Name: Some Thoughts on Tanganyika Before & After
Brand: Austin Macauley Publishers
SKU: 9781037107115
Price: 10.99 GBP
Availability: InStock
Author: Leslie Holgate

Some Thoughts on Tanganyika Before & After

Non-Fiction

Pages: 250 Ratings:

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*Your order will be dispatched after the publication date of 06-11-2026

“Some Thoughts on Tanganyika Before & After” is an excellent read that deserves a spot on everyone’s bookshelf. This is not just an autobiography; it is an inspiring journey that confronts the reader with the raw realities of an extraordinary life and times in the Tanganyika Protectorate, before and after independence.

The author shares his encounters with clarity and authenticity, and you can’t help but become engrossed in his story. Each experience painted in this work captures unique moments that blend personal reflections with broader themes of war, humanity and politics and strikes a perfect balance between sensitivity and honesty.

It is compelling and evocative, drawing you in with a powerful voice while enlightening you on the nuances of the author’s experiences. Overall, this book is an intriguing piece that invites thoughtful reflection and leaves a lasting impression long after you’ve finished reading.

Whether you’re a history buff or someone interested in learning more about this era, there’s something here for everyone that encourages a broader understanding of how the past has influenced our present.

Leslie Holgate was a seasoned mechanical and electrical engineer who began his career as a young man during World War II, serving in North Africa and Iraq. Following the war, he joined Bibby Line of Liverpool for one voyage as a Junior Engineer, navigating to Australian coastal cities such as Fremantle, Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, with stops in Malta, Alexandria, and Colombo on the way. His career progressed as he worked with Shaw Saville and Albion Line, and later with Elder Dempster as a 3rd Engineer in West African ports until September 1951.

In 1952, newly married, he took a position with Balfour Beatty at their subsidiary, Daresco, in Dar es Salaam, modern day Tanzania. This memoir chronicles his early life and two decades as Resident Engineer with Tanesco, the state electricity company, stationed in Morogoro, Arusha and Mwanza during a pivotal time of decolonization in Africa. Additionally, he served as Honorary British Consul post-independence, acting as a liaison for Her Majesty’s Government. The memoir not only documents a chapter of the Holgate family history but also explores themes such as World War II, the decolonization of the British Empire, particularly in Africa, and the subsequent impacts. The book includes both humorous anecdotes and serious reflections on life in colonial Tanganyika and afterwards. Leslie Holgate passed away in 2003, having requested a delay of at least 20 years before any attempt publication of his memoir, a period that has now elapsed.