ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the combat and diverse strategies adopted between the British imperial forces, including the Indian component and their counterparts, namely the Germans in the warfronts across Africa. The British forces, commanded by General Jan Christian Smuts, had occupied the bulk of German East Africa with all the railways, towns and ports in their possession since September 1916. The relatively settled state of the British colonies meant that internal security was proving a lesser role than that of pacification of the border regions, particularly in the north around the border with Italian Somaliland. The principal activity was countering raids by Somali and Turkhana tribesmen into British territory. The East African campaign proved to be significant to the British-led Indian Army in the Great War. It is generally argued that East Africa was a daunting place in which to conduct military operations.
