{{Short description|Tanzanian Army general (1939–2002)}} {{good article}} {{Infobox military person | honorific_prefix = | name = John Butler Walden | honorific_suffix = | image = File:Brigadier John Walden.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Walden as a brigadier in 1979 | birth_date = {{birth date|1939|12|12|df=yes}} | death_date = {{Death date and age|2002|07|07|1939|12|12|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Tunduru]], [[Tanganyika (territory)|Tanganyika]] | death_place = | burial_place = [[Mbeya]], [[Tanzania]] | nickname = Black Mamba | birth_name = | allegiance = {{flagcountry|British Empire}}<br>{{flagcountry|Tanganyika (1961–1964)}}<br>{{flagcountry|Tanzania}} | branch = [[King's African Rifles]]<br/>[[Tanganyika Rifles]]<br/>[[Tanzania People's Defence Force]] | service_years = 1957–? | rank = [[Major General]] [[File:15-Tanzania_Army-MG.svg|15px]] | service_number = | unit = | commands = 207th Brigade TPDF | battles = {{tree list}} *[[Uganda–Tanzania War]] **[[Invasion of Kagera]] **[[Battle of Simba Hills]] **[[Battle of Masaka]] **[[Fall of Kampala]] {{tree list/end}} | battles_label = | awards = | spouse = <!-- Add spouse if reliably sourced --> | relations = | other_work = | signature = | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }}
'''John Butler Walden'''{{efn|He has also been called "Jack Walden".{{sfn|Hooper|1999|pp=xxvi, 767}} }} (12 December 1939 – 7 July 2002) was a Tanzanian military officer. Born in [[Tanganyika (territory)|British Tanganyika]] to a white father and black mother, he enlisted in the [[King's African Rifles]] in 1957 after finishing school. He eventually achieved the rank of [[sergeant]] and, following Tanganyika's independence, was transferred to the [[Tanganyika Rifles]]. In April 1963 he became a [[lieutenant]]. He was later promoted to [[Major (rank)|major]] and held command of a camp in Mafinga. During the [[Uganda–Tanzania War]] of 1978 and 1979 Walden served as commander of the 207th Brigade in the [[Tanzania People's Defence Force]] with the rank of [[brigadier]]. In 1981 he organised the withdrawal of the Tanzanian troops in Uganda. By 1987 he had been promoted to [[major general]] and two years later he oversaw an anti-poaching operation. He died in 2002.
== Early life == John Butler Walden was born on 12 December 1939 to a white father, Stanley Arthur Walden, and a black mother, Violet Nambela in [[Tunduru]], [[Tanganyika (territory)|Tanganyika]].<ref name= mbughuni/> Stanley Walden worked in the British colonial administration as [[Tunduru District]] Commissioner.<ref name= daudi>{{cite news| url = http://www.rai.co.tz/mfahamu-black-mamba-na-historia-ya-tanzania/| title = Mfahamu 'Black Mamba' na Historia ya Tanzania| last = Daudi| first = Francis| date = 11 January 2018| newspaper = Rai| access-date = 11 January 2019| language = Swahili|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190112150011/http://www.rai.co.tz/mfahamu-black-mamba-na-historia-ya-tanzania/| archive-date= 12 January 2019}}</ref> Violet Nambela was the daughter of Andrew Sinkala, an official at the Tunduru Game Department.<ref name= mbughuni>{{cite news| last = Mbughuni| first = Azaria| title = 'Black Mamba': Legend in the Tanzanian army| newspaper = The Citizen| date = 24 April 2019| url = https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/magazine/politicalreforms/-Black-Mamba---Legend-in-the-Tanzanian-army/1843776-5085440-159ixdc/index.html| access-date = 3 June 2019}}</ref>
In 1941 John Walden moved with his maternal grandmother to [[Mbeya]]. The following year his father was reassigned to a post in Njombe, [[Iringa]], and Walden subsequently moved there.<ref name= mbughuni /> In 1945 he enrolled in Tosamanganga School, a Christian boarding school in Iringa which hosted many mixed-race students. His father secretly paid for his school fees.<ref name= mbughuni/>{{sfn|Mbogoni|2018|loc=The case of Stanley Arthur Walden}} He spoke little with his parents while attending the institution, though the staff took a personal liking to him and his younger brother, Paul.{{efn|Paul was five or six years younger than John, and though both were fathered by Stanley Arthur Walden, Paul may have been born to a different African mother.{{sfn|Mbogoni|2018|loc=The case of Stanley Arthur Walden}}}} He completed primary studies in 1952<ref name= mbughuni/> and graduated in 1956 after completing the tenth grade, the most senior grade offered.{{sfn|Mbogoni|2018|loc=The case of Stanley Arthur Walden}} According to historian Azaria Mbughuni, "the experience at Tosamaganga shaped the character of the young John. He learned to be tough and independent."<ref name= mbughuni />
== Military career == In 1957 Walden saw a recruitment advertisement for the [[King's African Rifles]] (KAR), and, forgoing his original wish to join the navy, decided to enlist at Colito Barracks in [[Dar es Salaam]]. He enjoyed military life and saw his service as an opportunity for adventure. Due to a shortage of administrative staff in the training section, he worked as a clerk for several months before beginning formal military instruction in July. In February 1958 he completed his training and was assigned to A Company, 6th Battalion KAR at Colito. Around two months later he was promoted to [[lance corporal]]. In early 1958 Walden was sent to [[Nakuru]] for instruction in storekeeping. After completing it he returned to Colito, though his company had already been posted to [[Mauritius]] for routine garrison duties. The following year he joined his unit there, and served as a storekeeper, performed administrative duties, and acted as a translator for the sub-area commander. In 1960 [[1959–60 South-West Indian Ocean cyclone season|a cyclone]] struck the island and Walden was given charge of co-ordinating the distribution of disaster relief supplies with the [[Red Cross]]. Afterwards, A Company returned to Dar es Salaam, staying there for one or two months before being moved to [[Shinyanga]].{{sfn|Tanganyika Rifles Mutiny|1993|p=21}} In December 1961 Tanganyika became [[Tanganyika (1961–1964)|a sovereign state]] and the 6th Battalion KAR were transferred to the newly formed [[Tanganyika Rifles]].{{sfn|Tanganyika Rifles Mutiny|1993|p=25}} In 1962 Walden was made a [[sergeant]] and became his company's [[quartermaster]]. With the assistance of his unit's commander, he was able to take multiple specialised training courses. In late 1962 he was enrolled in [[Mons Officer Cadet School]]. He graduated in April 1963 as a [[lieutenant]] and was given command of a platoon in B Company, 1st Tanganyika Rifles at Colito.{{sfn|Tanganyika Rifles Mutiny|1993|p=21}} Walden later chose "Black Mamba"—the name of a [[Black mamba|venomous snake]]—as his ''nom de guerre''.{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=80}} He was a skilled marksman. In the late 1960s he held various responsibilities, including command of a Tanzania [[National service|National Service]] camp in Mafinga, Iringa while holding the rank of [[Major (rank)|major]]. Shortly after [[Mozambique]] [[Mozambican War of Independence|obtained independence]] in 1975, Walden was sent there to serve as a [[military attaché]].<ref name= mbughuni/>
During the [[Uganda–Tanzania War]] Walden served as commander of the 207th Brigade in the [[Tanzania People's Defence Force]] (TPDF) with the rank of [[brigadier]].{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=80}} Ugandan forces [[Invasion of Kagera|occupied territory]] in northern Tanzania in late 1978, and during the TPDF's counter-attack Walden and his men recaptured [[Minziro Forest Reserve|Minziro]] and a sugar plantation.<ref name= mbughuni/> In early 1979 the TPDF invaded Uganda. The 207th Brigade was tasked with [[Battle of Simba Hills|eliminating the Ugandan garrison at Katera]]. Walden ordered his troops to advance down a flooded path through a swamp to attack the town without being threatened by Ugandan troops. He accompanied his unit on the 50-hour trek. The brigade moved single-file through deep water and briefly lost contact with the local TPDF headquarters when its radios were rendered inoperative by the wet conditions. However, it were able to reach its destination and seize Katera after driving out the Ugandans with artillery fire. The unit was thereafter dubbed "the Amphibious Brigade" by Tanzanian soldiers.{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|pp=79–80}} On 24 February Walden and his brigade participated in the [[Battle of Masaka|capture of Masaka]].<ref name=lubega1>{{cite web| url = https://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Revisiting-the-Tanzania-Uganda-war-that-toppled-Amin/688342-2293306-110gxl9/index.html| title = Revisiting the Tanzania-Uganda war that toppled Amin| last = Lubega| first = Henry| date = 26 April 2014| website = Daily Monitor| access-date = 10 January 2019| archive-date = 24 January 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180124160036/http://www.monitor.co.ug/SpecialReports/Revisiting-the-Tanzania-Uganda-war-that-toppled-Amin/688342-2293306-110gxl9/index.html| url-status = dead}}</ref> On 10 April the TPDF [[Fall of Kampala|attacked Kampala]]. The 207th Brigade advanced into the western portion of the city,{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|pp=133, 145}} and Walden oversaw the capture of President [[Idi Amin]]'s residence.<ref name= daudi/> After the battle, his brigade was tasked with occupying the entirety of Kampala and maintaining order.{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|p=154}} In June 1981 he organised the withdrawal of all TPDF troops from Uganda.{{sfn|Avirgan|Honey|1983|pp=231–232}}
In 1985 [[Julius Nyerere]], the [[President of Tanzania]], resigned and was replaced by [[Ali Hassan Mwinyi]]. In 1988 Mwinyi reportedly considered making Walden Chief of the TPDF, but passed him over for the appointment.{{efn|According to the ''[[New Africa]]'', Walden was the favourite among the soldiers for the post.<ref>{{cite journal| title = New Army Commander| journal = Bulletin of Tanzanian Affairs|page= 31| issue = 32| date = 1 January 1989| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gQMOAQAAMAAJ}}</ref>}} According to some sources, Mwinyi called him to tell him that while he was the most qualified officer for the role, he could not be given the appointment. The reasons for the decision were not specified.<ref name= mbughuni/> By 1987 Walden had been promoted to the rank of [[major general]].{{sfn|Tanganyika Rifles Mutiny|1993|p=33}} In 1989 he was placed in command of Operation Uhai to combat poachers on Tanzanian lands. He spent several nights leading wildlife rangers on patrols in the desert, successfully reducing illegal hunting of elephants.<ref name= daudi/> By 1997, Walden served as the Tanzanian military attaché in London.{{sfn|Hooper|1999|p=767}} He later retired from the army.<ref>{{cite journal| title = Obituaries| journal = Tanzanian Affairs| issue = 73| page = 30| date = 1 September 2002| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=QwoOAQAAMAAJ}}</ref>
== Death == Walden died on 7 July 2002 and was buried in Mbeya.<ref name= daudi/>
== Notes == {{notelist}}
== Citations == {{reflist}}
== References == {{refbegin}} * {{cite book| last1 = Avirgan| first1 = Tony |author-link=Tony Avirgan | last2 = Honey| first2 = Martha |author-link2=Martha Honey | title = War in Uganda: The Legacy of Idi Amin| location= Dar es Salaam|publisher = Tanzania Publishing House| date = 1983| isbn = 978-9976-1-0056-3}} * {{cite book| last = Hooper| first = Edward| title = The River: A Journey Back to the Source of HIV and AIDS| publisher = Allen Lane| date = 1999| location = London| isbn = 978-0-7139-9335-6}} * {{cite book| last = Mbogoni| first = Lawrence| title = Miscegenation, Identity and Status in Colonial Africa: Intimate Colonial Encounters| publisher = Routledge| date = 2018| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=2GN8DwAAQBAJ|location= [[Boca Raton, Florida|Boca Raton]]| isbn = 978-1-351-66789-0}} * {{cite book| title = Tanganyika Rifles Mutiny: January 1964| publisher = Dar es Salaam University Press|location= Dar es Salaam| date = 1993| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=8LAwAQAAIAAJ| isbn = 978-9976-60-187-9| ref = {{harvid|Tanganyika Rifles Mutiny|1993}}}} {{refend}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walden, John Butler}} [[Category:1939 births]] [[Category:2002 deaths]] [[Category:Tanzanian generals]] [[Category:Military attachés]] [[Category:Tanzanian people of English descent]] [[Category:Military personnel of the Uganda–Tanzania War]] [[Category:Graduates of the Mons Officer Cadet School]]