Tom von Prince

grantwaara · Post by **grantwaara** » 13 Aug 2003 19:54

While I'm researching about General von Lettow Vorbeck, I would also like to find out any information about Major Tom von Prince who fell at Tanga in November 1914.

I know the outlines of his career but does anyone know where I can find a photo of him?

A pic of him would be a true find.

Grant

_The_General_ · Post by **_The_General_** » 13 Aug 2003 19:55

Tom von Prince

Tom von Prince (awarded the title 'von' in recognition of his many acts of bravery), had spent his military life fighting all over Tanganyika; against Isike in 1887, Machemba of the Yao in 1890, Sina of Kibosho in 1891, and he waged a gallant war against the Hehe, who, in spite of having nick- named him 'Bwana Sakarani' - the Wild Man - on account of his fierce temper - held him in such esteem that the German Colonial Office exiled him to the Usambaras.

Enrolled in General Lettow von Vorbeck's Army during World War I, he was killed in action in November 1914, leading an assault against British troops in Tanga where he lies buried.

_The_General_ · Post by **_The_General_** » 13 Aug 2003 19:56

lettow

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 16 Aug 2003 01:45

Prince's father,Thomas Henry Prince, was a Scotsman serving with the British Police force on Mauritius.He meet and married his German wife there,who was the daughter of a missionary.Tom was orphaned at an early age,and with his sister,was sent to live in Germany with relatives.He attended the Ritter Akadamie and applied,but failed,to obtain a commission in the British army.

Prince then entered the Kriegschule at Cassel and met his future wife,then a girl of fourteen.She was Magdalene von Massow,the daughter of a German general.General von Massow refused Prince access to his daughter;Prince resigned from the army and left for Africa.After his return to Germany,as a hero and a 'von',he married the girl he left behind and returned to East Africa in 1896.Prince retired from active service in 1900 and became a plantation owner.In 1913 he formed a Volunteer Defence force among the farmers of his area.Prince lead the first attack into British territory in 1914 against Taveta.

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 16 Aug 2003 06:41

This website has some photos of the Prince plantation,from 'A German Woman in East Africa' by Magdalene von Massow nee Prince.

http://www.jaduland.de/kolonien/afrika/ ... elier.html

Tom von Prince and Magdalene:

http://www.jaduland.de/kolonien/afrika/ ... a1_jpg.jpg

Magdalene von Prince,left:

http://www.jaduland.de/kolonien/afrika/ ... 12_jpg.jpg

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 16 Aug 2003 08:11

From http://www.jaduland.de.

Lettow-Vorbeck.

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 17 Sep 2003 12:34

Tom von Prince(1866-1914)

http://www.stub.bildarchiv-dkg.uni-fran ... mg0060.jpg

Chris Dale · Post by **Chris Dale** » 24 Jan 2006 01:31

Here's a photo of von Prince just before the battle of Tanga from the book Lettow-Vorbeck's Soldiers on Battery Press.
Cheers
CPD

Peter H · Post by **Peter H** » 25 Jan 2006 14:10

Chris,

Great pic!

Bwana Sakkarani(the 'wild man') with wife.He was 45 at the time.

Prince commanded Abteilung von Prince at Tanga(7 & 8 Schützenkompanies).

I assume his grave is still at Tanga.

/Peter

Chris Dale · Post by **Chris Dale** » 25 Jan 2006 15:06

Hi Peter,
Glad you liked the pic. One thing I found intersting about this photo (Cristiano pointed it out actually) is the box at von Prince's feet. It's from the Texas Oil Company- Texaco. Did Texaco supply oil to lubricate the guns of the Schutztruppe?
Cheers
Chris

USS ALASKA · Post by **USS ALASKA** » 21 Jul 2008 00:20

Hello gents – new to the forum. Sorry to dig up an old thread but had to comment. The Texaco product in the box might be kerosene for lamps. John D. Rockefeller once said something about providing everyone in China a free lamp if he could have the monopoly on providing kerosene.

USS ALASKA

Chris Dale · Post by **Chris Dale** » 22 Jul 2008 01:07

Hi USS Alaska,
Welcome to the Forum! It's always good to see old threads resurrected with some new useful information, thank you.
Cheers
Chris

Cristiano de S.O Campos · Post by **Cristiano de S.O Campos** » 23 Jul 2008 00:39

Hi Alaska

Thanks for the information.

In other photo that have schutztruppe reservists you can see these same box and the lamps ..

Cheers

Cristiano.

USS ALASKA · Post by **USS ALASKA** » 23 Jul 2008 01:40

Thank you sirs!

Before the electrification of the world, kerosene lamps were the preferred method of lighting, for those who could afford it. Kerosene was shipped in box shaped metal cans in crates. In some places, the cans were as valuable as the kerosene itself. And before the advent of the automobile, the big product that spurred the oil industry was kerosene.

Source: ‘The Prize : The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power’ by Daniel Yergin

USS ALASKA

tagati · Post by **tagati** » 03 Jan 2009 22:36

I have picked up this thread really late in the game...but an aside bit of information..I was at school in the Usamabaras, St Michael's School Soni, adjacent to a property that was once owned by the Von Prince family, (Now Karimjee/Maweni Farm). His grandson attended School in the late 1950s at Soni, and a recent thread from out message board reads.
"Tommy Von Prince, grand son of the WW1 Von Prince, briefly attended Soni in the late '50s when I was there. I think they lived somewhere near Tanga, sisal farming seems to ring a bell"

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