A Handbook on Anti-Mau Mau Operations | A Fascinating Insight into the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya

A Handbook on Anti-Mau Mau Operations" is a historically significant, albeit controversial, document providing a primary source perspective on British military strategies during the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya during the 1950s. This handbook, compiled under the direction of George Erskine, Commander-in-Chief of the East Africa Command, details the operational procedures and tactics employed to suppress the Kenyan liberation movement. This particular copy is especially unique, bearing annotations throughout that offer practical, often stark, medical and tactical advice. For example, notes such as "do not give morphia for head wounds, inject into biceps" reveal the harsh realities of the conflict and the on-the-ground medical practices of the time.

Adding to the book's intrigue is the inclusion of Stanley "Davo" Davidson's "Ten Commandments," a set of tactical guidelines likely used by British forces during the operations. Stanley "Davo" Davidson was a remarkable figure in East Africa, serving as a Sergeant Major in the Kenya Regiment and the King's African Rifles (KAR). Renowned for his exceptional firearms expertise and small arms tactical knowledge, he played a crucial role in the counter-insurgency efforts. Despite his formidable military reputation, he was known as a non-drinker and non-swearing individual, adding an unexpected layer of complexity to his character. His inclusion in this annotated handbook provides a direct link to the practical, often brutal, realities faced by those involved in the Mau Mau Uprising. This annotated copy of the handbook offers a rare and compelling glimpse into the operational realities and personal insights of those involved in this pivotal period of Kenyan and British colonial history.