 

However, despite getting to within 80 yards of the enemy’s line, devastating machine-gun fire stopped the advance. The loss of many officers and NCOs saw the inexperienced troops of the 3rd/3rd KAR begin to waver, although it was the bushfire that finally broke the attack, causing the 3rd/3rd KAR to give way. 

With the left flank now exposed, the 8th South African Infantry and 40th Pathans held on for a time, but a strong German counterattack broke through, and No. 3 Column went into full retreat. Every effort was made to prevent a panic, and after losing some 600 yards, the remaining officers, including Subadar Gul Zaman of the 40th Pathans, helped to rally around 100 men, who then inflicted heavy fire upon the advancing enemy.

With the line steadied once more, two charges were then made through the flames, forcing the enemy back, before the remnants of No. 3 Column dug in for the night. In the aftermath, Subadar Gul Zaman received the Indian Order of Merit 2nd Class for his ‘conspicuous gallantry, great coolness and energy under fire’.

Casualties had been severe, not just from the enemy, but from the raging fire. As the battalion history of the 3rd KAR noted, many of the wounded, who had to be left behind when the Column fell back, ‘must have perished in the flames’.

In the aftermath, Colonel Orr wrote that No. 3 Column had made a ‘gallant advance’, before adding that:

Bush fires with a breeze that blew towards us on several parts of the battlefield were a serious factor and was the primary cause of the breaking of Three Col. The gallantry and staunchness of the Gold Coast Regiment and other units on the right flank in the face of these fires was beyond praise. (TNA, WO 95/5319/1).

This point was reinforced by Sir Hugh Clifford who, when writing about the Gold Coast Regiment, stated in a somewhat understated fashion that ‘as for the blazing grass, that was a phenomenon to which they had all their lives been accustomed, and they manfully stamped the flames out, in spite of the heavy fire to which they were exposed, and stolidly resumed the fight’. 

Nonetheless, as the afternoon progressed, the Gold Coast Regiment and 33rd Punjabis situated in the centre were struggling to maintain their frontal assault, and several companies of the 2nd/2nd KAR were called in from the reserve after a strong German counterattack. The battle was finely balanced.

The final assault

Despite the heavy fighting, little success had yet been achieved and the German forces still occupied the high ground. In an attempt to break through, at around 2.30pm, the 1st/3rd KAR, the Gold Coast Regiment, and the 33rd Punjabis were ordered to make a simultaneous advance. 

In the centre, the Gold Coast Regiment, the 33rd Punjabis and 2nd/2nd KAR charged forward, and successfully stormed the enemy’s trenches. However, the issues affecting No. 3 Column, coupled with a lack of ammunition, meant they were unable to hold the ground taken, so they withdrew and dug in some 100 yards back. During this assault, Sergeant Major Awudu Bakano, described by Clifford as ‘a very fine soldier’, was killed.

To the left, as bugles rang out, the enemy launched a major counterattack against the point of contact between the 7th South African Infantry and the 1st/3rd KAR, which caused heavy losses and forced the British to give ground. 

At this moment of greatest peril, the commander of 1st/3rd KAR, Major Durham, with all of his remaining reserves, rallied his men and those around him, and took forward the whole line in a bayonet charge. The enemy’s attack was broken, a machine-gun was captured, and heavy casualties were inflicted. With that, the enemy scattered in all directions, although the thick bush and lack of ammunition prevented any further advances. Nonetheless, the positions gained were consolidated and night fell with 1st/3rd KAR in possession of the German trenches on the right.

This was the pivotal action of the battle, as the German commander on the day, Captain von Lieberman, believing he was being attacked by a much larger British force, ordered his troops to retire from the field. This infuriated Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, in general command of all German forces in East Africa, who was advancing on Narungombe with reinforcements. It also came as a great relief to the British commanders, whose forces had suffered severely, to the extent that no further advances could be made for eight weeks.

In the aftermath, commander of No. 2 Column, Colonel Ridgeway, offered his sincere thanks to all those who fought at Narungombe:

"...and most particularly the 1/3rd KAR who by their great devotion assisted most materially in checking the German counter attacks, and finally succeeded in reaching and capturing the strong German position, during the action, of one German machine gun and two tripods." (WO 106/273).

This gun was subsequently mounted in the KAR mess in Nairobi as a reflection of the heroic deeds of the regiment, and Narungombe was granted as a battle honour to the 3rd KAR.

Amongst those individually cited for gallantry were Serjeant Chuma Arap Kule, who was wounded during the action, Serjeant Risgalla Hadad, and Serjeant Auosie Rusigie, who each received the Distinguished Conduct Medal. 

Of these, the story of Risgalla Hadad is particularly interesting. Originally from Uganda, and recorded in his attestation as being of the Sudanese tribe, he first enlisted in January 1893. At the outbreak of the First World War, Risgalla had 21 years of experience as a soldier, having previously served in the Ogadan Expedition of 1900-1, the Nandi Expedition of 1905-6, the Kisii Expedition of 1908 and the Somaliland Expedition of 1908-10.

After serving throughout the war, Risgalla was discharged on 31 December 1918 at the rank of Company Serjeant Major. 

Alongside the KAR, the 7th and 8th South African Infantry and the Gold Coast Regiment also received Narungombe as a battle honour, whilst the latter also had 12 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 6 Military Medals dated for the 19 July 1917. In his summation of the battle, Sir Hugh Clifford wrote:

"Never had the men of the Gold Coast Regiment shown more grit than on this day at Narungombe. They went into action early in the morning of the 19th July after having been marching and fighting, or painfully cutting paths through the bush and high grass—labouring practically without cessation—since the evening of the 4th of that month. They were hotly engaged with the enemy during the whole day, exposed to a fierce sun, with very poor cover, with little to eat and with less to drink, and were exposed throughout to gun, rifle and machine-gun fire, mostly at fairly short range, from 8 a.m. to nightfall. In addition to the enemy, they had constantly to fight the blazing grass, which rendered their position more and more exposed; yet… [they]… never wavered, but continued stubbornly to hold their positions." (Clifford)

This victory, however, had come at a great cost.

Remembering the Dead

Image: Men of the King's African Rifles at rest circa 1917 (IWM (Q 15409))

As is often the case in war, casualty figures for the Battle of Narungombe tend to vary between reports. All agree, however, that in the context of the East African campaign they were severe.

Within the official report for No. 1 Column, 78 were recorded as dead, 264 wounded and 14 missing; No. 2 column recorded 41 dead, 84 wounded and 1 missing; and No. 3 Column recorded 33 dead, 109 wounded, and 14 missing.

This results in a combined total of 152 dead, 457 wounded, and 15 missing from a force approximately 1,700 in strength.

Within the KAR, when combining the figures set out in their respective war diaries, the result is a combined total of 51 dead, 135 wounded, and 26 missing. Although the latter figure differs from the Column total, this variation could be because some of those originally recorded as missing were later recorded as wounded, killed or returned. When focusing solely on recorded deaths, though, the KAR made up one-third of those who fell during the Battle of Narungombe. 

Prior to the commencement of the Non-Commemoration Programme, it was only the British, South African, undivided Indian, and Gold Coast (Ghana) casualties that were commemorated by name, either on a headstone or memorial.

The KAR casualties were limited solely to the 4 British Officers who died in the battle. A combination of factors, explored in depth within the CWGC’s 2021 Non-Commemoration Report, meant that the African soldiers of the KAR did not universally receive named commemoration in the 1920s, with their point of commemoration instead being transferred to the nameless ‘Askari Memorials’ in Nairobi, Mombasa and Dar-es-Salaam.

Over the course of the past four years, however, extensive work has been undertaken to try and find the names of those previously excluded from the CWGC’s records. To date, over 11,000 names have been uncovered. This total includes the names of 51 soldiers of the 2nd/2nd and 3rd KAR who were killed in action on the 19 July 1917. Moreover, the CWGC’s partnership with the Kenya Defence Forces, and the digitisation of the records of the KAR, has allowed us to learn so much more about these long-forgotten soldiers.

For example, it is striking how young many of the recruits who served with the 3rd Battalion were:

• Kwite Mwere (also recorded as Mwite Mwere), enlisted for service on 18 December 1916, at the age of 16. Given this fact, he would have been no more than 17 years old when he died.  
• Hamis Bushorn (also recorded as Khamis Basow), was originally from Uganda and enlisted on 26 March 1915, again aged 16. As a result, he would have been no more than 18 years old when he died.
• Ramazan Bin Comagoma was aged 20 when he enlisted on 15 December 1916, while Suliman Bin Pazi was aged 21 when he enlisted on 15 February 1917. Both served for less than a year before they were killed in action on 19 July 1917. 

In contrast, Juma Bin Mabrook was a career soldier, having first enlisted on 1 September 1902 at the age of 23. Originally from Mombasa, Juma had previously served with the 4th (Uganda) Regiment before transferring to the 3rd (Kenya) regiment in April 1904. He had seen action during the Nandi expedition of 1900, the Kamililo expedition of 1903 and the Nandi expedition of 1905-6, and during his many years of service, had risen to the rank of Serjeant.  

Serving with the 1st/3rd KAR, Juma was killed during the assault on the German position at Narungombe.

In turn, Hamis Bin Athman, who had previously been engaged from 1900 to 1904, re-enlisted for service on 17 May 1915 at the age of 30.  He served alongside Ajuan Okya, who enlisted on 15 May 1911, and Masala Wa Myuion, who enlisted on 4 June 1912, and was previously wounded in action at Bukoba on 22-23 June 1915. All three were killed in action on 19 July 1917. 

The names of these men, alongside all those who fell at Narungombe, are now commemorated by the CWGC, and their actions will never be forgotten.

See more Non-Commemoration Programme updates

The CWGC Non-Commemoration Programme has a clear mandate: to ensure all those who died in the world wars, no matter where they were, where they died or how they died are remembered equally.

Our historians work with global and state archive materials to direct their research. This allows us to yield important information – we can identify missing names, understand casualty numbers, and identify likely burial locations, as well as reinstate abandoned graves.  

Read more about the Non-Commemoration Programme and our latest updates today.

Selected bibliography

• WO 106/273, Record of the 3rd Battalion during the campaign in East Africa, 1914-18.
• WO 300/371, German East Africa: Military Road Map [without further title], Aug 1916.
• WO 95/5293/6, General Headquarters Branches and Services; General Staff, July 1917.
• WO 95/5311/3, General Headquarters Branches and Services; Assistant Military Secretary, Jan – Apr 1918.
• WO 95/5319/1, Hanforce Headquarters Branches and Services; General Staff, Apr – July 1917.
• WO 95/5321/7, Hanforce No 1 Column; 2/2 Battalion Kings African Rifles, May – Nov 1917.
• WO 95/5321/13, Hanforce No 1 Column; Gold Coast Regiment, Mar – Nov 1917.
• WO 95/5322/7, Hanforce No 2 Column; 3/3 Battalion Kings African Rifles, Jun – Aug 1917.
• WO 95/5322/9, Hanforce No 3 Column; 40 Battalion Pathans, Jun – Jul 1917.
• WO 95/5322/10, Hanforce 'B' Column; 27 Mountain Battery, Jun – Aug 1917.
• WO 95/5352/2, Lines of Communication Headquarters Branches and Services; Adjutant General (BASE), July 1917.
• London Gazette, No. 30542, 22 February 1918.
• London Gazette, No. 30611, 2 April 1918.
• Edward Paice, Tip and Run – the Untold Tragedy of the Great War in Africa (London: Weidenfield & Nicolson, 2007), pp. 328-9.
• Hubert Moyse-Bartlett, The King’s African Rifles: A Study in the Military History of East and Central Africa, 1890-1945, (East Sussex: Naval & Military Press, 2014), pp. 364-6.
• Hugh Clifford, The Gold Coast Regiment in the East African Campaign, (London: John Murray, 1920).