The Story of a Lion Hunt (1922)

 Andrew Melrose, 1922, gilt lettering on burgundy cloth boards, six drawings by Walter Seed and photographs by the author, part 1; peace, lion hunting, part II; War, scouts' patrol, part III; war, campaigning in East Africa, 252 pages, 145 x 220mm, condition: very good.

  Leading a patrol into German East Africa (Tanzania), he collected valuable information before being wounded and captured on 1 July. He escaped six months later and spent fifteen days crossing unfamiliar country to regain his own lines. For his gallantry he was awarded the Military Cross. Wienholt performed further successful reconnaissance missions, among them an arduous six-month expedition during which his party was frequently attacked by superior enemy forces. His courage and endurance won him the Distinguished Service Order in October 1918. A bar to his M.C. had been gazetted in September; he had also been promoted captain.

He had published The Story of a Lion Hunt (London, 1922), an account of his adventures on safari and in World War I, and gone lion-hunting on four occasions between 1923 and 1929. A man of 'ruthless integrity and exacting truthfulness', he abhorred sentimentality and exaggeration. Consequently, his books understated his deeds. An 'uncompromising individualist', he had affection for the peoples of Africa. Wienholt lived much of his life alone, and died alone for a cause which he embraced eagerly and with passion.His Queensland estate was sworn for probate at £174,978. (Australian Dictionary of Biography)