Oswald Aiken papers

This material is held atUniversity of Leeds Special Collections

  • Reference
    • GB 206 Liddle Collection AFE 01
  • Dates of Creation
    • 1917-1989
  • Name of Creator
  • Language of Material
    • English German Swahili
  • Physical Description
    • 1 box; manuscript, typescript, press cuttings, photographs, postcards, and printed material. Includes 5 maps and 2 audio-cassettes

Scope and Content

Pocket notebook (January-March 1918); Roll book, No. 2 Company, 1/3 King's African Rifles (February 1918); typed biographical synopsis and duplicate copy (1987); SS Briton menu cards and concert programmes (1919); Demobilization papers (1919); newspaper cuttings relating to the East Africa campaign (December 1918); newspaper cutting relating to Western Front recollections and duplicate copy (1989); Handbook of Swahili language (1917); 5 maps of German and Portuguese East Africa (including German road map) [1914-1918]; 2 photographs, including of General von Lettow Vorbeck and staff under surrender (nd); bundle of 56 postcards of British East Africa and Cape Town; picture book of Cape Town; manuscript notes on tape-recorded interview (1989); manuscript summary of material held in collection (1990).

Administrative / Biographical History

Oswald Aiken was born in 1896 in Lancashire. As Sergeant, then later Company Sergeant Major, he enlisted with the Loyal North Lancashire Battalion in August 1914 and served on the Western Front, until he was wounded. In April 1917 he was transferred to the 1/3 King's African Rifles, and served in East Africa until the end of the war.

Access Information

Access is unrestricted.

Note

In English, but with a little German and Swahili.

Other Finding Aids

Alternative Form Available

Microfilmed.

Related Material

Tapes 957 and 952A: interview recorded with Peter Liddle in 1989. See also Museum Section: EA16 for Sudanese knife, native spearheads and King's African Rifles Company Flag.