A Glossary of terms relevant to the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles’ historic WWI journey through East Africa has now been added under the ‘Background’ tab on the main menu.

The Glossary will be updated regularly. If you have any suggestions then do please contact us. A select extract of the current terms are shown below the fold.

Field-Marshal Jan Christian Smuts – Commander of Allied Forces in East Africa during WWI, serving as Lieutenant General (Feb 1916). Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa (1939-1948)

Gilgit – The capital city of Gilgit-Balistan, the northernmost political entity within Pakistan. Ceded to Gulab Singh in 1846 – the Maharaja of Jammu & Kashmir. Under British India rule from 1889.

British East Africa – After WW1 this became the British colony of Kenya

German East Africa – After WW1 this became the British Colony on Tanganyika now called Tanzania

Askari – This was the name given to the German locally recruited and trained soldiers

Tanga – This was the major seaport and railway terminus in the North of German East Africa. It was also the name of the battle and a British defeat of 1914

Jasin – Is a small fishing village in the North East Corner of German East Africa where the Kashmir Rifles fought to the last round and the last drop of water

Tsavo – is the River line of defensive posts where the Kashmir Rifles operated throughout 1915

Pangani – This river was the axis of advance into German East Africa in 1916

Lukigura – This is a river and the battle where the Kashmir Rifles led a decisive victory June 1916

Misha – This is the Camp where Smuts Army collapsed with malaria, dysentery, exhaustion and with minimal supplies

Kashmir Rifles – The correct title was Jammu and Kashmir Rifles but the British always shortened it. They were the private Army of the Maharajah

Kilimanjaro – The dominant mountain feature in the lives of the Kashmir Rifles in 1915 and 1916