Arthur Aitken

Major General Arthur Edward Aitken (1861–1924) was a British military commander.

Born in Rochford in Essex, by the time of the 1871 Census he was a 9-year old pupil at a school in Brighton, Sussex.

He began his military career in 1882 as a cavalryman. Following the outbreak of the First World War, Aitken led the first notable incursion into German East Africa at the head of Indian Expeditionary Force B, and was defeated at the Battle of Tanga in early November 1914.

The battle is often known as the "Battle of the Bees" for the swarms of bees that repeatedly interrupted fighting, with both sides fleeing for cover. Aitken had been overconfident and not attempted any reconnaissance work in the area.

The German defence forces were led by Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, who held out until the end of the war.

Aitken's troops were routed and retreated. There were delays in publishing the details in Britain.