OnceCalledHome

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.

Lectures at Fort Leavenworth

Edgar Whitehead attended an Officers training course in 1944 at the Army Base in the USA at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

An Introduction to Fort Leavenworth

On arrival at Fort Leavenworth Edgar Whitehead was given a janitor, the equivalent of a British batman. He was appalled at the treatment they received from many of the Yankee officers, being unused to servants. The Southerns were generally much nicer to them.

What Comes Around Goes Around

No sooner had Edgar Whitehead mastered his job with the 48th Airborne with its three hundred Dakotas on hand readying for Operation Market Garden when he was summoned for a Short Course at the US Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

An Untimely Transfer

There were persistant rumors before D-Day that if the Allies invaded France the Germans would use gas.

48th Air Dispatch

Edgar Whitehead arrived at the 48th Air Dispatch HQ Camp on a cold and wet summer's evening. Isolated, some distance from the nearest village it was a tented camp in a wet field somewhere in Gloucestershire.

Enemy Agent, Concientious Objector, Refugee or...?

After three full tours of duty and four and a half years in West Africa, Edgar Whitehead was asked to return to West Africa for another tour with the promise of full Colonel in Lagos after twenty-eight days leave in Rhodesia.

A Thirteen Million Pound Gamble

Edgar was requested to take leave in Rhodesia and return to West Africa for a third term when he would take up a Full Colonel's appointment in Lagos.

A Regrettable Incident

A very drunken nineteen year old American lorry driver drove into a platoon of Gold Coast Infantry, killing several.

Medical Comforts

In 1943, the British forces saw a great influx of US Forces. There were many ways they liaisoned with them.

Fake News in West Africa

Once the threat to West Africa was removed by Operation Torch led by General Eisenhower in North Africa the focus moved from The Gambia to mobilizing the West African 81st Division for deployment to Burma.

Unexpected

Edgar Whitehead's job after taking over Q was a curious mixture between quasi-political, economic work and strictly military duties.

Pure Bluff

The West African Command's busiest time was before Operation Torch, the Allies North African landings, in French North Africa on November 8, 1942 led by General Eisenhower.

Rhodesian Ingenuity

Preparations were underway in case hostilities with Vichy met with sustained opposition. Strong reinforcements were sent up to Gambia and Sierra Leone to threaten Dakar.

Giving of His Very Best

After his first tour of service, as agreed, in August 1942, Edgar Whitehead returned to West Africa following his leave to Southern Rhodesia.

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.