Summary: This book charts the progress of a Naval expedition dispatched during WW1 to wrest control of Lake Tanganyika from the Germans. The Germans had the largest flotilla of gunboats on the lake which afforded them easy movement of troops and supplies whilst denying these benefits to the opposing British and Belgians. The expedition consisted of two motor launches sent from London commanded by a singular officer.
So much for the bald detail, the officer in question (Spicer-Simson) was a true eccentric but given the task ahead that was probably an advantage. The ML's were shipped to South Africa and then moved to the lake by rail, overland through jungle and over mountain and by river. Spicer-Simson and his men overcame all sorts of obstacles (some self inflicted) to reach their goal and amazingly fight and beat the Germans! The book captures the almost unreal nature of most of the journey, the obstacles faced and overcome, the bordering on madness obsessivness and eccentricities (often wore a skirt) of Spicer-Simson and the battles on the lake with a superb eye for detail and entertaining narrative style. It's sometimes hard to believe that the expedition was ever mounted and reading the book it's even harder to believe it was a success and in large part to Spicer-Simson's unfailing self-belief. How many officers in the RN have unwittingly started their own religion?!
At the end of the book there's a surprise postscript which neatly finishes of the story and connects it to the present day.
In short, buy this book, you won't regret it (you also might not belive it but it's all true!)