Life of Frederick Courtenay Selous, D.S.O., Capt. 25th Royal Fusiliers
John Stuart Mill · en
O. for acceptance or rejection. As I told Major Guest, this
would mean that my name would certainly be rejected on account
of my age. I then saw Driscoll again, and found him very much
discouraged, as he said that not only had the W. O. refused to
allow either a signalling officer, a transport, or an
intelligence officer[68] on his strength, but they also wanted
to impose some men of their own choosing on him as officers,
whom he does not know, thereby obliging him to dismiss some of
his company officers, who have served with him, and whom he does
know. I think it quite possible that Driscoll may resign, but he
will not do so until he has got the men the War Office want. As
far as I am concerned I now think my chances of going to Africa
with this force are small, although Major Guest told me that
General Lloyd was in favour of letting me go. I know absolutely
nothing about the Legion of Frontiersmen in this country, nor do
I believe that there is the slightest chance of the Germans
landing any force in this country, as long as our Navy remains
in being."
On February 4th, 1915, he went to see Colonel Driscoll, who said
the War Office had stretched the age-limit in his case, that he
would take him to East Africa as Intelligence Officer. "I hope I
shall not prove too old for the job and break down," he writes.
Colonel Driscoll expected to have two or three months' training
and leave for East Africa in April. On March 7th, Mrs. Selous
went to Havre to work in the Y.M.C.A. hut there. Selous then left
for London. "It was thought that I would start for East Africa
with an advance contingent before she left for France," but he
was delayed, waiting for the whole regiment to go together.
Writing to Chapman, March 21st, 1915, he says: "I understand that
we are to start for East Africa next Saturday, or very soon
afterwards. Well, good-bye, old friend. These troublous times
will be over some day and then if we are still both alive and
have any vitality left, we must do that Nile trip."
Selous landed with his battalion at Mombasa on May 4th, 1915. Colonel R.
Meinertzhagen gives a few particulars of the strange assortment of men
comprising the force:--
"The battalion (25th Royal Fusiliers) concentrated at Kajiado
soon after landing at Mombasa, when it was inspected by General
Tighe, then Commanding in East Africa. I accompanied Tighe on
this inspection, and we formed a very high opinion of the
officers and men. They were an unpolished lot but real good
business-like men who meant fighting.
[Illustration: Mt. Kilimanjaro From The North.]