Cornered into a Good Investment In 1931, the Great Depression was at it's height. Bankruptcies and mortgage foreclosures were commonplace and property prices were at historic lows.
Forging Ahead Edgar Whitehead resumed his political life gradually too, after the Villa de Manica bull fight.
The End of the Beginning... As mention previously Edgar Whitehead was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1944 for his contribution to the war effort in West Africa.
Milking the Growing Market With the bull fight behind him, Edgar Whitehead got cracking with the restoration of Witchwood.
An Unlikely Cure Returning to Witchwood after five years of overwork during the war, a severe attack of malaria set in as Edgar Whitehead contemplated the extent of the ruin of Witchwood. One morning he told his Assistant, Nat Williams, "I have a terrible fever. I'm feeling like death."
The Ruin of Witchwood Relieved of the post of High Commissioner, Edgar Whitehead returned home to Umtali on the day the bomb burst over Hiroshima. He took a taxi from the railway station, stopped at a few shops to load food and drink supplies for a week and drove out to Witchwood.
Berth Control, a Delivery and Deliverance One of Edgar Whitehead's last efforts as the Acting High Commissioner of Rhodesia House in London was to try and set up an organization to vet immigrants.
Off the Record Shortly after Godfrey Huggins' return to Rhodesia he sent Edgar Whitehead a signal to say he had been invited to send a representative to a WO Conference on the post-war future of the African troops. He instructed Edgar to attend.
Missives, Memos and Secrets Huggins flew over to Britain again in early summer for discussions with the British Government. Edgar arranged a number of functions during his visit.
Taking Care of Business Edgar Whitehead's own life during this period was strenuous. He retained from Witchwood and West Africa the habit of waking early in the morning and felt the need to exercise acutely.
Cut Down After lunch at Simpsons-in-the-Strand, a bus arrived to drive the Rhodesians selected to attend investiture by the King at Buckingham Palace.
Decorations and Democracy At the end of hostilities in Europe, Edgar Whitehead received an invitation to bring fifty Rhodesians to the next investiture at Buckingham Palace to receive decorations from the King.
Repatriation Besides the POW's, large numbers of other Rhodesian Servicemen arrived in Britain to await repatriation.
A True Rhodesian van der Merve Story For weeks, even before VE day, the major concern was the return of Rhodesia's liberated POW's which kept Edgar Whitehead as Acting Rhodesian High Commissioner to Britain fully occupied.
This Was Their Hour... On May 8, 1945 over the airwaves, Churchill announced the end of WWII. Making his way to Whitehall and onto the balcony of the flag draped Ministry of Health he made a stirring speech to the nation.
Rhodesian Hospitality Accommodation in London was very difficult to find, but Edgar Whitehead's staff found him a small flat in St. James Court with a tiny entrance hall, sitting room and one bedroom.
The Acting Rhodesian High Commissioner to Britain. The first day Edgar Whitehead assumed duty at Rhodesia House, sitting in the High Commissioners chair at an enormous desk, he received a phone call from his friend the R.A.S.C. Postings Officer.
Huggins to the Rescue By chance, Rhodesia's recently knighted Prime Minister, now Sir Godfrey Huggins arrived in London. He decided to hold a party at Rhodesia House for Rhodesian Servicemen.
Fuel Controller? The debacle at Arnhem meant the war would not be over by Christmas. Arriving back in the UK from America at the beginning of December, Edgar Whitehead reported, as ordered, to the WO.
American Court Martial at Sea On the first night at sea on the RMS Aquitania, from New York to Glasgow, a top US Sergeant very deliberately lit a cigarette on the open deck in defiance of a blackout. The next day he was brought up for trial.
Smooth Sailing? Edgar Whitehead had never been to Canada, and with a fortnight's leave after the Officers Training Course, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas he was granted permission to visit his brother George in Ottawa.
Partying and Performance The eight British Officers, having finished the training course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, had a conference to decide the best way to repay the Americans for their wonderful hospitality.
The Final Test Fort Leavenworth's Officer Training Course was very comprehensive, going far beyond actual military responsibilities.
American Hospitality The American Officers were extraordinarily kind to Edgar Whitehead and the other seven British Officers attending the Officer Training Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas in 1944.
