US Army Observer - Ethiopian Army - 1935...Cpt Meade?
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US Army Observer - Ethiopian Army - 1935...Cpt Meade?
Gentlemen,
In my readings I have come across a note that the US Army sent both Major Norman E. Fiske as an Observer with the Italian army in the Italo-Ethiopina War.
However, what I didn't know was that there was a US Army observer with the Ethiopians. His name was Captain John Meade...I have not ever heard of this officer or any of his reports.
Does anyone know if the observer reports for Captain Meade are available or accessible in any way. This sounds like it could give an fascinating insight into the Ethiopian Army from a distinctly military perspective. It could be a gold mine of information given Major Fiske's superb analysis of the war which his available at CARL.
Any info on Captain Meade or his Observer reports would be much appreciated.
Here is a Chicago Tribune article on their deployment.
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1935 ... enemy-no-1
I also found this snippet on him in this Princeton Alumni document...he is 'Black Jack'.
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=EB ... ia&f=false
Cheers
Happy Wanderer
In my readings I have come across a note that the US Army sent both Major Norman E. Fiske as an Observer with the Italian army in the Italo-Ethiopina War.
However, what I didn't know was that there was a US Army observer with the Ethiopians. His name was Captain John Meade...I have not ever heard of this officer or any of his reports.
Does anyone know if the observer reports for Captain Meade are available or accessible in any way. This sounds like it could give an fascinating insight into the Ethiopian Army from a distinctly military perspective. It could be a gold mine of information given Major Fiske's superb analysis of the war which his available at CARL.
Any info on Captain Meade or his Observer reports would be much appreciated.
Here is a Chicago Tribune article on their deployment.
http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1935 ... enemy-no-1
I also found this snippet on him in this Princeton Alumni document...he is 'Black Jack'.
https://books.google.com.au/books?id=EB ... ia&f=false
Cheers
Happy Wanderer
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Re: US Army Observer - Ethiopian Army - 1935...Cpt Meade?
Brief mention of Captain Meade in the Times Record Troy New York November 5 1935 which includes a photograph of him
http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2018 ... 203662.pdf
Another local paper mention of him:
http://fultonhistory.com/newspapers%20D ... 203620.pdf
Here is a brief history of " Black Jack", the horse who took part in Colonel Meade's funeral : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Jack_(horse)
EDIT: Discovered this
HISTORY OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
WARFARE: AN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/med ... trv699.pdf
On page 35 in summarizes the observations of Fiske and Meade on the use of chemical weapons in the conflict:
http://fultonhistory.com/Newspaper%2018 ... 203662.pdf
Another local paper mention of him:
http://fultonhistory.com/newspapers%20D ... 203620.pdf
Here is a brief history of " Black Jack", the horse who took part in Colonel Meade's funeral : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Jack_(horse)
EDIT: Discovered this
HISTORY OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL
WARFARE: AN AMERICAN PERSPECTIVE
http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/med ... trv699.pdf
On page 35 in summarizes the observations of Fiske and Meade on the use of chemical weapons in the conflict:
The source of Meade's quote isn't available online as far as I can find but you might track it down elsewhere through inter library loanCaptain Meade, on the other hand, thought that
chemical weapons were a significant factor in winning
the war. They had been used to destroy the
morale of the Ethiopian troops, who had little or
no protection, and to break up any attempts at concentration
of forces. Captain Meade concluded:
It is my opinion that of all the superior weapons
possessed by the Italians, mustard gas was the most
effective. It caused few deaths that I observed, but
it temporarily incapacitated very large numbers
and so frightened the rest that the Ethiopian resistance
broke completely.88(p20)
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Re: US Army Observer - Ethiopian Army - 1935...Cpt Meade?
Thanks.
Those Observer reports are really what I'm trying to find out about. Does anyone know if they still exist? Meade was an Artillery officer and surprisingly I can't find any record of his reports, even briefly, in any artillery journals of the time. Fort Sill has digitised Field Artillery Journal but not a peep about Capt. Meade.
A mystery?
Cheers
Happy W
Those Observer reports are really what I'm trying to find out about. Does anyone know if they still exist? Meade was an Artillery officer and surprisingly I can't find any record of his reports, even briefly, in any artillery journals of the time. Fort Sill has digitised Field Artillery Journal but not a peep about Capt. Meade.
A mystery?
Cheers
Happy W
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Re: US Army Observer - Ethiopian Army - 1935...Cpt Meade?
Yes,
Daniel Meade here. Cpt John Meade was my grandfather. I have his hand written diary from his time in Ethiopia as well as a transcribed electronic version. He retired Col Meade after serving as military governor of part of Austria ( including Linz) in the post war period. He lived out the rest of his life in New Orleans, LA. I also have Ethiopian spears, shields, swords, water casks, etc that were gifts from Haile Salassie, with whom he had a friendship. I hope you find these items valuable, and I am happy to share them with interested parties. It's a magnificent primary source for the period. I can be reached through this post or at [email protected]. Best regards, Daniel Meade
Daniel Meade here. Cpt John Meade was my grandfather. I have his hand written diary from his time in Ethiopia as well as a transcribed electronic version. He retired Col Meade after serving as military governor of part of Austria ( including Linz) in the post war period. He lived out the rest of his life in New Orleans, LA. I also have Ethiopian spears, shields, swords, water casks, etc that were gifts from Haile Salassie, with whom he had a friendship. I hope you find these items valuable, and I am happy to share them with interested parties. It's a magnificent primary source for the period. I can be reached through this post or at [email protected]. Best regards, Daniel Meade
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Re: US Army Observer - Ethiopian Army - 1935...Cpt Meade?
Hi Daniel,
Thanks for the reply. That sounds like a very interesting family history you have there...very interesting.
The items you have certainly seem like they they almost should be in a museum...they are indeed very unique . Fascinating.
In relation to the actual digitised information your grandfather recorded, that would certainly be interesting to see. I shall send you a PM.
Thanks again for a reply to this 'mystery'...nice one
Happy W
Thanks for the reply. That sounds like a very interesting family history you have there...very interesting.
The items you have certainly seem like they they almost should be in a museum...they are indeed very unique . Fascinating.
In relation to the actual digitised information your grandfather recorded, that would certainly be interesting to see. I shall send you a PM.
Thanks again for a reply to this 'mystery'...nice one
Happy W
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Re: US Army Observer - Ethiopian Army - 1935...Cpt Meade?
Here is a summary of his report from State Department Records
https://history.state.gov/historicaldoc ... 936v03/d85
The full report was returned to defense and was not a part of this record. However, it has additional observations from Captain Meade.
https://history.state.gov/historicaldoc ... 936v03/d85
The full report was returned to defense and was not a part of this record. However, it has additional observations from Captain Meade.
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Re: US Army Observer - Ethiopian Army - 1935...Cpt Meade?
Captain Meade's report would have been filed with the Military Intelligence Division (MID) of the War Department Special Staff. They are now held in Record Group 165, Records of the War Department General and Special Staffs as "MID Correspondence 1917-1941, Entry A1-65" at NARA Archives II. College Park, MD. Unfortunately, I do not know of an index for these reports and the number in the hundreds, so it might take a bit of work to locate his.tommylotto wrote:Here is a summary of his report from State Department Records
https://history.state.gov/historicaldoc ... 936v03/d85
The full report was returned to defense and was not a part of this record. However, it has additional observations from Captain Meade.
Richard C. Anderson Jr.
American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell
American Thunder: U.S. Army Tank Design, Development, and Doctrine in World War II
Cracking Hitler's Atlantic Wall
Hitler's Last Gamble
Artillery Hell