DD WALLER PAYMASTER TO THE 3rd KAR & PROTECTOR OF INDIAN IMMIGRATION TO EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE

DD WALLER PAYMASTER TO THE 3rd KAR & PROTECTOR OF
INDIAN IMMIGRATION TO EAST AFRICA PROTECTORATE
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By Keith Steward FRGS

Desmond Dalyrymple Waller was a colonial administrator in the East
Africa Protectorate (EAP,Kenya after 1928) from May 1899 until
October 1916. He started in the treasury department and was promoted
to be the Officer in Charge of Indian Immigration in November 1902.
During the early part of his service he was seconded on three occasions
to be Paymaster to the military forces. Indeed, in the staff list for January
1903, he is shown as ‘Paymaster’, not in the treasury department, but in
the King’s African Rifles (KAR). This is confirmed in an unpublished
regimental history of 3 KAR:
Mr Waller was transferred from the Treasury and appointed Paymaster to the
battalion. In 1904 he was succeeded by Mr Armitstead. 1
Desmond Waller was Paymaster to the East African Rifle’s 2 and
subsequently the 3rd battalion the King’s African Rifles on two punitive
expeditions against troublesome African tribes.3 His first campaign
against the Ogaden Somalis in 1900-1(the 2nd Ogaden expedition) 4
involved extensive close order fighting in tall elephant grass, the second
expedition, against the Nandi in 1905-6 was a tedious affair took nine
months to complete.5 Waller served in the field with the troops on both
occasions and suffered severely from heat stroke while in Jubaland
during July 1901.
Waller’s title was changed to Protector of Immigrants in April 1904;
however he was seconded to the military a third time for the punitive
expedition against the Nandi in October 1905. He was promoted Director
of Transport &Principal Immigration Officer in December 1911. He
retired on pension in October 1916.

1 NA (UK) WO106/270, manuscript copy of the history of 3rd KAR 1895-1929.
2 The East African Rifles became the 3rd battalion King’s African Rifles on 1 January 1902.
3 NA (UK) WO339/123579: letter written by Waller to the War Office 18 July 1917.
4 November 16 1900 to April 30 1901: Army Order No 133 of 1902.
5 October 18 1905 to July 6 1906: Army Order No 92 of 1909.