Squaring The Circle, A Randall Carlson Podcast #086 Ethiopia: Ancient Land of Mystery, World War and Rediscovery of The Lost Books of Enoch
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Apr 9, 2026 Scott Engle, longtime student of the Book of Enoch and Ethiopian traditions, and Jonathan Wickham, documentary filmmaker who retraced his father's 1941 wartime service, recount a 2023 journey to Ethiopia. They explore ancient monasteries, the preservation and secrecy around the Book of Enoch, wartime battlefield sites near Gondar, Lalibela's rock-hewn churches, and Ethiopian religious iconography.
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Photo Sparked A Journey To Gondar
- Jonathan found an old photograph of his father in WWII that sparked a quest to uncover his role in the Battle of Gondar.
- The photo showed his father in uniform with African artillerymen, leading Jonathan to UK archives and a 54th Nyasaland field battery war diary.
Archive Clue Opened The Battlefield Map
- The 54th Nyasaland field battery played a decisive artillery role at Gondar by arriving unexpectedly and targeting Italian defenses from unexpected directions.
- Jonathan located the unit in archives via a cryptic reference to "54th NY field battery," linking NY to Nyasaland and unlocking war diaries and artillery maps.
Armed Guards And Villagers Guided The Expedition
- Scott and Jonathan hired armed local guards to travel outside Gondar because they visited soon after a fragile ceasefire.
- They trekked tracks and ridges (Iber Ridge, Defeccio Ridge) the same routes the 54th Battery used, often escorted by villagers who recognized the British-African troops history.
