The South African engineer corps's water supply operation in Kenya during the second World War: its war time and post war legacy
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Date
2012
Authors
Nyanchaga, Ezekiel
Visser, Deon
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Humanities, University of the Free State
Abstract
War is often conducted in areas where water is not readily available, which forces militaries to create
sufficient water sources in the theatre of war. During a war military activities often place much pressure
on civil society’s access to their traditional water sources. After a war the increased water supply
created by the military may be exploited for the benefit of civil society. The Second World War propelled
the belligerent forces into some areas where fresh water was in short supply, including East and North
Africa. This article, firstly, explores the efforts of the South African Engineer Corps (SAEC) to exploit
existing water sources in Kenya and to create new ones to meet the needs of the Allied forces during
their campaign against the Italians. Secondly it tries to establish how the activities of the SAEC affected
the lives of the local population during the war. Lastly, it attempts to determine the postwar legacy of the
SAEC’s water supply activities in Kenya.
Description
Keywords
Second World War, Union Defence Force, South African Engineer Corps, 42nd Survey Section, 36th Water Supply Company, Boreholes, Underground water location, Water history, Kenya
Citation
Visser, G. E., & Nyanchaga, E. N. (2012). The South African Engineer Corps s water supply operations in Kenya during the Second World War: its wartime impact and postwar legacy. Journal for Contemporary History, 37(2), 32-51.