A talk by John Pilkington on the subject of ‘To Eritrea and Ethiopia: Retracing a Victorian Expedition’ with Midhurst u3a.

Retracing a Victorian Expedition

A talk on the subject of ‘To Eritrea and Ethiopia: Retracing a Victorian Expedition’ with writer and broadcaster John Pilkington giving insight into the area.

In 1868 Queen Victoria’s government mounted an extraordinary bid to rescue a dozen European hostages in the Ethiopian highlands. This involved a purpose-built port and railway on the Red Sea, and in the mountains 13,000 British and Indian soldiers, 26,000 camp followers, and more than 40,000 animals including 44 elephants.

John has been following their route, partly on foot with a donkey, and has been comparing Eritrea and Ethiopia then and now. He found today’s people spirited and energetic, living in dramatic and extremely challenging lands.

Website

u3asites.org.uk/midhurst u3a