The value of society journals

A copy of the December 2025 (78:2) Society of Malawi Journal arrived through my letterbox in early 2026. The reason I got it was because of the review of Donald Arden's memoirs - a book I helped edit and publish. Donald was a remarkable person as I alluded to earlier this year so I won't say more here. But what struck me holding the paper copy and going through the front pages of post holders and organisation history, is how much I use the…

https://thesamsonsedhistorian.wordpress.com/2026/04/06/the-value-of-society-journals/

Naming conventions

There are often complaints that WW1 Africa lists only record black Africans with their first name and village. At the time this was how people knew each other - John from x. The origin of white names with first and surnames originated in similar fashion many years previously - Johnson being John's son, John Carpenter's early family members most likely carpenters.

https://thesamsonsedhistorian.wordpress.com/2026/02/23/naming-conventions/

Interest in Africa WW1

The last year, 2025 into 2026 has shown an increase in interest in the First World War in Africa. I've not yet been able to determine the reason for this, it's still too early in the process. How long this interest will remain or grow is also still to be seen. There was increased interest over the centenary years of 2014 to 2018 but by 2020 most websites touching on the theatre had disappeared.

https://thesamsonsedhistorian.wordpress.com/2026/02/16/interest-in-africa-ww1/

Mixed identity 2 – Driscoll

Following on from my discussion of mixed identities around Kitchener and Edwards with a slight diversion to van Deventer, two of the three being siblings, the other unrelated, there's another confusing relationship - that of father and son.During the 1914-1918 war, we have at least two Driscolls serving. Daniel Patrick Driscoll (DPD) who formed Driscoll's Scouts in 1900 and led the 25th Royal Fusiliers (Legion of Frontiersmen) in East Africa.

https://thesamsonsedhistorian.wordpress.com/2026/02/02/mixed-identity-2-driscoll/

Individual vs Communal living

A few incidents in recent times raise some questions about our society (generally speaking across countries). Technology has some part to play in it but not all. Various big organisations have been hacked in recent years causing much inconvenience to system users and huge additional expense for the organisations affected. We've come to rely too much on technology as seen in shops not being able to conduct business (sell a coffee, or car)…

https://thesamsonsedhistorian.wordpress.com/2026/01/26/individual-vs-communal-living/

Zambia: Pathways to Excellence – Can other countries benefit?

Zambia: Pathways to Excellence by Chisanga Puta-Chekwe (Adonis & Abbey, 2022) is probably not a book you would happen across in a mainstream bookshop or online unless you knew about it. It was brought to my attention through an obscure encounter and is worth a read.While the author focuses on Zambia, his country of birth and for which, whilst no longer resident in the land, is still held dear to him, I think…

https://thesamsonsedhistorian.wordpress.com/2026/01/19/zambia-pathways-to-excellence-can-other-countries-benefit/

Out of Africa – no, not what you think

Over the past few years I have worked on the life accounts of two men - more really, but these, and another, are who I want to share with you here. They are:1. Archbishop Donald Arden, a British born cleric who served in South and Central Africa, and who brought to attention the life of Josiah Mtekateka (1903-1996): The first Malawian Anglican Bishop.

https://thesamsonsedhistorian.wordpress.com/2026/01/12/out-of-africa-no-not-what-you-think/

Mixed identity – General Edwards WW1 Africa

In days gone by, history texts only referred to rank and surname when reporting actions in the war, irrespective of whether they were memoirs or narratives. Some diaries of the war published soon after the end of the war don't have names at all - the rank being given (not always) followed by a line. Data protection is not new. Whether this was done to protect careers or prevent certain repercussions is not known.

https://thesamsonsedhistorian.wordpress.com/2026/01/05/mixed-identity-general-edwards-ww1-africa/

Rhodesian Despatches Quarterly 3 – Gerry van Tonder #Preview #History #Africa #Military https://tslbooks.uk/rhodesian-despatches-quarterly-3-gerry-van-tonder-preview-history-africa-military [pdf-embedder url=”https://tslbooks.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Preview-Rhodesian-Despatches-1-3-Gerry-van-Tonder.pdf” title=”Preview Rhodesian Despatches 1-3 – Gerry van Tonder”]

For more information and to order your copy, click on the relevant image below.

Rhodesian Despatches Quarterly 3 by Gerry van Tonder – contents available at tslbooks (https://tslbooks.uk/product/rhodesian-despatches-quarterly-3-gerry-van-tonder/)
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