MANNING, Sir William Henry.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Original desk diaries kept during his campaigns in Africa and the beginning of his governorship. Signed on six of the front boards and on the title page of the 1910 diary. Manning (1863-1932) was the first inspector-general of the King's African Rifles and fought the notorious "Mad Mullah" Muhammad Abdallah Hassan in 1903. These documents follow his early career in the 1st Sikhs through to his retirement and posting as governor of Nyasaland. Manning was commissioned into the South Wales Borderers in 1886 and was soon transferred to the Indian Army to fight on the North West Frontier. In 1893 he was sent to Central Africa in command of 100 Sikhs, joining the forces of the Nyasaland Protectorate. From 1897 he led a number of campaigns in Rhodesia and Somaliland, including as head of the third expedition against Sayyid Muhammad Abdallah Hassan which saw disastrous losses at Gumburu and Daratoleh. He held the position of inspector-general of the King's African Rifles from 1901 to 1907 and later became governor of Nyasaland, Jamaica, and finally Ceylon.These diaries chart the growth of his career day-by-day, recording the weather and natural phenomena, his activities (often using the refrain "a long and unsatisfactory day's work"), illnesses, travels, financial details, and relationships with his fellow officers. He also notes the battles and skirmishes he was involved in, such as on 12 October 1896 where he "Attacked Odete's stronghold at daylight. Captured it after a fight at 7

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