Sources used for this history

The London Gazette

Official Gazette notices were used to confirm Aitken’s commission, transfers, promotions and Indian Army appointments.

• Commissioned into the 97th Foot, January 1880
• Transfer to the 29th Foot, February 1880
• Transfer to the Bombay Staff Corps, 1884 notice
• Promotion to Major, Indian Staff Corps, 1900
• Listed with 119th Infantry, The Mooltan Regiment, 1904
• Indian Army promotion notice, 1911

Imperial War Museums / Lives of the First World War

IWM’s Lives of the First World War entry provides a useful summary record and links Aitken to his First World War Medal Index Card.

• Arthur Edward Aitken — Lives of the First World War
• Medal Index Card — The National Archives reference D1651114

Related reference: WO372/1, Medal Index Cards.

Hansard

Hansard was used for the later parliamentary reference to Colonel Aitken, his East Africa service, retirement and honorary rank.

• Hansard — Colonel Aitken, House of Commons, 8 November 1921

East Africa and the Battle of Tanga

These sources were used to understand the wider East African campaign, Indian Expeditionary Force “B”, and the failed Tanga operation of November 1914.

• 1914–1918 Online — Battle of Tanga
• East African Campaign 1914–1918 — Great War in East Africa Association PDF

Memorial and Burial Record

Memorial records help confirm later-life and burial details, including Aitken’s death in Rome and memorial inscription.

• Find a Grave — Brigadier-General Arthur Edward Aitken

Biographical Overview

Secondary sources were used as starting points for checking dates, names and related leads. Where possible, details were then checked against official records.

• Arthur Aitken — biographical overview
• Edward Paice, Tip & Run: The Untold Tragedy of the Great War in Africa — useful background reading on the East African campaign and Tanga.