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£25.00 + £3.00 shipping
"This book is dedicated to the memory of those many millions of Indians who volunteered, fought and suffered in both World Wars"
A great complement from the Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research India
Dear Mr Kerr,
I recently purchased two copies of your book on the history of the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles during the Great War. It was such a pleasure to go through it. I was particularly fascinated by the excellent photographic content. The coverage of the numerous NCO’s and men, both in the images and in the text, make this an almost unique regimental history to be ranked, in my humble opinion, amongst the best in that genre.
Incidentally, it was my privilege to put together a battalion history of the erstwhile 38th Dogras (now 2 Dogra). While the battalion lost quite a bit of its records and silver when it went into the bag at Singapore, they still had some interesting photographs, particularly portraits of individual British officers during the pre-war period. I will see if I can find any photographs of your grandfather, although given your excellent collection, I expect you may already have them.
Once again, my compliments on having put together such a readable and well-rounded regimental account.
With best wishes,
Rana
Rana T.S. Chhina Sqn Ldr (Retd) Secretary, Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research United Service Institution of India
Rao Tula Ram Marg Opposite Signals Enclave Post Bag No. 8, Vasant Vihar PO New Delhi – 110 057
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Secretary, Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research
Dear Mr Kerr,
I recently purchased two copies of your book on the history of the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles during the Great War. It was such a pleasure to go through it. I was particularly fascinated by the excellent photographic content. The coverage of the numerous NCO’s and men, both in the images and in the text, make this an almost unique regimental history to be ranked, in my humble opinion, amongst the best in that genre.
Incidentally, it was my privilege to put together a battalion history of the erstwhile 38th Dogras (now 2 Dogra). While the battalion lost quite a bit of its records and silver when it went into the bag at Singapore, they still had some interesting photographs, particularly portraits of individual British officers during the pre-war period. I will see if I can find any photographs of your grandfather, although given your excellent collection, I expect you may already have them.
Once again, my compliments on having put together such a readable and well-rounded regimental account.
With best wishes,
Rana
Rana T.S. Chhina
Sqn Ldr (Retd)
Secretary
Centre for Armed Forces Historical Research
United Service Institution of India
Rao Tula Ram Marg
Opposite Signals Enclave
Post Bag No. 8, Vasant Vihar PO
New Delhi – 110 057
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Indian Military Historical Society Book Review
Tony McClenaghan of the Indian Military Historical Society reviews the book in the Winter 2011 journal – Volume 28, No. 4:
“The First World War campaign in East Africa has received little coverage compared to Europe, though The History of the Great War – Military Operations East Africa (London, HMSO) provided an early account and there have been some more recent and extremely valuable works. Similarly, the efforts of the Imperial Service Troops (later Indian State Forces) have received patchy coverage, though the former princely state of Jammu & Kashmir has fared better than others with two exceptionally good books – Major K Brahma Singh’s History of Jammu & Kashmir Rifles (1820-1956) (Lancer International, Delhi 1990) and Major General Monty Palit’s Jammu and Kashmir Arms, History of the J & K Rifles (Palit & Dutt, Dehra Dun 1972). Through these books and my own research, the name of Captain Alexander Kerr, who won a Military Cross in East Africa while serving with 2nd Rifles (Body Guard Regiment) of the Jammu & Kashmir army, and those of other British and Kashmiri officers who served with the regiment, have been known to me for several years. Now we have a detailed account of the Kashmir troops in East Africa thanks to research by the grandson of Captain Kerr. Based on a variety of sources, including diaries kept by Alec Kerr and other officers, the book brings to life some of the otherwise dry statistics of official records, and helps to identify the hardships and strains of the East African campaign. The title is taken from a comment written by Alec Kerr.
Review and Discussion on the Great War Forum
Harry Fecitt MBE TD, a self-styled old campaigner, sparks discussion with his review on The Great War Forum:
“This is a pictorial book that contains many relevant Great War photographs taken in East Africa and India.
The story uses the diaries and letters of British officers to describe the campaign activities of the 2nd and 3rd Kashmir Rifles during the East African campaign.
The book is particularly useful in describing the activities of Indian Imperial Service units during the war. British Special Service officers took over command appointments, in marked contrast to what happened during the Second World War.
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Tagged african campaign, JAK Rifles, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, The Great War, war forum, WWI
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Families in British India Society Journal Review
Journal of the Families in British India Society (FIBIS): Issue 26 – Autumn 2011
‘I Can Never Say Enough About The Men’ – A History of the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
throughout their World War One East African Campaign by Andrew Kerr. (PMC
Management Consultants Limited, 2010) pp176, illustrated, Hardcover.
“Constraints on manpower of the British Empire were especially severe during the First
World War (1914-1918) and the toll of shell and bullet was horribly severe. However, the
spirit of Empire prevailed and, among the many who flocked to the colours were a number
of the Indian ‘princely states’. These were to contain a small contingent of two and a half
battalions of the Rajah of Kashmir – today’s Jammu & Kashmir. – led and advised by a
handful of British officers. One of these officers was the author’s grandfather, Captain –
later, Lieut. Col. – Alexander (Alec) Kerr, M.C.
Continue reading
Peter Baxter’s Book Review
Peter Baxter of Eco Travel Africa casts his experienced eye over the book and offers his thoughts below:
“I had noticed in my general browsing of the web that a new book associated with the East Africa Campaign of World War I had been published, strongly titled I Can Never Say Enough About the Men. It did not drift into my orbit, however, and I found no opportunity to read it until I was contacted by Andrew Kerr, the author of the book, with a request to review it on behalf of the Great War in East Africa Association. This I gladly agreed to do and shortly afterwards a copy arrived in the post.
At a glance I found a richly illustrated narrative configured along the lines of a standard regimental history that dealt, it seemed, with the East African experience of the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles. It was not until a few days later that I was able to settle down to read it in earnest.
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Tagged African Heritage, East Africa, JAK Rifles, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, Kashmir Rifles, Peter Baxter, WWI
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Book Review by ‘The British Army Review’ Magazine
Alick Finlayson shares his impression of the book ‘I Can Never Say Enough About The Men’ in issue 151 of The British Army Review magazine:
“Originally, Andrew Kerr decided he wanted to conduct some gentle research into his family history and to record a distinguished tradition of over 200 years of military service by six generations of Kerrs of Abbotrule in India. The author extended the family record of military service to a seventh generation when he served in the 1970s in the 17th/21st Lancers albeit not in India.
But the seeds for this book were planted when he was reading papers left by his grandfather, Alec Kerr. The author remembered his grandfather as a quietly spoken, reserved man who had not discussed his wartime experiences. His papers set the author off on an unexpected but wonderful voyage of discovery that focused on the involvement of the Kashmir Rifles in the campaign in East Africa from November 1914 through to April 1917. Continue reading
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Tagged JAK Rifles, Jammu & Kashmir Rifles, Kashmir Rifles, The British Army Review
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Book Launch with the Jammu & Kashmir Rifles
The author at the book launch with the modern Jammu & Kashmir Rifles - Nov 2010
The book ‘I Can Never Say Enough About The Men’ was successfully launched in November 2010.
Andrew Kerr was joined at the book signing by members of the modern Jammu & Kashmir Rifles regiment.
Site update – ‘Glossary’ of Kashmir Rifles
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.
I Can Never Say Enough About The Men 