OnceCalledHome

Earning his Pay

On return to West Africa for his second tour of duty as requested by General George J. Gifford, Lieutenant Colonel Edgar Whitehead took over as AQMG (Provisions) and made the acquaintance of the two officers serving under him. The atmosphere was decidedly cool.

Talking Nonsense and Politics

Edgar Whitehead was boarding the aircraft in Lagos to take a well earned leave to Southern Rhodesia after his eighteen month service in West Africa when he was intercepted by the Senior Naval Officer.

Doing what he was Told

Once back in Lagos Edgar Whitehead was immediately summoned to General George Gifford's office. Edgar had not reported by signal his coup in the acquisition of five million rounds of .303 ammunition from Field Marshal Smuts.

A Barroom Shock!

Mission accomplished, Edgar Whitehead arrived in Salisbury in mid June. After reporting to Defense HQ. and booking a room at the Club he deposited his kit there and walked over to the Legislative Assembly. Godfrey Huggins was having tea on the lawn.

Incorruptible

Complete wireless silence was observed throughout Edgar Whitehead's voyage from Lagos to Cape Town. By the time the SS Calabar arrived in Cape Town it had been posted as missing, believed sunk. The harbor was full, so the SS Calabar tied up to a cargo ship and Edgar clambered ashore over her decks.

A Deterrence?

In Lagos, newly commissioned Major Edgar Whitehead embarked on the SS Calabar bound for Cape Town.

A Mission

The great expansion of recruitment of West African troops with the view to their serving in combat arenas around the world put a great strain on British resources because the submarine campaign off the coast and further north was inflicting heavy casualties.

The Allies First Victory

Two Brigade Groups from West Africa had already been sent round the Cape to take part in the attack on the Italians in Ethiopia before Edgar Whitehead arrived in Freetown in November of 1940.

Challenges to Man, Craft and Agreements

Shortly before Edgar Whitehead's arrival on the Gold Coast, roads, gantries, hangers, workshops, storehouses offices and living accommodation had been created at Takoradi. The primitive airfields had been expanded and wireless communication created.

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.