Three years of war in East Africa

When war erupts, a veteran Arctic explorer is suddenly thrust into the tropical heat of East Africa, joining the 25th Royal Fusiliers. Within weeks he swaps polar solitude for the rugged Lukigura River valley, bringing his naturalist eye to the front lines. His dual perspective offers a vivid blend of military action and wilderness observation.

The book follows the battalion’s early campaigns—guarding remote railways, seizing Bukoba, and enduring grueling patrols across the thorny Serengeti under General Smuts. Readers feel the strain of swampy camps, feverish nights, and constant clashes with a larger foe. Yet moments of camaraderie and determination shine through the hardship.

Beyond combat, the narrative paints the mist‑covered hills of Kilimanjaro, the dense Rufiji jungles, and the rich wildlife that persists amid war. The author’s candid, often wry, reflections reveal the stark contrast between the expectation of a gentleman soldier and the harsh reality on the ground. Listeners receive a compelling portrait of a forgotten World War I front, where nature and conflict intertwine.