Arthur Aitken
Encyclopedia
Major General Arthur Edward Aitken (1861–1924) was a British
military commander.
Born in Rochford
in Essex, by the time of the 1871 Census he was a 9-year old pupil at a school in Brighton
, Sussex
.
He began his military career in 1882 as a cavalry
man. Following the outbreak of the First World War, Aitken led the first notable incursion into German East Africa
at the head of Indian Expeditionary Force B, and was defeated at the Battle of Tanga
in early November 1914.
The battle is often known as the "battle of the bees" for the swarms of bees that repeatedly interrupted fighting, with both sides fleeing for cover. Aitken had been overconfident and not attempted any reconnaissance
work in the area.
The German defence forces were led by Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, who never suffered a defeat during the war.
Aitken's troops were routed and retreated. There were delays in publishing the details in Britain.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
military commander.
Born in Rochford
Rochford
Rochford is a small town in the Rochford district of Essex in the East of England. It is sited about 43 miles from Central London and approximately 21 miles from the Essex county town, Chelmsford...
in Essex, by the time of the 1871 Census he was a 9-year old pupil at a school in Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
, Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
.
He began his military career in 1882 as a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
man. Following the outbreak of the First World War, Aitken led the first notable incursion into German East Africa
German East Africa
German East Africa was a German colony in East Africa, which included what are now :Burundi, :Rwanda and Tanganyika . Its area was , nearly three times the size of Germany today....
at the head of Indian Expeditionary Force B, and was defeated at the Battle of Tanga
Battle of Tanga
The Battle of Tanga, sometimes also known as the Battle of the Bees, was the unsuccessful attack by the British Indian Expeditionary Force “B” under Major General A.E. Aitken to capture German East Africa during World War I in concert with the invasion Force “C” near Longido on the slopes of...
in early November 1914.
The battle is often known as the "battle of the bees" for the swarms of bees that repeatedly interrupted fighting, with both sides fleeing for cover. Aitken had been overconfident and not attempted any reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
work in the area.
The German defence forces were led by Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, who never suffered a defeat during the war.
Aitken's troops were routed and retreated. There were delays in publishing the details in Britain.