Review by Brian Eccles
(Colonial Administrative Service,
Zanzibar, Tanganyika, Nigeria 1952-1989)
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These are three paperback booklets, written about different episodes in Zanzibar's history,
by someone who runs a diving and salvage business in the Middle East, but who was
resident for many years in East Africa and developed there an interest in the region's
military and transport history. All the booklets are illustrated with sometimes rare and
invariably well-reproduced photographs. The first two concern:
the British naval attack on Zanzibar on 27 August 1896 to depose Sultan Khalid (it
lasted 45 minutes).
the construction of a horse drawn tramway, succeeded by a steam railway, both on
the orders of Sultan Barghash (1870-88) - the former ran to Chukwani, the latter to
Bububu (although Chwaka was once intended as the destination). Smoky steam
trains, running from the Beit-al-Ajaib and serviced in the neighbouring Arab fort
(which then apparently had two storeys) were not popular with all the citizens of
Zanzibar!
These two booklets, although the history is very occasionally at variance with the
accounts of recognised historians and the style of writing betrays some infelicities, are
entertaining and easily read accounts of episodes of the Nineteenth Century.
In the Twentieth Century a longer, European inspired, war accounted for the loss of
HMS Pegasus at its outset. Much that is new is told by an author whose professional
knowledge, as a salvage worker, and personal research interest have well equipped him
to tell the story of the build-up to the construction of HMS Pegasus, her commissioning
for South America in 1899 and eventual destruction at Zanzibar on 20 September 1914
by the much better gunned SMS Konigsberg. The booklet also records the duel with the
Konigsberg in the Rufiji, salvage work on both the Pegasus and the Konigsberg and the
subsequent history of some of the British naval personnel involved. Any incident, however
small, and any recollections, however personal, were grist to the author's mill and
he is to be congratulated on making such an entertaining and well-illustrated record.
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Author
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Kevin Patience
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Published
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1994
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Pages
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26
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Publisher
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Kevin Patience
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ISBN
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B00CCRIRLI
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Availability
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Abebooks
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Author
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Kevin Patience
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Published
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1998
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Pages
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28
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Publisher
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Kevin Patience
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ISBN
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B0040GFH8K
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Availability
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Abebooks
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Author
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Kevin Patience
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Published
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1995
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Pages
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48
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Publisher
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Kevin Patience
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ISBN
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B0040GFH8K
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Availability
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Abebooks
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