German Bank note from East African. From M2\ 167043 Sgt Tom Southern ASC 29 Motor Ambulance Convoy (29 MAC) 19 June 1916 East Africa-demob 1920

Thanks so much for posting that. A fascinating document. I'd seen stamps from Germany's african colonies before, but never a bank note.

Thanks also for posting it. Good to see such mementos are still turning up.

You may not have seen a similar 1R note reproduced in 'Three Years of War in East Africa' by Angus Buchanan.

He wrote of it:

"Crude, locally minted brass coins and printed paper one-rupee notes were plentiful among the natives, here and elsewhere. Those they have received from the Germans since the war began in payment for food collected by native consent and force. If the war failed for the German, this very doubtful currency would be unredeemable and valueless, and so the ignorant natives were warned that it was poor, if not totally false, this wealth which they held"

Cheers........ Richard




Remembering Pte Thomas Weightman G/36125 25th Bn, R Fus, KIA 3 August 1917, Battle of Tandamuti Hill, East Africa.