Battle of Salaita Hill
Salaita Hill, near Taveta, Taita-Taveta County, Kenya
What happened
British, South African, Rhodesian and Indian troops under Wilfrid Malleson fought the German East African forces of Georg Kraut. During the East African Campaign of the First World War, German troops held Salaita Hill near the border with German East Africa. Faulty intelligence sent the Allied guns against the wrong trenches, warning the defenders. The South African attack was stopped and pushed back by a German relief column.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the first large battle in East Africa to involve British, Indian, Rhodesian and South African troops together. It led the German commander to send almost half his forces to the Kilimanjaro area.
What came next
Later in 1916, the South African general Jan Smuts led a new offensive. The East African campaign went on until the German surrender at Abercorn on 25 November 1918.
Did you know?
The opening guns were salvaged from the sunken British cruiser HMS Pegasus.
Timeline
- 3 August 1914The East African Campaign begins.
- 12 February 1916The Germans hold Salaita Hill.
- 23 November 1917The German force crosses into Mozambique.
- 25 November 1918The Germans surrender at Abercorn.