20th Oct 1952 - 21st Aug 1953

" 2000 Rape claims proved false"

Daily Telegraph March 2006.

Advance party arriving Eastleigh Airport, Nairobi. At left: C/O., 2I/C and Major Groves

The man in turban with officers now is the Sultan of Zanzibar, Viceroy Sir
Khalifia Bin Sayyid Harub.
sent in by
Willie Augus
see note below

Sent in by
Maurice Taylor

Christmas Card from Nairobi sent in December 1952.

Its all coming out now shame on you Maurice

we had to visit outlying farms and safely escort white settlers through hostile areas....Hearts and Minds......you can see why I kept this detail a for myself

Note re 4 A
Joe said to Dennis that that photo is in the wrong place what is the Sultan of Zanzibar doing in Kenya I said that what Willie who sent in the photo said on the back of the photo so Joe went off and started checking there is nothing in the Gallipoli Gazette about it in the end Joe spoke to Drummie Robinson and got the full story
When the LF's went to Kenya there was no room for them in the camp so they stayed at Nairobi Airport and the Sultan made a visit to Kenya and the Governer of Kenya ask if the Band and Drums could beat retreat for the Sultan which they did,

The pic of Robbie with the Sultan of Zanzibar " The Sultan was visiting the Governer of Kenya and the Band and Drums of 1LF were asked to beat retreat for him at Eastleigh Airport Nairobi.The pic is of Robbie asking for permission to march off the square.The Sultan replied in Arabic and Robbie presumed that he had said yes please. In fact, it turned out that the Sultan had asked if he could see it all again!

KENYA

1LF move from Arroyo Camp, Egypt to RAF Station Eastleigh, Nairobi, Kenya

Sunday 19th October 1952

After a couple of weeks spent packing and unpacking eventually 1 LF were given the orders for an operational move from Egypt to Kenya where the Mau Mau terrorists had been causing great concern. We had no idea how long we were going for some thought three weeks others three months so we left all our heavy equipment behind. Our role was not immediately clear but I think the loyalty of the Kings African Rifles was being tested and it was thought that it was prudent to have a British Battalion available just in case?

We took off from RAF Fayid at 0900hrs on Sunday 19th October and flew across Lower Egypt along the River Nile to Khartoum. This was the worst part of the trip as we were flying for close on six hours under very bumpy conditions and a lot of the Fusiliers were airsick. At Khartoum we were greeted by the South Lancashire Regiment who were great hosts.They housed us, fed and watered us and took us into town to show us the sights of Khartoum. Their camp was built at the junction of the Blue and White Niles and after the rigours of Egypt we found it certainly was not lacking in mod cons.

On Monday we started the second leg of our trip from Khartoum to Juba; just a refuelling airstrip at the bottom end of the Sudan, staffed by one lonely Englishman and a crowd of locals. After a couple of hours we were on our way crossing Lake Victoria in the dark and then the Equator where our friendly RAF "driver" took it on himself to throw us out of our seats. Eventually we landed at Eastleigh at about 2000hrs and were greeted by Generals, reporters and a host of other people.

Within days we were out showing the Flag driving and marching around Nairobi and suburbs. A splendid XXth Guard of Honour was produced for the State Opening of the Kenya Parliament this delighted the Govenor and I think made him determined to keep us in the country. We stayed together as a Battalion for several days before being split up into Company groups and sent up country to the heart of the Kikuyu Reserve.

The locals gave us a great reception, everyone seemed to go out of their way to help and entertain us and the Battalion rose to the ocassion and all our Fusiliers were extremely well behaved and a credit to the Regiment. We thought the food was unbelievable and everyone gorged themselves at every meal. Green grass, farms, pineapple, coffee and tea plantations......what a change from years in the desert.

Capt Maurice Taylor MTO