Impression sketch
of duel between Major Rouling and Captain Godovius - by Jamie.
In arduous
fighting on an alternative front,
Ran the Campaign
of East Africa - formed
From out of guerrilla
events - emerging via
German East
Africa into Protectorate,
Under British
rule of the Great Rift Lakes.
African dominions
had been taken, divided
For some years, when influence of European
Conflict had
spread across the African held
Lands - Borders
were fought over area
Of Ruanda-Urundi, in
shifting occupations.
Belgian control had edged their front against
German occupiers
- from out of western
Belgian Congo
where Congolese emerged -
After European
borders had been shattered,
Came inevitability
of 1914 colonial conflicts.
The situation
made for a very different front -
Dormant volcanic
range of the Mfumbiro
Mountains, which for Belgians led
north-east,
Heavily wooded hills amid lakes
and rivers;
For Germans fertile mountain
Ruanda area.
Laying between Mfumbiro and lake Kivu
Stretched a narrow passageway, to
create
Only one practical route to invade
Ruanda
From north; though the south
offered easier
Way Col. Molitor led Belgian
north troops.
A formation of a plan by Col. Molitor would
Involve an initial invasion from
either sides
Of lake Kivu, followed by
advance out of
Lutobo - April 4 1916, Belgian Congolese
Action commenced,
led by Major Rouling.
The German hold
under Captain Wintgens
Had a firm
situation about the river Sebea
At Kissenji - Attempting to avoid a trap,
Captain Wintgens commenced
evacuation
From his river lines - a Belgian success.
From convergence
of attacks Ruanda
Was snipped away - Major Rouling
set
Into motion large scale
manoeuvres
Under Lt. Colonel Olsen - a
southern
Brigade commenced from Tanganyika.
Forces crossed the Rusizi, a
northern
Section, with Col. Molitor sent a south
West section to meet Olsen -
while
Forces were directed southeast to
lake
Victoria Nyanza, to secure lines
by July.
Reports of actions from 21 July
came
To the attention of Lieut-General
Smuts,
The British force commander against
German East Africa - to include
Belgian
Position SW corner, lake Victoria
Nyanza.
The Germans retreated there, prompted
By British presence on western
shore -
At Bukoba towards the smaller
Belgian
Presence, the clash came to
involve
A duel between enemy commanders.
Situated in close distance of
thirty yards
A western style shoot out had started
-
German Commander Godovius took
Shots at Belgian Major Rouling; armed
With revolvers each aimed at
equivalent.
The first of five bullets hit
Godovius
Who retaliated, to kick at Rouling
who
Did not surrender but fired his
revolver -
To receive another bullet back - the hit
Too close to his eye, to lose his
sight.
While Godovius, by some fluke survived
despite severe wounds, was then captured.
With heavy German losses many
fled
With Belgians in chase - their
commander
Being taken, to be kept prisoner
in India.
By Friday 3 November 1916 Rouling
was
Back on European soil, to state Germans
Had nothing additional to gain in
Africa -
Suggesting their wish was to surrender.
Major Rouling was awarded African
Star
By M. Renkin, Belgian colony
minister.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. Belgian Officer's
Duel. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 04 November 1916. P.10. Col.4.
Available at: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12213555/Daily-Telegraph-November-4-1916.html> [Accessed: 09 November 2016].
Source: File: East
Africa: Military Operations. Available at: <http://www.theodora.com/encyclopedia/e/east_africa_military_operations.html> [Accessed 09 November 2016]
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 09 November 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #GreatWar #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary
#worldwarone #worldwaroneremembered #WW1Africa
