Military History

 ‘The 12th April 1918, the day Clifford was killed, was the start of the Pursuit Through Mozambique, at that time known as Portuguese. The British/African forces met the retreating German forces at Chirimba Hill where a day long battle took place on two small fronts. Clifford was killed during this action.’

The following description of the actions of that day are taken from the an article Medo and Mbalama Hill, Portuguese East Africa, 12 - 24 April 1918 written by the Western Front Association of which we are members. Click here for the full article including maps and pictures.

"On 12 April 2/2KAR, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel W T H Gregg DSO (Royal Irish Fusiliers) moved off through the bush on a compass bearing to get south of Chirimba Hill.  Meanwhile ROSECOL was advancing along the road and the sound of gunfire from the Indian mountain gunners could be heard, along with the response from the German gun.  At 1100 hours 2/2 KAR had its first contact in a  knee-deep swampy location.  The contact soon turned into an area ambush that had been sprung by three of Kohl's field companies.

2/2 KAR quickly splashed through the mud to form a U-shaped perimeter, repelling attacks on all three faces. The British Askari were fighting from holes scooped in the mud whilst the Germans had the advantage of operating from better ground. The Schutztruppe kept attacking from different directions, swiftly moving their machine guns around to provide fire support. 2/2 KAR fought where it stood and was severely pressed. Most of the battalion were young Askari but they were held together by the experienced non-commissioned officers (NCOs), who could be seen nonchalantly taking pinches of snuff in between shouting fire orders.

As ammunition ran short runners were sent to the rear for fresh supplies, but the enemy machine gunners were waiting and knocked them down.  2/2 KAR was in a tense situation when 1/ 2 KAR caught up with it.

1/2 KAR joins the fight

1/2 KAR, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel D W Reynolds (York and Lancaster Regiment), was following 2/2 KAR through the bush, and the battalion's porters had been closed up with the main body.  The battalion had just put out a picquet on Chirimba Hill when the enemy fired on 2/2 KAR. This firing caused the porters to panic, drop their loads and flee to the rear. Whilst attempting to stop his fleeing porters, the 1/2 KAR Transport Officer Captain John Lewis Broom MBE, (Welsh Regiment and Military Labour Corps), was killed.

With difficulty, the transport was reorganised and 1/2 KAR advanced in U formation to the sound of the guns. The battalion found 2/2 KAR's left flank and the two units completed a square.  But the Germans observed the situation and launched violent attacks on the junction point.  Around 1430 hours the enemy cut the telephone wire back to PAMFORCE HQ.  A party of two of the battalion's signallers and Sapper Samuel Maurice White, (Royal Engineers Lines of Communication Signal Company), went to repair the cut.  The party walked into an enemy ambush and Sapper White was mortally wounded.

The battalion had to fight in the same swampy conditions as 2/2 KAR was experiencing, and effective leadership was vital in ensuring that the fierce enemy assaults were driven back.  Sergeants L L Nicholson, (South African Infantry), and R T Roberts, (Royal Welsh Fusiliers), were killed in action along with two Askari.  Company Sergeant Major G Hobday, (3rd Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment) was slightly wounded.  Fifteen Askari and 11 machine gun porters were also wounded.  Sergeant Roberts had only joined the Battalion on 30 March, and he was killed by one of the last enemy shots fired.

2/2 KAR reorganises

Before an ammunition supply got through to 2/2 KAR the Askari were down to five rounds per man.  Bayonets had been fixed and grenades prepared for a final battle in the swamp. Brigadier Edwards had sent a GCR [Gold Coast Regiment] company to assist in the fight south of Chirimba Hill, but by the time that the Gold Coasters were in a position to be effective dusk was falling and Major Kohl broke off his attacks and withdrew.  Lieutenant Colonel Giffard moved KARTUCOL up the slopes of Chirimba Hill where the battalions tended to casualties, fed, replenished and reorganised.

The enemy had withdrawn hastily from what obviously had been a wet-weather training camp, as many of his stores such as musketry tripods had been abandoned. On the following day the battlefield was searched thoroughly in order to locate abandoned porters' loads.  Medo had been a very tough fight on bad ground of the enemy's choosing, and it could have gone the other way if the NCOs of both KAR battalions had not kept a grip on their Askari. On 17 April Lieutenant Colonel Gregg went to hospital suffering from jaundice and Major E F Bradstock MC (formerly South African Cape Corps) took over command of 2/2 KAR".