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Demands and Supplies

Edgar got his orders for East Africa where many Rhodesians and South Africans were serving. But two days later, he was switched to West Africa because a certain Peer of the Realm, had refused to go to West Africa and used influence to get transferred to East Africa.

Finding the Way in the Dark

Edgar Whitehead was ordered to report to 912 Co R.A.S.C. at Tamworth in Staffordshire. His company would be responsible for servicing all anti-aircraft units in the Birmingham-Coventry area.

Catching up with Family and Friends

Just before Edgar Whitehead completed his course at Broadstairs, the German invasion of the Low Countries began on May 10, 1940.

An Invitation to Lunch

From Ramsgate Edgar Whitehead passed on to the neighboring school at Broadstairs for an M.I. course.

Boot Camp for Seniors

Edgar Whitehead reported to Ramsgate on March 16, 1940, and started to learn a new profession. After being a Member of Parliament it was like being suddenly sent back to a boarding school.

Forsaking Huggins

Robert Tredgold, Rhodesia's Minister of Defense, gave Edgar Whitehead the ultimatum from Prime Minister Huggins on February 14, (1940) to return to Rhodesia if he had not yet been accepted into the Army.

A Trying Wait

Edgar Whitehead’s best chance of acceptance into the Army would be to put himself down for the Officer Emergency Reserve involving direct entry into an Officer Preparatory Course (O.P.C.) without previous service in the ranks.

French Hospitality

Edgar Whitehead asked the Chief Official at French Immigration if they could be permitted to remain for two days in Marseilles before going on their way.

Hitching Rides in Wartime

To save money, Edgar Whitehead and John MacDonald had booked second class passages from Beira as far as Mombasa in an Italian liner which was practically empty.

Plans for Rhodesia's Great Leap Forward

Edgar Whitehead had already devised an economic plan for Rhodesia in the event of war for the Prime Minister, Godfrey Huggins.

Knockouts

With the decision firmly made to depart for Britain, six thousand miles away for an indefinite period, Edgar Whitehead searched for a reliable manager.

Conscription

Edgar Whitehead's hunting party arrived back in Umtali on Friday evening, and on Sunday September 3, he heard the news on the wireless that Chamberlain had finally declared war on Germany.

Identifying Problems and a Case of Mistaken Identity

Besides hunting, on the side, Edgar was doing quite a bit of work for the Minister of Agriculture.

Hunting

For safety, they left the cars near the Portuguese Officials station at Masajene, and moved their equipment, using bearers, some miles downstream from the house into country just north of the Sabi River.

Persevering

The make shift tent Edgar Whitehead and Haynes-Hill had fashioned from a huge railway carriage tarp held up in the night long, noisy rainstorm.

Mud

Edgar Whitehead's party crossed the border the next morning to the Portuguese post of Espungabera. There they made contact with the Portuguese Commandant who Edgar happened to have met before in Umtali. He arranged to give their party licenses.

Incognito

While Edgar was struggling with his dam he was building his future in politics. Neither was easy.

Mission Accomplished

Edgar reflected that the Great Depression had proved to be the perfect time to embark on the capital development of Witchwood because labor and materials were at their lowest level.

All in a Day's Work

One day, after a hard day’s work tending his fruit trees, Edgar had all his workers go home in the best of health about five o’clock as usual.

The Big Dig

Edgar found the perfect site for a dam not four hundred yards behind the house.

A Fast Cash Crop

One day, at Brown's hotel bar, Edgar heard about Vumba's delicious garden strawberries which had originally been brought over by American missionaries. On the long, steep tortuous drive home from Umtali he mused, if they were so delicious, why not grow them as a crop?

A Triumph

After five years of roughing it, initially in a very cold tent and then in rat riddled rondavels, Edgar Whitehead was finally able to move into Witchwood with his brindled dog, Magne.

Keeping One's Cool

Edgar put out an advertisement for a span of fully trained oxen, which he purchased reasonably cheaply in Umtali. He had to build a night kraal quickly before they arrived. Winter was coming on.

Making Do

It became apparent to Edgar that he had taken on rather more than it was reasonable to try and accomplish single-handed.

Ingenuity at Work

Edgar Whitehead decided to make the most of the Rhodesia’s raw materials in the building of Witchwood. He employed his oxen to move the local stone, sand and timber. He had delivered the thatching grass from a neighboring farm.