Contrary to P.S Thompson's contention that the Great War in Natal was “chiefly the concern of the British community”, contemporary evidence indicated that this and other conflicts were equally the concern of the ‘animal community’ including that of pigeons. In fact, history abounds with the tales of pigeons fulfilling a critical intelligence role in both local and overseas conflicts, including the Anglo-Boer War, First World War and World War Two. Indeed, in all cases special war measures were promulgated to regulate the keeping, general treatment, utilisation and transport of the birds. The Dickin Medal, also known as the Victoria Cross for Animals and awarded to recognise conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty of animals and birds associated with or under the control of any branch of the Armed Forces or Civil Defence Units under the British Imperial Army, was awarded to 32 pigeons.

In Uganda, records and archives management in government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) is the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Service through the Records and Information Management Department (DRIM). The Uganda National Archives is a section of DRIM. Officially, the Department's responsibilities include:

• initiating and developing records management and archives administration policies

• planning and budgeting for records management and archives administration programmes

• giving guidance in the management of current records, semi-current and non-current records

• co-ordinating the implementation of records and achives laws and policies

• developing guidelines and procedures for records and archives administration

• sensitising records creators and members of the public to enhance awareness on the importance of records

• designing career development plans for records and archives staff, ensuring that government organisations follow good records management practice managing public records in all media or formats, including digital records

In the autumn and winter of 1954 Commissioner John Allan, the second-incommand of the Salvation Army, visited Africa and travelled through those countries where The Salvation Army was then established: Kenya, Rhodesia, South Africa, Nigeria, the Gold Coast, French Equatorial Africa and the Belgian Congo. During his visit he met tribal and national leaders including, on 11 November 1954 in the Gold Coast, Kwame Nkrumah in his Presidential Office, where Commissioner Allan “asked God to guide Nkrumah as he controls the destiny of his people”.

When an account of the tour was written up for publication in 1955, the article began as follows:

Given that the words ‘Africa’ or ‘African’ are not present in the name of the Centre, many might be surprised at the quantity and quality of material relating to that continent, held at the Henry Martyn Centre. It is held in a variety of formats including correspondence, photographs, maps and newspapers. In addition to this archival material, the Henry Martyn Library offers a very rich resource which complements the archival holdings. Books, unpublished theses and journals about Africa are all to be found there. I will begin by explaining briefly what the Henry Martyn Centre does, and about how the archive has developed. I will then go on to explain how the very strong African link has been forged and fostered over the years. In the second half of this paper I will consider in what ways these African collections could be described as ‘hidden’, and how we are addressing that. I will be taking a ‘case study’ approach, focussing on a few key examples.