WASC resources: Cameroons

An introduction to the postal history of the area

This link will take you to pages which describe the stamps and postal history of the Cameroons, also at various times named Kamerun (German administration) and Cameroun (French administration and post independence, from 1961). The summary includes its own list of references.

Documents relevant to the area

The documents listed below refer specifically to the Cameroons, but some documents, such as annual reports relating to Nigeria may be relevant, insofar as Nigeria administered part of the Cameroons between 1922 and 1961 - the French adminstered the rest.

Annual Colonial Reports and Nigeria Handbooks, including Cameroons under mandate
Annual reports were compiled each year by the administrations of pre and post 1914 Nigerias. Reports for Lagos, Southern and Northern Nigeria and a few reports after 1914 are on a separate page here, together with two copies of 'The Nigerian Handbook', which was a much lengthier description of Nigeria, issued from time to time 'not an official publication but ... issued with the approval of the Nigerian Government.' Plus Cameroons under mandate reports for 1922, 24, 25, 26, 29, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38

Bob Maddocks Cameroons Covers
This 101-page file contains some of the background materials that Bob Maddocks used in the preparation of his 1996 publication, The Postal Arrangements of the Anglo-French Cameroons Expeditionary Force 1914-1916. The file consists primarily of covers, postmarks and cachets associated with both the British and the French contingents of the C.E.F. Also included  are some illustrations and correspondence. Thanks are extended to Peter Hørlyck for scanning the material so that collectors, postal historians and others may benefit from Bob's research.

Nominal roll of the British share of the CEF contingent in Cameroons in WW1
This 16-page PDF was copied by Bob Maddocks at the National Archives with reference WO.158/5/30. Annotations and page 16 are by Bob himself.

Cameroon Campaign Report 1914-16 by Sir Charles Dobell
Sir Charles Dobell was commanding officer of the British forces in the Cameroons during the campaign. This 55 page document is his report to the Secretary of State for War on the course of that campaign. Sourced by Michael Wright, as a study Bulletin for the British West Africa Study Circle (WASC as was).

Cameroons postal history 1914-61 by Michael Wright
British Cameroons postal history 1914-61 by Michael Wright Illustrated, 27 pages