Pith Helmets

[Biathlonman]

I have visions of ancient, pith-helmeted 90-something Germans and Brits offering themselves up to Libyan rebels as "technical experts" to the Libyan rebels - the ex-Afrika Korps men all scrawny-necked in their pith helmets, and the Brits in battered Wolseley solar topees. All hoping to pick up a bit of dosh based on their experiences with Rommel and Monty. And to buy new dentures perhaps. If you every read up about Richard Von Meinertzhagen, it isn't so impossible though.

[macwilkin]

I have visions of ancient, pith-helmeted 90-something Germans and Brits offering themselves up to Libyan rebels as "technical experts" to the Libyan rebels - the ex-Afrika Korps men all scrawny-necked in their pith helmets, and the Brits in battered Wolseley solar topees. All hoping to pick up a bit of dosh based on their experiences with Rommel and Monty. And to buy new dentures perhaps. If you every read up about Richard Von Meinertzhagen, it isn't so impossible though.

You haven't seen the new book on the Meinertzhagen (no "Von", as they were Danish) diary ruse, have you?

This post reminds me of how during the 1960s, old gentleman in Tanzania would travel to Dar-es-Salaam to collect their pension at the German embassy; the German military attache would have these old men go through the manual of arms to prove that they had served as askaris under Von Lettlow-Vorbeck in World War One.

T.

[Mike M.]

You haven't seen the new book on the Meinertzhagen (no "Von", as they were Danish) diary ruse, have you?

This post reminds me of how during the 1960s, old gentleman in Tanzania would travel to Dar-es-Salaam to collect their pension at the German embassy; the German military attache would have these old men go through the manual of arms to prove that they had served as askaris under Von Lettlow-Vorbeck in World War One.

T.

It says a lot that the Germans would honor those pensions after losing two world wars. But those askaris were fine fighting men. Von Lettlow-Vorbeck gave the British fits.