85

Debra Markos

“The only open opposition to the Emperor was shown in 1932 when Lij Yasu

escaped and in conjunction with Ras Hailu started a revolt in Gojjam. It was quickly

put down and both Hailu and Lij Yasu were imprisoned. The latter died in 1935; Ras

Hailu made his submission to the Italians in 1936.”

‘A Handbook of Ethiopia.’ 1

Prepared by General Staff Intelligence, Khartoum, 1941.

“Due to World War II events, a renewed role for Ethiopia’s military emerged. The

antiquated hierarchical structure of the military supported by provincial levies was

jettisoned followed by the establishment of new military doctrine and a

professional modern army. The creation of a strong national territorial army also

had as a secondary motive the disarming of various guerrilla bands, many of

whom took advantage of the social and political instability to engage in personal

enrichment and territorial aggrandizement. Many of the men in these rebellious

ranks were incorporated into the national army. Ethiopia also signed a convention

with London that guaranteed military assistance to assist with the training and

organization of a professional corp that would carry out postwar social and

political reconstruction.”

‘The History of Ethiopia.’ 2

Saheed A. Adejumobi.

“One important deterrent (which prevented the mass colonisation of Italians in

Ethiopia) was the continued existence throughout the Ethiopian countryside of

pockets of Ethiopian Patriots, who refused to accept the Italian occupation. The

Italians referred to them as “Shiftas”, the Amharic word for bandits. Many had

been members of the Ethiopian army under Haile Selassie, and others had simply

joined the struggle to unseat the Italians out of their patriotic fervour. Their initial

strength was in the provinces of Showa, Gojjam, and Begemder but by 1938 they

controlled most of the Ethiopian countryside.”

‘Ethiopia in Wartime: 1941, 1942.’ 3

Extract from the commentary by Richard Pankhurst.

86

Monday 7th December 1942. At 5.45am I packed my light kit and got ready for departure. The

Medical Directorate lorry arrived at 6.45am. Soon the lorry was loaded, ready for the departure to

the Cantonment. As Richey had not arrived by 7.20am I proceeded with the lorry. On arriving at

the Cantonment, almost opposite the aerodrome, I was informed that the lorry for Debra Markos

was not due to depart until 9.00am. At about 8.00am Richey arrived with profuse apologies

because I had such a long time to wait, his main excuse being that the previous week Ted Dunn

had missed the convoy for Jimma because of a puncture.

At 9.15am an old lorry, bearing some resemblance to an obsolete corporation vehicle, arrived on

the scene. Sergeant Martin was also travelling to Debra Markos and the lorry was to be under his

care. However, before departing we collected a matter of £4,000 odd pounds in shillings from

Barclays Bank. With the money aboard the old lorry chugged along. Periodically we stopped to fill

the radiator with cold water, or to tighten a nut here and there. During the journey Sergeant Martin

and I sat on the back of the lorry as there was only room for one passenger in the cab.

At about 5.00pm we drew into Fiché where we decided to stay for the night. The local colonel of

the Territorial Army found us a one roomed house which seemed to be allocated for travelling

Europeans. In the English sense of the word, ‘house’ was rather misleading, but it did afford us some

shelter of sorts! The drinking water, that is, the only supply, was far from being crystal clear, but after

boiling and with the additional flavour of tea, it proved to be a good thirst quencher. Frank Martin

was extremely worried about the money as there was no official guard and so he supplied the

driver with a pistol whilst he retained an automatic. As the firearm proceeding did not concern me I

began to unpack. Mangesha made the tea and heated up our meal of tinned meat and

vegetables. Apart from the numerous rats which were very bold and made a heck of a noise, the

night was quiet.

Tuesday 8th December 1942. After breakfast, when we came to look for the lorry, it had

disappeared complete with the cash and my equipment! Whilst Sergeant Martin went in search I

attempted to obtain a photograph of a local court. Unfortunately as soon as the judges saw me

they stood up whereupon the surrounding people did likewise. After this incident the lorry retuned

with Sergeant Martin riding on the footboard. Apparently there had been engine trouble and the

driver had tried to warm it up by driving a little. Having risen at dawn, we did not manage to start

until about 10.00am. Soon we were flying along a road parallel to which was a marvellous deep

gorge. Stopping only to fill the radiator and tighten the nuts and bolts, we drove solidly all through

the heat of the day until we reached the top of the Abbai Gorge. Without stopping for lunch we

were hoping to make the crossing, but about halfway down we were informed that no lorry (for

their onward journey) had arrived from Debra Markos. We decided not to go lower as this is

notoriously recognised as being a heavy Malaria belt. Stopping where we did, there was no shade,

no water, no shelter, in fact, apart from the local guard’s tin hut, we were fully exposed plus the

£4.000 odd pounds!

After an eternity the sun began to sink and so we obtained relief from the scorching heat. However

peace was not ours for the local village turned out and gaped at us as though we were prize

animals in a zoo. The word then got round that I was a “Hakim”, so it was not until having

bandaged limbs, put drops in eyes etc that we were left in comparative quiet. I say comparative,

as unfortunately the village was about 100 foot above us, so the residents had only to walk to the

edge of the gorge and we were completely overlooked. Also, if anyone wanted to do a spot of

shooting, as a target, we were a gift! Shortly after the village’s visit a group of men approached us

and informed us that there was a landslide about halfway down the road. They offered their mules

and some of them said that they would transport us across.

After rather a hectic day we had another tin of meat and vegetable ration. We then bedded

down in the back of the lorry with the stars as our roof. I should have mentioned that the only water

we could get hold of was that collected from a brook for the radiator. However boiled and with

tea, it went down well. When it was dark we could see fires on the various distant peaks. We were

careful, for obvious reasons, not to expose unnecessary light. The mosquitoes were a pest as indeed

was all the night life! In place of the heat of the scorching sun there was now a very cold

atmosphere intensified by the prevailing wind.

87

Wednesday 9th December 1942. With the dawn, having

had a cup of tea, we prepared to depart when suddenly

about thirty men arrived on the scene, some carrying skins.

Without asking they began boarding the lorry and just for a

second the scene began to look ugly. However, after a form

of order had been established through “personality!!??” the

lorry started and all ran fairly smoothly. After about two miles

we came to the landslide which completely blocked the

road. Some of the villagers were already there with mules

and so we began to unload the lorry. At first it seemed

ridiculous that these beasts would be able to manage the

heavy kit, but the mules certainly lived up to their reputation

of being tough.

Sergeant Martin was very concerned

about the money for he feared that

there might be trouble if some of the

people knew of its existence. So it

was planned that I should head the

train and he would follow with the

money. All went well and after

about two to three miles we came

down to the water level of the

Abbai. What a sight! The river was

about one hundred yards across

and there was no visible form of conveyance. Further down the river, and

connecting each side of the gorge, was a wire cable in the middle of which

hung two baskets. It did not take long to confirm the Addis rumours that this

was out of order. When the Italians had blown the bridge up they certainly

made a good job of it for all that remained was just the stone foundation. As

for the pontoon, we were informed it had been washed away during the rainy season. What a

hope we had of crossing as some of the boxes weighed at least one and a half hundred weight.

During this period of depression the so called boatmen were stuffing cow hides with straw.

At this stage another difficulty loomed over us. The mule-men demanded payment. Apart from the

Loading the mules before our descent to the

Abbai.

Unloading and organising the cargo!

Making our rafts!

Frank Martin

plus the cash

crosses (left)

and the

picture I took

from the raft

while I was

crossing

(right).

The loads

being

transported

across

including my

large box of

one and a

half hundred

weight (right).

88

four thousand pounds, we had no money available when in the middle of all this depression and

seeming futility, an Ethiopian Officer seemed to spring up from nowhere. Actually, unseen by us he

had crossed the river, and now he informed us that he had brought the necessary dollars. However

upon opening the sack which had been handed to him Sergeant Martin found only mail destined

for Addis! To our relief the lieutenant produced another bag which contained the dollars and so we

left him to haggle with the mule-men. The final agreed price was about eighteen dollars. By this

time the rafts or skins were afloat and very frail they looked. Soon the first one was ready for

crossing with its terrific load of boxes. Before the Ethiopian entered the water to swim his craft across

a volley of shots was fired into the water to scare off the crocodiles. Whilst the rafts were swum

across certain men stood on guard and periodically shot into the water between the rafts. After

two of my boxes, each weighing over one hundred weight, had safely been transported across I

was able to relax for they contained all my personal possessions. Going across, and in between the

strokes of the swimmer, I managed to obtain a photograph.

Once on the other side, after each man had been paid a dollar a crossing, we proceeded to load

up the lorries which had been waiting for two days. One of my boxes was so heavy that one of the

soldiers stumbled and it crashed to the ground injuring him. Once more Quack Clarke attended to

the various bruises and cuts and so at last all was safely loaded on the lorry. Before departing the

soldiers made us a cup of tea, and then once more we took to the trail, this time climbing and

climbing. Inside the cab of this Steven Baker lorry the atmosphere was like a furnace and

periodically the Italian driver would stop the lorry to release the scolding hot water from the

radiator. As we climbed, Sergeant Martin told of their adventures during the Campaign when he

and his regiment descended to the Abbai at night. After passing through the helter skelter of the

gorge we finally climbed onto the mountain plateau. It was then full speed for home and although

the road was more of a track the Italian certainly let the lorry go!

After about three hours we saw Debra Markos in the distance, mainly to be discerned by its trees.

We drove straight into what was termed a fort. Here I was introduced to Major Pen….. and Captain

Kook (the Military Mission doctor).

After the mail had been delivered and the equipment unloaded, I went with Sergeant Martin for

the first meal of the day. Then to bed!!!

Thursday 10th December 1942. Up at seven a.m. and at the hospital

for nine a.m. Captain Kook called, and with him I went down to the

hospital riding one of his horses. In many ways the hospital fulfilled my

anticipation. During the morning I sat by Captain Kook during his Out-

Patients, most of whom were soldiers.

In the afternoon, after straightening up the theatre, I had tea at Captain

Kooks’ house. During the middle of November his wife had joined him

and so upon this occasion I was introduced.

Friday 11th December 1942. During the later part of the day I hunted

around for a house, but the search proved fruitless. There were plenty of

houses, but most of them were in rather an unsanitary condition. Back at

the fort the Major offered the use of

the Doctor’s old house. This proved to

be satisfactory and being within the precincts of the fort it

meant that electricity was available. Although the electric light

was very poor and only on for about two and a half hours every

night it was not to be passed over ‘lightly’. In the fort was the

Second Ethiopian Battalion so life bears a very distant

resemblance to that of the army.

Saturday 12th December 1942. In the afternoon I visited the

market where eggs could be bought for ninety for the dollars,

chickens five lira each and bananas about one to two liras. There were very few European

commodities, and such as those which existed, like drinking glasses ($1)or mirrors (one and a half

dollars), were sold by Arab traders.

Captain Kook and his wife.

My house!

89

Sunday 13th December 1942. Having the day free from the hospital, apart from a morning visit, I

“set to” in letter writing.

Monday 14th December 1942. Departure of lorry which was to collect Captain Naylor and

Sergeant Gibson.

At the hospital in the morning I continued to attend Captain Kooks Out-Patient Department and on

his ward round, followed by assisting in the theatre.

The Major seems to be very helpful concerning my comfort and living quarters.

Tuesday 15th December 1942. Each day now by arrangement through the Major, a mule is

brought to my house to take me to the hospital and also to collect me. After the morning session

at the hospital, upon returning to the fort I was thrown by the mule! All’s well that ends well!!

Wednesday 16th December 1942. The lorry arrived back at the fort bringing Naylor, Gibson, and

mail. No mail for me!!

I am continuing to join the sergeants in the mess.

Friday 18th December 1942. All of us were entertained to lunch at the Arab Contractor’s house.

Saturday 19th December 1942. In the evening I was invited to dinner at Captain and Mrs Kook’s

house.

Sunday 20th December 1942

There is a bath in the fort. A benzene barrel has been rigged up to use as a boiler so that hot water

is available; hence a bath.

Most of the afternoon was occupied owing to Sergeant Gibson injuring his ankle whilst giving

football instruction. I went down to the hospital for Meths, bandages and gauze etc, As Captain

Kook was playing bridge with the Major he attended the injury.

Monday 21st December 1942. Under Captain Kook’s guidance I incised a Bubo Abscess.

Managed to avoid the artery!!!

Tuesday 22nd December 1942. I assisted at an operation in which a child’s hand was

amputated. According to the information given the child had been playing with a bomb when it

had exploded smashing up his hand. Kook amputated the hand at the wrist.

Today our case of a woman suffering from poisoning seems to have recovered. Apparently she

had an injection from one of the Ethiopian, Italian trained ex-dressers who still practice in the town.

Kook has tried to take action through Addis against these Quacks (!!) but so far the action has not

taken place.

Wednesday 23rd December 1942. The usual routine at the hospital. At nine a.m. approximately

there was sick parade. This was followed by a hospital round, dressings etc, and then I was in

theatre. In the afternoon I continued sorting medical stores, then from five until eight p.m.

microscopic work at Kook’s house.

Thursday 24th December 1942. Christmas Eve

At the present time one of the most difficult things to imagine is that this is Christmas. With the sun

beating down its scorching heat one can hardly picture England suffering from cold, and perhaps

snow. Tonight begins the drinking celebrations!!

The hospital (left)

and a group of the

civilian dressers

(right).

90

Friday 25th December 1942. Christmas Day

Everyone was very pleased with their gift of chocolate and hand towels. As usual at nine a.m., the

mule was waiting and so I journeyed down to the hospital. I then had lunch with Captain and Mrs

Kook. The afternoon was spent with Captain Kook examining slides under the microscope.

In the evening I had dinner at the Indian’s house (Dad explains who this is in his entry on 24th

January). Most of the Sergeants seemed slightly tight (!!), so I retired early. What a Christmas! Still,

hopes for a Christmas at home next year!!!!

Saturday 26th December 1942.

Boxing Day.

Arrived at the hospital at 9.30am. After waiting for half an

hour I received a note from Kook which said, “Carry on to

Sports”. It was the Battalion Sports Day and all the ground

was marked out with flags whilst in addition two tents had

been erected. From the hospital I took a Sergeant and two

orderlies complete with a stretcher and medical kit. First

there were straightforward races for the men, their wives

and children. These were followed by such events as the

sack race and the egg and spoon race. Later there was a

Battalion mule race, but unfortunately, and much to the

Majors annoyance, the mules chose their own course along which

to race. However a winner was eventually found! Next came the

police horse race. This certainly was an event and these wild

looking men certainly painted a marvellous picture as they dashed

along on their mounts. All the horses were highly decorated, with

finely worked saddles and harnesses.

During this race one of the horses

stumbled and fell, rolling on its rider.

Immediately the First Aid squad came

into action and carted the man off the

field. At the commencement of this

race some of the police (very wild

looking people) had run on to the

track firing rifles behind the horses with

the intention of scaring off devils. The

Major cursed, pointing out the

difference between the wild and

woolly police as opposed to the calm,

well disciplined soldiers. Fortunately the shots had not made contact

with anyone! After this came the event of throwing the spear. Some of

the results were surprisingly good. After a few more items had been run

off, lunch was served in one of the tents.

Ras Hailu and the local Governor had also come to see the sports.

Apart from the eighty police (or so called police!), they had about two

The men’s sack race.

The women’s egg and spoon race.

The horse race!!

Left: Ras Hailu and

the Governor of

Gojjam and then..

Right: a lunchtime

shot of them with

Capt. and Mrs

Kook.

91

hundred followers. The Major invited the Ras and Governor to lunch which had been prepared by

Mrs Kook. During this time the battalion partook of their lunch which consisted of injera (an

unleavened bread measuring about 18” across which would have been made from teff, the local grain,

and water) and fruit.

Lunch having been

served the sports were

resumed. The high jump

was quite a good item

during which the height

of about five foot was

attained, and then came

relays followed by

another horse race. The

sports were concluded at

about four p.m. with a

tug of war which was

fairly successful. Amongst

the prizes were such things as tablecloths, shirts, towels, scents,

ornaments, shoes, umbrellas, sheets etc. For the tug of war an ox was awarded to the winning

team!

As a Sports Day it was a huge success and will stand to be repeated. There were several amusing

incidents which proved to be rather trying for the Major as, for instance, when the mules decided

to follow their own course and then on another occasion when the starter gun did not function. Still,

everything taken into account, the day was a grand success.

Sunday 27th December 1942. Another bath which unfortunately was rather dirty, but still it

removed excessive dirt from my person!!

In the afternoon there was a long run of illness!! First a woman came for treatment to the ‘Surgery’

next door to my house. Apparently her husband had beaten her up with the consequence that she

was suffering from a gash on her forehead and various other ailments. After calling the Company

Captain her husband was put on a charge. The orderly then mentioned that some other people

were ill. Amongst these was a soldier who was vomiting blood so the day passed without the usual

letter writing.

Monday 28th December 1942. After the usual morning consultation during which both soldiers

and civilians are treated, a man was admitted with several deep knife wounds. At first he said that

he had been attacked and then later, quite voluntarily, he admitted that he had received the

injuries following an act of adultery. Apparently the woman’s husband had taken a poor view of

such goings on and sought retribution. The victim had a deep wound in his back and several

injuries about the head, shoulders and hands, so upon admittance he was stitched up and packed

off to bed.

Looking for the Major after lunch, it was to find both he and Gibson sozzled. The Major said that he

had received news from Captain Kook that fighting had broken out within ten miles distance. He

requested that I go down to the hospital and prepare two mules loaded with dressings and

stretchers. Gibson, seemingly the more sober of the two said,

“Have you got a revolver? It’s every man for himself, the Shiftas are closing in on us.”

Not being accustomed to drunken Majors on duty I made my way to Kook’s house for advice.

Captain Kook was very cheerful saying that although he had originally supplied the Major with this

information, the Major, being drunk, was taking a foolish line. However it was agreed that I should

prepare two mules panniers just in case there was trouble. Meanwhile Kook and his wife went out

for their usual afternoon ride.

On returning to the fort it was to find that a stand to order had been given. Armed men stood all

around the inside of the walls and in some places machine guns were planted, not to mention the

mortar or cannon. As drunk as a lord, the Major was making a tour of inspection with Sergeant

Martin and a group of Battalion Officers. After a time the stand to order was cancelled and the

Sgt. Gibson presenting prizes!

92

men dismissed. Later we received information that the Major had received a cable from Addis

which said he was not to go out with an expeditionary force, and that he could only take action if

the fort, or Europeans, were endangered. Subsequently the men left their stations and the mules

were returned to their quarters.

Later in the evening the evening the Major was to be seen staggering about and urinating in his

front garden. Then both he and Sergeant Martin set a bottle up on the fort walls and proceeded to

pot at it with their revolvers. Thinking that Captain and Mrs Kook might be concerned I made my

way down to their house. However they were taking the whole situation as light as ever. When they

knew that most of the European personnel in the fort were drunk they invited me to dinner. After

examining some slides under the microscope and quite a discussion on world affairs, I made my

way back to the fort at 11.00pm.

As I walked along the dark, soft earthen road I heard a

shot ring out in the distance. Throughout my journey

back to the fort the hyenas and jackals continued their

howling and barking, not to mention the village dogs!

As usual once I neared the entrance of the fort, the

sentry almost jumped out of his box as he shouted,

“Halt, who goes there?”

To this question I replied,

“Friend. Hakim!”

So all was well and at last I crawled into my warm

sleeping bag.

Tuesday 29th December 1942. Everyone in the fort, that is the Europeans, seem to have sobered

up considerably. During the breakfast conversation I learned that four months previously Captain

Dick Naylor had nearly been killed by a native bomb which was slung over the front wall. However

the general reaction to the ‘threatened invasion’ had cooled considerably, in fact, the Major did

not seem to be the same man.

At the hospital everything continued as usual. The morning’s operations consisted of incision of a

Bubo and an infected finger.

Thursday 31st December 1942. Captain Kook has decided to begin an investigation into the

reason why people who live here do not seem to suffer from kidney trouble, or stones in the

bladder. Today we commenced a programme of urine examinations from local people at the rate

of sixteen per day.

At midday the Major sent a note asking if I would be kind enough to give evidence at a Court of

Enquiry which was being held concerning Sergeant Martin and the loss of 1000 shillings. It was quite

an informal affair during which it was quite obvious that the Major was strongly protesting against

the lack of escorts and arrangements concerning the transport of the money.

In the evening I helped Captain Kook with the payments for hospital staff. There was quite a

feeling of discontentment because the salaries were paid in East African currency (British) and not

dollars. One dresser was in tears, but little could be done for the order had come through from

Haile Selassie.

New Years Eve. Oh! for England and the warmth with which these celebrations are upheld. Most of

the evening was spent in printing photographs for the Sergeants and Captain Kook. Although the

lighting is not very good it is marvellous to have electricity again, if only for a few days.

Following the Italian Occupation and the British Campaign there was a need to establish a common

currency (see earlier section on Brian Fraser Macdona). General Cunningham and Sir Philip Mitchell

advocated the East African shilling and from thence it was included in the terms of the 1942 Anglo-

Ethiopian Agreement as the official monetary unit for Ethiopia. As a result the salaries of all Ethiopian

government officials, British advisers and employees, and the British Military were to be paid directly in

East African shillings from the annual subsidy which the British Government had pledged in pounds

sterling. However the following example shows how this would cause problems for local people;

The entrance to the fort.

93

“Ethiopian cereal crops were much in demand for export during the war and yet the farmers refused to

accept East African shillings. They insisted on payment in the traditional Maria Theresa thalers.”

The dressers distress in this entry arises presumably as a direct result of salaried personnel being

“obliged to use those shillings to purchase at increasingly unfavorable rates of exchange the Maria

Theresa thalers necessary for acquiring foodstuffs and services from the local traders and servants. The

inevitable consequence was a steady rise in the value of the Maria Theresa thaler and a corresponding

depreciation of the East African shilling in Ethiopia.” 4

Friday 1st January 1943. After a haircut, a visit to the hospital followed by Captain Kook’s house, I

settled down to full day of writing. Having completed the monthly report and balance sheet I

proceeded to complete letters in readiness for the arrival of a lorry which is due on January 8th.

Paid Mangesha his salary and also the allowance to my honourable self. At last the spelling of the

Major’s name has been disclosed as being “Penhallurick”. Latest news is that all lorries must have

an armed escort when they are carrying European personnel and travelling more than a days

journey.

Saturday 2nd January 1943. The usual hospital routine followed by letter writing.

Sunday 3rd January 1943. What a beautiful bath!! In a real bath with a hot water system made

out of two petrol drums, one perched on top of the other! Afterwards, in response to a message I

went down to the hospital but Kook had almost completed the operation of sewing up the scrotum

of a man who had been kicked in that locality by an enemy. Kook then said that he wished to

perform a post mortem on a man who had been admitted on Saturday with gun shot wounds. In

the usual manner Kook had cleaned and stitched him up but he had died over Saturday night. I

had a suspicion that Kook wanted a little practice and also that he wanted to give me instruction.

The operation he had in mind was Appendectomy and he gave me instruction throughout. As he

cut so he explained first the skin, then the sebaceous tissue, the muscle and finally the peritoneum.

Whilst ‘fishing’ for the appendix there was an explosion of foul smelling gas. Previously Kook had

remarked that the excessive fluid in the peritoneum showed that the man had died from peritonitis.

Upon inserting his forceps in this hole which was in the bowel, he withdrew an Ascarius tape worm

which was still very much alive! The cause of death was thus proved conclusively.

Monday 4th January 1943. The usual day: Out-patients in the morning followed by the

application of two plasters and a minor operation. In the afternoon I continued with straightening

out the store and in the evening, from 7.00 p.m. I was with Captain Kook doing microscopic work.

At this time we received news of the arrival of several wires, one of which had reported that a

B.M.M.E. Captain had been killed in the Gondar region. As Kook remarked, this was probably the

main reason for the B.M.M. issuing an order that all lorries carrying British personnel should be

accompanied by an armed escort. So although Haile Selassie seems to be rounding up arms etc,

the shifta still seem to be flourishing!

Thursday 7th January1943. Amhara Christmas Day.

During the night I saw numerous beacons but too small to be photographed. There were sounds of

chanting, singing and dancing, not to mention the orchestral efforts! Gradually the chanting

became louder and then the drums began beating out the rhythm. During the early hours of the

night several shots were fired in the locality.

Friday 8th January 1943. Strangely enough no gun shot casualties were bought to the hospital!

Saturday 9th January 1943. It was a very quiet morning which Kook

attributed to the fact of it being market day. People come to the market

from districts that are miles away as the price of goods is much cheaper.

In the afternoon I had a most invigorating bath! The evening was spent with

Sergeants Martin and Gibson as they yarned about their pre-war

occupations and families, Martin having been a boiler maker in Lancashire,

whilst Gibson was a bus driver for the Birmingham Corporation.

Sunday 10th January 1943. Most of the day was occupied in writing

letters. In the evening I treated one of the soldiers who had been ‘beaten

up’ by Captain Tadessa.

Sergeants Gibson and Martin.

94

Tuesday 12th January 1943. “Trouble brewing!”

It seems now that the situation is becoming sticky. Apparently the source of the trouble lies in the

fact that Ras Hailu is shortly to be withdrawn from office and another man appointed to take his

place. According to reports a bomb was thrown on to the roof of the chief of police’s house. From

the information given it appears that Ras Hailu was at the back of this. It also appears that there

has been a certain amount of cattle thieving and other misdeeds which Ras Hailu has ignored. If

the police make an arrest he then promptly releases the prisoner so justice is evaded. Captain Kook

has shown considerable concern over the recent developments and he is seriously considering

whether to send his wife in to Addis.

Thursday 14th January 1943. Upon going into the canteen to report that a man was seriously ill I

became engrossed in conversation with the Major. To commence with, the discussion arose over

the present crisis. The Major suggested that I should carry a revolver and that he would lend me

one. The conversation deepened with the Major stressing his suggestion with great emphasis even

suggesting that it would not be necessary to kill anyone for I could fire the revolver into the air as

this would be sufficient to scare any attackers. The conversation continued with him continuing to

stress his points and I trying to express mine. Finally, after it had become clear I had no intention of

accepting the loan of a revolver the conversation drifted into principles and before long the Major,

Sergeant Martin and I were right in the middle of a discussion concerning religion. All of this was

taking place over the tej bar. However, in spite of the Major’s many persuasions, I managed to

continue in discussion without the stimulation of tej! The discussion seemed as though it would

continue until next day so at eleven fifteen p.m. I decided to leave. Sergeant Martin had said that

he believed God was in nature and that to find God it was not necessary to go to church as he

concluded that God was more easily found in nature. The Major after various accusations, one of

which was to call Sergeant Martin a pantheist, said that he was an agnostic. For a considerable

length of time he talked continually, telling us about his father who was a Plymouth Brethren and his

mother who was a Roman Catholic. In spite of the consumption of tej the discussion proved to be

very helpful.

Friday 15th January 1943. Whereas Thursday had really begun to look black concerning

hostilities, things began to take a turn for the better. Fitaurari Mangesha, upon the invitation of the

Major, came to tea. After he had left the Major told us that everything was satisfactory. The Fitaurari

had showed great concern when he heard that Captain Kook was seriously thinking of sending his

wife back into Addis and had pointed out that if any trouble should arise he would range himself

on the Major’s side. Apparently during the discussion many problems were talked about resulting in

a satisfactory and mutual understanding being established between the two parties.

Fitaurari is a military title meaning commander of the advance guard and will be explained in more

detail at the end of this chapter.

Saturday 16th January 1943. It looks as though the clouds are beginning to lift. Fitaurari

Mangesha, true to his promise, has been arresting various trouble makers including those involved

in recent shootings. However the Major and co. continue to go about armed and ready for trouble.

At about 11.45pm heard the lorry arriving back from Addis. Rain in plenty!

Sunday 17th January 1943. Boy Oh! Boy. Letters! Letter seventeen from Margaret, six and eight

from Dad, one from Ivy and Laurie, another on behalf of the Endeavour from Bill Hughes and finally

a small parcel and letter containing a diary with best wishes for Christmas expressed by Gerald

Lansey on behalf of the church. What a relief to know the findings of the Appellate tribunal

concerning Margaret. Now things are a little easier. Amongst the letters one not mentioned was the

circular from the Unit containing news of other sections in this and other countries. Now for some

more letter writing as it is rumoured that Major Penhallurick is going into Addis sometime next week.

Captain Lunn arrived with the lorry last night so the number in personnel is increased by one.

More rain and yet more rain, which according to the Ethiopians is most unorthodox.

In the Introduction I mentioned that Margaret was to be de-reserved from the bank where she worked

and had decided to apply for membership of the F.A.U. (February 1942). The women’s section was

formed during the autumn of 1940 in response in the first instance, to the London Blitz. Tessa Cadbury

(nee Rowntree, daughter of Arnold Rowntree) was serving on the Friends War Victims Relief Service

Committee when she received a letter from Peter Hume (who had been instrumental during the Finnish

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campaign and was now Recruiting Officer) asking her if she would feel able to initiate this section. She

then joined forces with a friend called Gwendy Smith who was a qualified doctor, and together they

began to recruit members through ‘the Friend’ and the F.A.U. office. Similar to the way in which Dame

Elizabeth Cadbury helped by allowing the men’s section to train at Manor Farm, so one of Tessa’s

Rowntree uncles helped by giving them the use of his family home called Barmoor which was situated on

the Yorkshire Moors.

By mid 1941 the women’s section was taken into full membership of the F.A.U. Dad’s diary entry on 14th

May 1942, just prior to his departure for Ethiopia, explains how he arranges with Tessa for Margaret’s

release so that they could be together for his embarkation leave with a view to getting married.

Monday 18th January 1943. I spent quite a busy morning at the hospital and then during lunch

Dr Kook sent for me. On arriving at his house it was to find that a man had been admitted to the

hospital suffering from bomb wounds. Once back at the hospital we found that with this man there

were two others. It was quite apparent that his right hand was severely damaged, so we were soon

suitably attired in gowns and gloves. When the bandage had been removed we were confronted

by a mess of bloody and mutilated flesh. The remainder of a thumb and a string of tendons were

the only parts left of what had once been a hand. Without more ado Dr Kook set to work with

myself assisting. In the usual way, as he cut, so I removed the debris and

supplied him with Spencer Wells. Soon what had appeared as being

hideous now began to look a little better. After the odd bones and

tissues had been removed Dr Kook completed the operation by pulling

a flap over the exposed bone.

We also admitted a case today of a woman who after giving birth still

retained the placenta. I administered the anaesthetic while Kook

removed the placenta manually.

Back at the fort Sergeant Martin had taken out a small force of men to

recover the body of a young lieutenant who had been killed a year

ago whilst in action. At dusk Martin returned with a box containing the

remains. According to his description there was still some flesh remaining

but mainly only the bones were left as in the case of the skull.

Tuesday 19th January 1943. Major Penhallurick departed with the lorry

for Addis, taking with him Sergeant Martin who had been recalled for reporting. Being alone I

accepted the Invitation of Captain Lunn to eat in the Officers Mess.

Wednesday 20th January 1943. Trouble again in Gojjam. Contrary to

a cable from Addis saying that he was to depart on Tuesday 19th, Ras

Hailu was still in residence at Debra Markos. During the evening whilst

with Captain Lunn, and being entertained by the Kooks, we received

news to the effect that the assistant chief of police, a policeman and

two civilians had been killed within a mile of Debra Markos. Shortly

afterward the dressers from the hospital came to ask for military

protection in addition to the police guard. Events looked very black and

Lunn arranged with the Doctor to double the guard on his house, and if

there was trouble, to send a lorry with an armed escort to bring them

into the fort. However the night passed peacefully.

Thursday 21st January 1943. Ras Hailu and Fitaurari Mangesha

departed for Addis Ababa. In the evening news was received to the

effect that a village tukul had been set on fire by shiftas but that no lives

were lost.

Friday 22nd January 1943. Dr Kook being ill it fell to my lot to take charge. In the morning I dealt

with thirty to forty men from the battalion and thirty odd civilians. After this I made the ward round

prescribing medicine and treatment to the fullest extent of my knowledge of Italian drugs.

In the evening, with Captain Lunn, we had a bridge lesson from Mrs Kook.

Saturday 23rd January 1943. The doctor still being ill, I once more took full charge of the hospital.

After the Out-Patients and ward rounds I applied a starch bandage to Sergeant Gibbons’ boy’s

The Hospital Guard.

On the look-out!

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leg, which was affected by a tropical ulcer. I also admitted a woman who is suffering from a

contraction of her right arm and hand, which is due to burns she received 12 years ago. Apparently

the woman with the placenta had discharged herself, or more correctly her husband had just

collected her from the hospital.

In the afternoon I went on a short ride with Captain Lunn around the environs of Debra Markos.

Once again the threatened outbreak of trouble appears to have blown over and things are

returning once more to normal conditions.

Sunday 24th January 1943. I visited the hospital to prescribe any treatment for patients that were

very ill and found that a woman had been admitted. She was suffering from a huge gash which

was about a quarter of an inch away from her right eye and so deep that the skull was visible.

Having put on sterile gloves I cleaned the wound with peroxide, followed by a further cleaning with

iodine. Finally I stitched up the wound leaving a gauze drain.

As a result of his visit to the hospital on Wednesday I have now commenced treatment on an Italian

man for Gonorrhoea. Every other day he comes for an injection.

I had morning coffee with the Kooks and then lunch with Deprage, an Indian who is acting as

quartermaster to the battalion. There is news to the effect that Tripoli has been taken by British

troops.

Tripoli was taken by Montgomery’s Eighth Army on January 23rd 1943.

Monday 25th January 1943. Captain Kook returned to do Out-Patients and the ward round.

Once again I had tea at the Kooks which makes about the fifth day in succession.

In the evening on the parade ground outside my house, a public flogging took place on two men

who had been convicted of stealing a mule. Each man received 17 strokes of a whip which was

wielded by the sergeant of the military police.

Tuesday 26th January 1943. After Out-Patients and the ward round I assisted at several minor

operations, including that of circumcision. I also opened an abscess of the groin.

Accompanied by Gallow, the head dresser, I made an inspection of the village prison, the latrines

in the market place and the meat shops. In the prison, which consisted of two ordinary houses

posted with guards, I found some of the inmates shackled together by ankle chains. Most of the

prisoners seemed free to walk about although I expect that any attempt to escape would have

been fatal. As for the meat shops, after I had inspected the first shop, the word seemed to have

passed round for most of the owners had hastily covered their meat with gauze before I arrived.

Thursday 28th January 1943. After the usual routine I assisted Captain Kook in an operation on

the woman who is suffering from a contraction of her arm and wrist due to burns. The operation

took about half an hour during which Kook incised the web of skin and tendons which checked the

movement of the elbow. During the operation, which was rather a bloody one, Mrs Kook, who had

been watching was taken ill and retired to another room. Finally we managed to straighten the

arm, although not the wrist. After stitching up the arm it was then enclosed in a plaster case.

Friday 29th January 1943. At 5.00am I suffered from a dose of “squitters”, the first for many weeks.

After going to the hospital as usual in the morning, I retired to bed for the rest of the day.

Saturday 30th January 1943. As usual on a Saturday morning there were few soldiers from the

Battalion due to the large market held on this day. However if anything, the number of civilian

cases seemed to increase. Following Out-Patients we performed circumcision with spinal

anaesthetic. As is usual on these occasions we both wore gloves and gowns.

Apparently the woman with the contraction of her arm appears to be contracting gangrene. Hot

water bottles were applied, the plaster having been removed first.

In the evening Captain Lunn, Sergeant Gibson and myself went to the Kooks for dinner. Quite a

pleasant evening was spent there and we returned to the fort at about 11.45pm. This was the first

day of the Captain’s stay in my house.

Sunday 31st January 1943. Soon it will be February!!! Time does seem to pass quickly. Having risen

at the unearthly hour of 9.00am I had breakfast and rode down on horseback to the doctor’s to

see whether he intended doing an amputation on the woman with the contraction. For the present

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all seemed to be well and so returned to the fort for a ride with Lunn. It was a marvellous ride

although only of about one and a half hours duration. Riding to the outskirts of the village we

passed many houses surrounded by frail fences of brushwood. Then we came upon what was

obviously a slaughter ground for the cattle. This plain was strewn with bones and horrible, gruesome

looking birds, if they could be called birds. Presumably they were vultures but some of them looked

more like old shrunken men with their bald heads. All the birds had hideous curved beaks. As we

rode up the birds did not rise until we were well in their midst. To have shot them would have been

very easy. Once on the plain, being clear of the bones and the men who were cutting up several

of the beasts, we let our horses go, galloping pell mell. Soon we came to a stream and it was a

delightful sensation to be nicely in the dry while the horse waded through. Climbing up a hill we

came across the old Debra Markos aerodrome. Inlaid in the ground with white stone were huge

letters which in the past guided aircraft safely onto the field. However apart from being fairly level

the landing ground was covered in long grass and weeds so that for the present, it is useless. As we

rode across the ground we saw grim reminders of the past in the form of several small areas which

had been tiled with stones thus marking the resting place of someone who had finished his

struggles in the world’s conflict. Riding on one could not help but admire the scenery and its

vastness. Standing out on the distant skyline was a huge gaunt range of mountains. Between a

valley in the extremity of the plain one could see again, distant mountains.

We turned the horses for home and were once again faced with crossing the river; albeit quite

narrow at this point being about three foot across. Not being sure of our mounts we decided to

walk across rather than risk a jump. Coming to what appeared to be a ford we descended down

the bank and then the horses halted! After very strong persuasion we managed to make them

move forward when but as Lunn’s horse put its forelegs down on the mud which lay at the riverside,

and before anyone could say ‘Jack Robinson’, the horse had sunk to its knees. Immediately I

wielded my horse round in order to give room and to save a repetition. Whilst in the act of doing

this Lunn’s horse reared thus extracting both its forelegs and so the situation was saved. Being more

careful and recognising the horses’ sense of danger we then followed the course of the river until

we found a place where the stony bottom ensured a safe crossing. Once across we made for

home, passing on the way what appeared to be a native burial ground. As soon as we were in the

market area, we let our horses go and “hey presto”, at a terrific gallop we zipped back to the fort.

Monday 1st February 1943. As usual on a Monday the Out-Patients was a busy time. Afterwards,

owing to the activity of gangrene it was necessary to amputate the arm of the woman which we

had previously straightened. This was very unfortunate but necessary.

Tuesday 2nd February 1943. Commenced helping to prepare the statistics for January 1943 and

also paid staff.

Wednesday 3rd February 1943. The usual morning session at the hospital. During lunchtime I

received an urgent message from Kook to take horses and pick him up on the way to the hospital

where a man suffering from gunshot wounds had been admitted. One bullet had entered his chest,

passed out under his arm and through, thereby fracturing the humerus. Another bullet had

ploughed a small channel just above his top lip. After donning the usual gowns and gloves we

cleaned and stitched his wounds and finally immobilised his arm in plaster.

Saturday 6th February 1943. In the evening had dinner at the Kook’s.

Sunday 7th February 1943. Went out riding with Captain Lunn and Sergeant Gibson. On the

return journey we paid a visit to Fitaurari …. house where he pressed us to stay for refreshment

which ultimately proved to be lunch. Commencing with tej, we had bananas, lemons, injera, wot

and coffee. Before leaving we were given the present of a basket full of lemons and bananas. The

Fitaurari sent one of his servants to carry the basket as we were riding. Altogether we had a most

enjoyable ride crossing hills and rivulets. Apparently the Major’s horse which Sergeant Gibson was

riding had killed its previous owner by bucking him off and trampling him to death. However by

using a particular (can’t read Dad’s writing!) rein and constantly pulling the animal’s head round,

Sergeant Gibson managed to keep him under control.

In my house just lately, the rats have become rather active and are constantly destroying the floor

boards besides leaving their droppings all over the place, my slippers included!!

Wot is a vegetable or meat sauce which is highly seasoned with red pepper and can be very hot.

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Monday 8th February 1943. In the afternoon I again visited the meat shop, the prison buildings

and the market latrines on a tour of inspection.

Afterwards I attended a show which was given by the children of a school which is run by Fitaurari

Emano. Apparently the children are orphans and the show given consisted of a play which told the

story of the recent campaign against the Italians. Most of the scenes depicted fighting and the

children carried real rifles, revolvers and machine guns! During one scene a dive bombing attack

was portrayed. This was arranged by a ‘model’ plane being pulled through the air and across the

room on a piece of string. Loud bangs were then made for the bombs and lighter taps for the

machine guns. As for the rifles the boys vigorously rattled the bolts of their firearms. In one scene a

line of boys depicting prisoners were mown down in cold blood by the Italians. At the end of the

play the Ethiopians were finally victorious and the closing scene showed them saluting their flag

alongside some British Officers who previously had been playing the part of Italians! After some

rather amusing drill which was a very good mimic of the Ethiopian army, the boys sang several

national songs and the play ended. We were then taken over the premises where we saw some

little girls being taught how to knit and spin cotton threads and as we came out we saw some of

the boys doing a national dance.

Tuesday 9th February 1943. The rats have certainly been busy in the night leaving behind them,

tooth holes in my shirt and chewing part of my beautiful corduroy shorts. Well today we had the

good old washer back so that ought to learn ‘em!!

Wednesday 10th February 1943. After the ward round we operated on a little boy who had

been admitted with a webbed arm. Having made the incisions and the webbed part dissected

one flap was taken up thus and the other down thus ensuring a good blood supply to the area of

skin which was involved. This was followed by a man who required the removal of many glands,

presumed to be TBC (tuberculous) who had been treated by a native quack. The glands were

multiple and pus simply poured out during the whole of the operation.

Whilst writing letters at 7:10 pm I heard three rifle shots ring out. At dinner, Captain Tadessa reported

that a woman had been shot by a policeman in a house which was just over 100 yards away from

the fort. Apparently twelve soldiers had witnessed the scene and as they should have been inside

the fort at that hour they were duly put in ‘jug’, that is, prison. According to the information

gleaned the row had concerned prostitution and the final result was that the poor woman was shot

through the breast and in two places in her abdomen. She was stone dead, so the only action that

could be taken was to send a report to the civil authorities.

After dinner I continued letter writing when, at about 9.00pm a knock came at the door. On

opening it I found an orderly from the doctor with a request note for my presence and a strong

armed guard as another woman had been shot. At the doctor’s house I was joined by Kook and

his wife, so we proceeded to the hospital where everything was ready for the operation. To begin

with we excised and plugged a deep hole which the lady had in her back, and then owing to the

multiple injuries it was necessary to amputate her right arm. In addition her left humerus was

fractured and she had several minor wounds about the face. Eventually she was cleaned up and

made as comfortable as was humanly possible.

Thursday 11th February 1943. During the ward round I found the new lady rather uncomfortable.

She had been vomiting and it seems obvious that it will be touch and go whether she lives or dies.

Friday 12th February 1943. The usual ward round during which it was discovered that the woman

upon whom we had previously operated and hoped to patch up, was dead. This was followed by

a terrific funeral which was attended by many people who wailed and moaned and danced

without any seeming end.

Following the ward round there were many dressings to be changed in the theatre. In the

afternoon a fatty tumour was removed from a woman’s arm and a growth from the back of a

soldier’s knee.

Saturday 13th February 1943. Great news! A wire has been received to say that a lorry is

proceeding from Addis.

In the evening, after moving the Mess into the Major’s old house, we dined with the Kooks.

Sunday 14th February 1943. There was a great deal of excitement surrounding the fort today as

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the lorry was loaded and dispatched in readiness for meeting the one from Addis. Letter writing as

usual.

Monday 15th February 1943. Great disappointment was prevalent when the lorry did not arrive.

Tuesday 16th February 1943. Operations performed this afternoon included removing a fatty

tumour and a cyst from a woman and a man respectively.

Still no lorry, but towards evening Sergeant Thwaites arrived with the mules to report that the Debra

Markos lorry has broken down and that Sergeant Martin was returning. Another lorry was then

prepared for an early start the next day.

Wednesday 17th February 1943. After a certain amount of delay the lorry finally departed with

the appropriate spare parts.

Thursday 18th February 1943. The long expected lorry finally arrived accompanied by its relief.

What a commotion there was as it was unloaded and what a rush for the mail! The rest of the day

was occupied in unpacking stores and reading mail. At first I received only three letters so I that I

was rather disappointed. However upon opening a box of stores it was to find another letter, two

air graphs and two official letters. So after all the delivery was not too bad nor too good. It came as

great shock to read first of Peter Hume and Tom Tanner being lost at sea, and then of the sudden

death of Reverend Lancaster.

Once more Sergeant Martin settled down in the room which he had so recently left.

As mentioned in the Introduction Tom Tanner had been appointed as the first chairman of the newly

constituted Executive Committee in October 1940. The Committee consisted of seven members who

included Peter Hume, Brandon Cadbury (who escorted Dad’s party to the station at the start of their

journey to Ethiopia) and Richey Mounsey (now Commandant of the Ethiopian Section).

Tegla Davies describes how the F.A.U.’s “sense of unity was fostered in many ways” 5 as their work

became more widespread. Regular correspondence was maintained between the leaders of overseas

sections and the home administration. In addition there was the Weekly Information which came from

the Information Office at Gordon Square detailing news of the Unit’s work. Another publication

produced was the monthly ‘Chronicle’ which, again mentioned in the Introduction, had started with a

note of controversy, much soul searching as to its aims and purposes and “never perhaps fully

representative of Unit opinion…for those (members) who most often felt the urge to write did not always

reflect what their fellows thought.” 6 Tegla Davies notes that as the years passed the ‘Chronicle’ “became

more concerned with news than thought. Descriptive articles about the Unit’s work overseas came to

preponderate.” 7 A further way in which members were kept up-to-date was through a more localised

route where each section produced their own newsletter to be distributed to their members in the field (see

Dad’s entry for Sunday 17th January).

But not all the Unit infrastructure and sense of unity was to be based on paper. Unit Officers abroad

paid regular visits to the Sections in their charge, often over considerable distances, but there was also

an awareness that visits from the home administration would be necessary. The first such visit was

planned as a result of one of the parties who had set off for China in October 1940. They needed support

just when communications were particularly bad, for instance, letters were being delayed for anything up

to four or five months and one, Tegla Davies notes, had taken sixteen months! The decision was therefore

taken for Tom Tanner and Peter Hume to travel not only to China, but also to visit other F.A.U. Sections

en-route. They planned to be away for nine months and boarded the S.S Ceramic on 23rd November 1942.

In early December the ship detached from its convoy but did not arrive at its destination. It was later

discovered to have been torpedoed by a German U-boat on 6th December in the North Atlantic, as it

headed for the Cape. Tegla Davies describes it as “the cruellest blow which it (the Unit) could have

suffered.” 8 Dad’s words reflect his sense of loss not only for them, but also for the death of the Methodist

minister back in Birmingham who had supported him.

In January 1943 Tegla Davies, who had been serving as Deputy Chairman since Tom Tanner’s

departure, was appointed as Chairman of the Committee and remained as such until January 1946.

Friday 19th February 1943. Having had a fairly busy day at the hospital checking medical stores

etc I returned to the fort and retired early. At about 11:10 p.m., just as I was half asleep, the alarm

was sounded on both the bugle and whistle. Upon rising and looking out of the window, it was to

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find the whole sky lit up by a fire which was in the fort. Like most people I thought that the fort was

being attacked, but this proved to be a fallacy. Arriving at the scene it was to find great disorder

and a row of sheds going up in smoke and flame. The flames were about ten foot high and

periodically some of the main roof supports would collapse sending a shower of sparks into the air.

If the fire could be isolated all was well, but the great danger lay in the near proximity of the

ammunitions store and some of the barrack rooms.

Outside the nearest building one of the soldiers stood holding up a mirror to reflect the flames of

the fire. This was supposed to deceive the flames and evil spirits into thinking that this particular

building was also on fire and thus leave it. In spite of this ‘precaution’ however, a spark caught the

thatch and for one minute things looked very black! Fortunately a ladder was soon obtained and

the flame quickly extinguished.

As regards the main blaze all that could be done, for there was very little water, was to throw earth

onto the flames to try and isolate them. Eventually the fire was brought under control and finally the

only remains were a few glowing embers. Luckily no one was hurt and only a little money and

property were lost.

Saturday 20th February 1943. In the afternoon I assisted at an operation where a priest, on his

own request, was castrated. Previously he had mutilated himself but without any great effect on his

genital organs, so as he was very earnest Kook obliged.

On my return to the fort I began preparations to go to Fitaurari Emano’s house for dinner when

suddenly I heard a scream and a scuffle from the next house. This was followed by Mangesha

bursting into the room and snatching up a bucket! Once more the warning whistles and bugle

blew. As I went outside it did not take long to find the cause, another fire only this time in a kitchen.

After ordering the Military Police to restrict the number of fire fighters I attended a woman who was

suffering from minor burns about the head, neck, face, arms and hands. I gave her morphia and

ordered that she be carried to the hospital immediately, whilst at the same time I asked for two

horses. A few seconds later the groom came racing along with a horse which immediately I

mounted. Before I’d had time to put my right leg into the stirrup one of the police gave the horse a

good whack across its back! Immediately the horse jerked into a gallop and then I came a ‘box of

tricks!’ Firstly I was unprepared, having only one foot in the stirrup and secondly the ***** groom had

saddled the horse with a mule saddle which is much wider than that of a horse, and thirdly the girth

straps were so loose that I began my downward descent! In trying to avoid the horse’s hooves I

tried to throw myself clear with the consequence that I landed on my tail or sacrum. For one minute

the use went from my legs!! A kind lieutenant helped me to my feet and eventually I arrived at the

‘Tillik Hackim Beit’ where the patient was seen, and from where a message was then sent to the

hospital. I rode back to the fort and this time I had my bath even though it was late!

At about 8.00pm we went down to the Fitaurari house where we were served a colossal dinner

which had been cooked by an Italian woman. At the close of the evening the Fitaurari's drove us

back to the fort in his car.

Sunday 21st February 1943. Spent quite a busy day mainly in writing letters.

Whilst having dinner in the Mess with Captain Lunn, a shifta was brought in with his arms bound.

Apparently he had been aiding one of the soldiers who had deserted. The soldier, along with this

shifta and four others, had tried to steal ammunition from the fort. During his arrest the shifta had

then tried to bribe Lieutenant Makonneu.

Monday 22nd February 1943. Kook postponed several cases at the hospital until my return from

Addis.

Tuesday 23rd February 1943. Rising at dawn Sergeant Martin and myself left Debra Markos at

7:30am. About half way to the Abbai we managed to obtain a puncture. Soon this was rectified

and we finally arrived at the Abbai at about 12:30pm. Here we found Major Penhallurick

comfortably seated in the shade of a rather scanty tree. The Abbai was seething with heat just like

a furnace. Whilst we had tea with Pen the boys transferred the small amount of baggage which we

were taking to Addis over to the other two lorries. Pen said that he had been waiting two days for

the lorry from Debra Markos. We left him and Sergeant Thwaites fishing with gelignite. Once across

the Abbai on wooden boats we were ready to depart when the driver of one of the lorries said that

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his machine was broken. After waiting at the Abbai for two days he had suddenly decided that his

lorry was broken!! We were furious. The driver disappeared

for an hour and on his return he brought a nut and bolt

which acted as a temporary measure for the steering. Even

so, both drivers seemed inclined to take their time so Martin

and I decided to camp half way up the Abbai

escarpment. This annoyed the Ethiopian drivers for they

had hoped to camp at the village just at the top of the

escarpment. However, we erected our beds in the road

and after a good meal of M & V turned in for the night.

Wednesday 24th February 1943. After continual stops we

made Fiché. Just about five miles off the village a terrific

storm descended on us and as the sides of the truck were

open we were soaked! In my vehicle the situation was

further aggravated by water splashing up from the road

through the holes where once there had been floorboards.

Once in Fiche we dried our clothes and then we were

visited by Tony Husband and Kenneth Tipper who invited us

to dinner, so I drove the five ton lorry up to the house where

they were staying. It was terribly cold and the wind howled

into the house at every available crack of which there

were many! After dinner and a good chat we returned to

our night quarters in what had been an Italian club room.

Thursday 25th February 1943. Rising at dawn we pushed on for Addis where we finally arrived at

about 3.00 pm.

Friday 26th February 1943. Began my hectic week of shopping buying cigarettes, type works etc

and etc.

Saturday 27th February 1943. I visited the Haile Selassie today and saw everyone from the

B.R.C.S. unit including Doctor and Mrs Fuller. I also visited Miss Stora, the sister who I had introduced

onto the lower ward before leaving. Two months ago she contracted Typhus and has suffered very

badly since. Fortunately when I saw her today she was well on the road to recovery.

Sunday 28th February 1943. After a long hike to the ‘English church’ it was to find that the service

was being held at the Cantonment.

Monday 1st March 1943. I obtained permission from the Medical Directorate to purchase a

saddle and various other items of equipment.

Tuesday 2nd March 1943. Visited the native market and the Cantonment.

Wednesday 3rd March 1943. I have commenced chasing Colonel Cripps who is to be the O.C.

of the convoy back to Debra Markos.

Thursday 4th March 1943. Everything is planned for a departure tomorrow.

Friday 5th March 1943. Having risen at 5:30am and arrived at the hotel for 7:00am Colonel Cripps

calmly said that the convoy has been postponed until Monday hence there was nothing else to do

but return back to the house (Presumably Casa Incis).

Saturday 6th March 1943. Upon visiting Cripps in the morning I learnt that the convoy is now due

to start tomorrow morning!

After wasting most of the afternoon waiting for the lorries to arrive at the hotel I met the Colonel

who said that he would go in the Brigadiers car and rectify matters. Finally the lorries arrived at

around 4.00pm and so after loading I went with them to the Artillery Barracks where they were to

be parked ready for an early start in the morning. I finally returned to the hotel in the Brigadiers car

with the Colonel who asked me numerous questions concerning Debra Markos.

Sunday 7th March 1943. Once again I rose at 5:30am and was driven in the car by Jack

(mentioned in F.A.U. placements and now working with Medical Directorate transport) to the barracks

The mules crossing the Abbai (top)followed by

the boat crossing.

102

where we found the lorries ready to depart. However once on Mussolini Avenue, that is Churchill

Street, we had to wait for the Colonel, then again we had to

wait for Major Woodman and finally at around 10.00am the

convoy got under way. Altogether there were three lorries and

a bus with the Colonel, Majors Woodman and George,

Sergeant Moreland and myself. With the usual breakdowns

which are common with the old Spa engines we made Fiché

once again in the rain at around dusk. Whilst the officers had

dinner Moreland and I visited Tony and Kenneth. This time I

found that Kenneth had obtained labour to build a fine

fireplace of mud. In appearance the chimney breast was rather

attractive but it smoked terribly!!

Monday 8th March 1943. Once again we approached the Abbai and finally reached the water

level at about 3:30pm. The other lorries had not yet arrived so we began the crossing. The Colonel

selected a shady spot and this was to be his contribution to the crossing. Whilst he sat in a

comfortable chair the rest of us supervised the crossing. Woodman went first with all his baggage

and pitched his tent on the other side. By this time the three lorries from Debra Markos had arrived.

At the Colonel’s request Major George took a load of petrol and all the Ethiopian passengers into

Debra Markos on one of the lorries. Meanwhile the rest of us bedded down for the night. It was

terribly hot and the heat was intensified by the essential use of a mosquito net. During the night the

air was constantly filled with the noise of crickets chirping and the occasional chattering of

monkeys. Most of the night I lay awake just staring at the stars for the heat was so intense.

Tuesday 9th March 1943. Once again up at dawn and we began the tedious climb to the top of

the escarpment. Fortunately there were no breakdowns and so we reached the top before the

heat of the day set in. All went well until we were within fifteen miles of Debra Markos and then our

lorry developed engine trouble, so for the final few miles we crawled along with frequent stops. On

top of the lorry the heat of the sun was agony. The Colonel was in the cab of our lorry and Major

Woodman was in the other, hence Sergeant Gibson and I sat on top of the one lorry, whilst

Sergeant Moreland rode on the back of the other. During one of the stops some of the Ethiopian

guards shot a wild pig.

Finally we crawled into Debra Markos at about 2:30pm. After a good bath I felt much better but

the day had proved to be very strenuous. That night Major George shared my house.

Wednesday 10th March 1943. I saw Major Penhallurick who was still drunk from the day before.

Upon my questioning him he said that he wanted, as arranged previously, to move into my house

and so the date fixed was two days hence. Down at the hospital, after calling for Kook and

Woodman, we held the usual Out-Patients. After the ward round we prepared to operate on a

woman with an ovarian cyst who had been admitted just before I left Debra Markos. Whilst I gave

the anaesthetic Woodman assisted Kook. I gave the anaesthetic for two and a half hours and so

after a number of cysts containing fluid had been removed, the operation was completed.

Dad mentions Major Woodman in ‘First Impressions’ as he attended one of his lectures at the Menelik

Military Mission Hospital.

Thursday 11th March 1943. The usual hospital routine with Woodman watching everything.

Woodman gave a demonstration to the dressers on how to irrigate eyes. Unfortunately when he

wiped the eyes with dry cotton wool swabs he broke one of Moorfields golden rules that the eye

should always be swabbed with a moist pad.

Friday 12th March 1943. Pen was still dilly dallying today as to which house he wanted. Upon his

decision depended whether I was to move or not! In the afternoon I waited for an hour while he

“just finished this glass”. After that hour had passed with the dispatching of several bottles of beer, I

finally decided not to wait any longer, so I left him still boozing and went down to the hospital.

When I returned to the fort it was to find that all my possessions had been just thrown outside the

house by the soldiers. Some of the crockery was broken and certain things (cigarettes) had

disappeared. Seeing this sight I went across to the Major in a terrible temper and told him that I

thought what he had done was disgusting. I returned to the scene and arranged for my equipment

etc to be installed in another house. Whilst so occupied, the Major came across and tried to calm

103

me by saying that I was moving into another good house. Actually this house was in a bad

condition but that was beside the point. In response to his attempt to cool me down I again

repeated my statement of how disgusting it was to have all my equipment, in my absence, just

thrown outside. Here the Major began to get roused, for although he was blind drunk he could still

reason. His reply was that he had given me until 4.00pm to move, that he did not take insults and

that if I persisted in my remarks he would punch me on the nose. Here Sergeant Gibson intervened

and led the Major away and began to ‘soft soap’ him in conversation.

Later that evening the Major apologised although he still insisted that he had told me to move out

by 4.00pm. As there was no point in arguing we shook hands and I returned to sort out the mess,

whilst the Major continued boozing. It was a very miserable evening during which I had to console

Mangesha for he broke down in tears saying that Penhallurick had hit him across the head. I

resolved that evening to write to Addis and state the position and see what was to be done.

Saturday 13th March 1943. After hospital duties I had lunch at the Kook’s house with Colonel

Cripps, Captain Lunn and Major Woodman.

Sunday 14th March 1943. At dawn Majors Woodman and George returned by lorry for Addis.

Later in the morning Penhallurick with Sergeant Thwaites set out on a mule patrol.

Monday 15th March 1943. Life at the hospital has once more settled down to a normal

procedure. In the afternoon I worked with Captain Kook helping to prepare the new M.I. room at

the fort.

Tuesday 16th March 1943. At 7:00am Captain Kook and I attended the first real sick parade, that

is according to army specifications. Kook was in attendance, but unfortunately the sick did not

arrive until 7:30am.

After the hospital round I visited Fitaurari Emano and presented my ‘wiriquet’ from the Minister of

Interior, Addis Ababa, so he said that he would arrange for me to be able to collect the drugs

which had been confiscated from ‘Quack dressers’ at 3.00pm. However when I arrived at the

‘police station’ (??) it was only to find that Fitaurari Bagenno, the chief of police, would not release

the drugs. Three quarters of an hour was wasted whilst a policeman (ex-shifta) went to obtain

permission from Emano. Finally, after a great deal of “talky talky” we were allowed to take the

drugs away.

Wednesday 17th March 1943. After the usual morning at the hospital I spent the afternoon in

sorting out the medical supplies which we had just obtained.

Thursday 18th March 1943. Fitaurari Bagenno has accused me of stealing some gold which he

said was in the sack with the drugs. Kook and I decided to ignore the charge. Meanwhile back at

the fort the new Colonel was altering the Sergeants’ quarters and moving them into Pen’s new

house, that is, my old house.

Majors Paine and Grey arrived at about 11:30pm.

Friday 19th March 1943. I received a letter from Richey which contains words to the effect that I

am to return to Addis with Majors Paine and Grey. Richey has certainly worked quickly on receipt of

my letter for he has also obtained the approval of Colonel Maclean.

Saturday 20th March 1943. Everything ‘haywire’ again with Major Paine’s inspections. Sergeant

Gibson reported on Sick Parade but Kook discharged him as being fit. Later during the day Gibson

developed a temperature of 102 so I ordered him to bed, took a blood slide and informed Lunn

and Kook.

In the afternoon I had tea with the Kook’s, Majors Paine

and Grey, and Captain Lunn. In the evening I completed

my packing in readiness for my return to Addis.

Sunday 21st March 1943. Rising at 6:00am I made the

final preparations for my departure and helped to load

the lorry. At 7:05am Sergeant Moreland and I moved off

with the Italian driving the lorry. With only one stop we

reached the Abbai at about midday. Hardly had we

unloaded the lorry when Paine and Grey arrived in

A view across the Abbai.

104

Fitaurari Emano’s car. Since our previous visit to the Abbai the road has been constructed so that

we can unload the lorry right at the river’s edge. Within an hour of our arrival we had transferred all

of the kit and equipment onto the two lorries which were waiting on the other side ready to take us

to Addis. The two lorries were not the usual two ancient Spas but fairly new Fords. Once more we

were on our way, with Major Grey driving Major Paine in the first lorry, and Sergeant Moreland

driving myself and the young Italian driver of about 18 years. As most of the baggage had been

put on our lorry we had rather a difficult time in climbing. On several occasions the engine just

faded away but we managed to negotiate all of the steep parts by braking, accelerating and

braking once again. At times we only moved a few inches but eventually we reached the top of

the escarpment. Here we found the two Majors waiting and so after a brief pause we prepared to

move off. Just before we started Grey said that they were going to try and make Addis the same

day so we began a non stop drive which took us well past Fiché. Paine and Grey soon outran us

and most of the way we travelled alone. At one time we became rather concerned that they

might have put in for the night at Fiché, but frequent enquiries led us to think they were still heading

for Addis.

At dusk we caught up with them as they had run out of petrol and so were stranded (on our lorry

we had four drums of petrol plus all the equipment). Apparently they had been waiting for three

quarters of an hour so after a brief chat and some tea we decided to push on. Unfortunately we

were again delayed by one of the soldiers who missed our lorry, consequently we were about half

an hour behind Grey’s lorry. Driving through rain and in the path of our headlights we made good

speed. On several occasions we could see the lights of the leading lorry; however they managed

to keep about three miles in front.

Finally, after driving for fourteen hours with hardly any break we arrived in Addis at about 10:15pm.

As it was late, upon the invitation of Sergeant Moreland and the previous suggestion of Paine, I

went with the lorry to the Cantonment where I stayed the night with Moreland.

105

Debra Markos

Bibliography

General Staff Intelligence Khartoum, A Handbook of Ethiopia (Provisional Edition), printed by

Whitehead Morris (Egypt) Ltd, 1941. Pages 28, 66, 88, 91, 92, 62

Adejumobi, Saheed A The History of Ethiopia, Greenwood Press, Westport Connecticut, London,

2007. Page 86

Brian Fraser Macdona, Ethiopia in Wartime 1941 & 1942. Tsehai Publishers and Distributors,

Hollywood, 2004 Extracts from the commentary by Richard Pankhurst. Pages 18, 19, 21-25

Spencer, John. Ethiopia at Bay, Tsehai Publishers and Distributors, Hollywood, 2004. Pages

105,122,137,

Smith, Lyn, Pacifists in Action, William Sessions Ltd, York, England, 1998. Chapter 3.

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/2WWchron.htm

Davies, A. Tegla, Friends Ambulance Unit, George Allen and Unwin Ltd, London, 1947 Pages

346,347,73

http://www.caroline.howse.btinternet.co.uk/S_S_CERAMIC.html

Thesiger, Wilfred, The life of my choice, Flamingo 1987 Pages 109,44,88,323-340

Sandford, Christine, Ethiopia under Haile Selassie, Dent, London, 1946 Pages 39, 38, 47, 48, 49, ?, 32,

50, 98, 106, 112-116

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hailu_Tekle_Haymanot

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tekle_Haymanot_of_Gojjam

Marcus, Harold G, A History of Ethiopia, California, 2002. Pgs 108, 104, 105, 110, 111, 80, 81, 112, 122,

123, 125, 120, 134, 135, 136, 127, 151, 152

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopian_military_titles

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haile_Selassie_I

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gideon_Force

The Ministry of Information, The Abyssinian Campaigns, The War Office, His Majesty’s Stationery

Office, London 1942. P56-67,103-110

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Sandford_(soldier)

Pankhurst, Richard. The Ethiopians, A History, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford 2001. Pages 208, 243-249

Asher, Michael, Thesiger, Penguin Books, 1995, London. P191-204

Tiberu, Teshale, The Making of Modern Ethiopia 1896 – 1974,The Red Sea Press Inc, Lawrenceville,

New Jersey, 1995. Pages 121, 122.

http://www.ethiopiantreasures.co.uk/

106

References for Debra Markos

1. A Handbook of Ethiopia P28

2. Adejumobi P86

3. Pankhurst P18 & 19

4. Spencer. P105

5. Tegla Davies P346

6. Ibid

7. Ibid P347

8. Ibid P73

9. Thesiger P109

10. Sandford P39 & 40

11. A Handbook to Ethiopia. P88

12. Ibid P92

13. Sandford P 38 & 39

14. Marcus P111

15. Ibid P80, 81

16. Ibid P 111, 112

17. Thesiger P44

18. Ibid P88

19. ETHIOPIAN ROYALTIES DON SHOES IN CAIRO, The New York Times. 5 May 1924.

20. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7132788@N07/803150472/page2/

21.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hailu_Tekle_Haymanot#cite_note-Gebru-164-0

22. Marcus cited at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hailu_Tekle_Haymanot

23. Marcus P136

24. Ibid

25. The Abyssinian Campaigns P57

26. Ibid

27. Ibid P60

28. Ibid P58

107

30. Sandford P112 & 113

31. The Abyssinian Campaigns P59 & 60

32. Sandford 113

33. The Abyssinian Campaigns P63

34. Marcus P152

35. Thesiger P338

36. Asher P201

37. The Abbyssinian Campaigns P66

38. Asher P200

39. The Abyssinian Campaigns P66,67

40. Ibid P106,110

41. Thesiger P340

42. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hailu_Tekle_Haymanot

43. Marcus P154