🌍 World War I & Northern Rhodesia: 1914–1918 🪖
In 1914, the world was plunged into war after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Two powerful alliances faced off: Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy on one side, and Britain, France, and Russia on the other. When Britain joined the war on 4 August 1914, it called on all its colonies to join—and Northern Rhodesia answered.
⚔️ A Surprise Call to War
Northern Rhodesia's forces, originally just armed police, were soon drawn into a global conflict they hadn't expected. The enemy? German East Africa—modern-day Tanzania. It was a vast, rugged land defended by the experienced German commander General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, who led a fierce force of African soldiers known as Askaris.
Northern Rhodesia shared borders with eight other territories, including hostile German colonies. While the southern threat in South West Africa (now Namibia) was quickly neutralized by South African forces, the northeastern frontier became a major battlefield.
The Northern Rhodesia Police (NRP) played a critical role, defending key towns like Mbala (then Fort Abercorn) and Nakonde (Fife) from German attacks in late 1914. Despite being outnumbered—sometimes four to one—they held firm. Even District Messengers and local militia joined the fight.
By 1916, Britain launched a full offensive from the north and south. Northern Rhodesia's troops joined forces with South Africans, Indians, Belgians, and other British colonies, slowly pushing the Germans back. The fighting was brutal, but disease was worse: malaria, typhus, jaundice, and sleeping sickness claimed more lives than bullets.
🕊️ The War Ends... but Not in Africa: The Final Days of World War I in Northern Rhodesia
On 11 November 1918, the guns finally fell silent in Europe. An Armistice was signed in a railroad car, in the Compiègne Forest near the town of Compiègne, that ended fighting on land, at sea, and in the air in World War I between the Entente and their last remaining opponent, Germany.
Germany, weakened by defeat on the battlefield and turmoil at home, agreed to withdraw its troops, surrender weapons, release prisoners, and accept Allied occupation. But in Africa, the fighting didn't stop right away.
🪖 Battles After Peace
Even as Europeans celebrated peace, fighting continued in East Africa, including Northern Rhodesia (Zambia).
On 12 November, unaware or unconvinced that the war had ended, British forces—including the Northern Rhodesia Police (NRP)—launched a surprise charge on German troops along the Malima River. It was a fierce attack with casualties on both sides, even though the European war was technically over.
🏚️ The German Advance into Kasama
Just days earlier, on 9 November, the Germans under Captain Spangenburg had seized the town of Kasama. Their commander, the famed General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, soon arrived with his main force. While German records suggest they took the town with little resistance, British accounts credit Hector Croad, a senior colonial officer, with evacuating supplies and troops in time to avoid a major clash.
On 13 November, a skirmish erupted near the Chambishi River, but a loud blast from a British Askari's elephant gun, echoing like cannon fire, may have helped delay a full-scale attack. That same day, Croad received the Armistice message and prepared to pass it on to Von Lettow.
🤝 Surrender at Chambishi and Abercorn
At 8:00 AM on 14 November 1918, Croad and Von Lettow-Vorbeck met on the north bank of the Chambishi River. Von Lettow accepted the news that the war was over and agreed to march his army to Abercorn (Mbala) to surrender.
Finally, on 25 November 1918, Von Lettow-Vorbeck surrendered his entire force—30 German officers, over 1,000 Askari, 1,500 carriers, hundreds of women and followers—to General Edwards in Abercorn. This marked the true end of World War I in Africa.
đź’° Unpaid but Not Forgotten
One major problem after the war was paying the African soldiers (Askari). Many hadn't been paid for years. Von Lettow requested 1.5 million rupees—a fortune—for his troops, while the British owed a similar amount to theirs. But both the British War Office and German Government failed to provide funds, leaving the Askari's service largely unrecognized in pay.
🏛️ Post-War Changes and Command
After the war, the Northern Rhodesia Police was reorganized. Its leadership shifted in 1922 when General Edwards retired and was not replaced. By 1924, with direct British Colonial Office control in place, the NRP was restructured into four branches:
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Headquarters
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Military Branch
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Town and District Police
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Criminal Investigations Department (CID)
The NRP continued to serve as both a police force and military unit, but the experiences of World War I would forever shape its future role in the region.