Dedan Kimathi and Me

In the first installment of a series, Peter Swan recalls his service at an exciting time in Kenya's history.

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Background
Brought up a Catholic, my childhood was disrupted when two of my school years were spent evacuated away from city life in London to rural Newton Abbot in the county of Devonshire.  My Christian upbringing continued, installing the belief that God monitored my every action, including my thoughts.  Schooling in those days also emphasied that the sun always shone on the Britih Empire.

It was taught in a manner that led us to the patriotic belief that the British Empire was God's Empire.  We believed that our intrusion into other lands was welcome.  In England we were not even taught about the resentment of Scots to union with Great Britain.  The propaganda of the 39-45 war ensured a militant patriotism.