How terribly sad is this ?? .... Private Tomasi Kitinga In 1942 Lieutenant John Nunneley was posted to the King’s African Rifles (KAR) in Kenya. Here he met Tomasi Kitinga, aged 16, from the Luo tribe. John, 19, employed him as his personal servant and a strong friendship developed between them. In 1944 personal servants were told by the KAR to either enlist as askaris (soldiers) or return home. Determined to stay with John, Tomasi enlisted as an askari. In Burma’s Kabaw Valley John led his askaris in an attack on an enemy position. They were forced to withdraw under enemy fire. Tomasi, pleased that John had not been killed, rushed to greet him and was shot dead by a Japanese machine-gunner. Tomasi was buried on the road to Mandalay and is commemorated at the Commonwealth War Cemetery, Rangoon. World War Two - Private Tomasi Kitinga
It doesn't make me feel any happier.:deadhorse: I am suprised I never heard this I will have to look it up.
And here's one of them ....... Tales From the King's African Rifles by John Nunneley. Fascinating first person account of classic colonial soldiering with the K.A.R. in East Africa and Burma. If you like Hemingway and Capstick you'll like this! Hardbound 212 pages photos 1B5977R Annie
