1st (African) Division
Encyclopedia
The 1st Division was a British Empire
colonial unit during World War II
. The division was formed on 24 July 1940 in East Africa
. On 24 November of that year, the division was re-designated as the British Army's
11th (African) Division. The division were composed primarily of West Africa
n and East Africa
n troops. It was disbanded on 23 November 1941 and its component units reassigned.
The division should not be confused with 11th (East Africa) Division
which was raised in 1943 using solely East African units and which fought in Burma
.
(KAR) in Kenya
had been composed of two brigade-strength units organized as a Northern Brigade and a Southern Brigade. The combined strength of both units amounted to 94 officers, 60 non-commissioned officers, and 2,821 African other ranks. After the outbreak of war, these units provided the trained nucleus for the rapid expansion of the KAR.
By March 1940, the strength of the KAR had reached 883 officers, 1,374 non-commissioned officers, and 20,026 African other ranks. The size of a KAR battalion was established at 36 officers, 44 non-commissioned officers and other ranks, and 1,050 African other ranks.
Initially the KAR deployed as the 1st East African Infantry Brigade and the 2nd East African Infantry Brigade. The first brigade was responsible for coastal defense and the second was responsible for the defense of the interior.
By the end of July, two additional East African brigades were formed, the 3rd East African Infantry Brigade and the 6th East African Infantry Brigade. Initially a Coastal Division and a Northern Frontier District Division were planned. But, instead, on 19 July, the 1st (African) Division and the 2nd (African) Division
were formed. On 24 November, these divisions became the 11th African Division and the 12th African Division.
By July 1940, under the terms of a war contingency plan, the Royal West African Frontier Force
provided two brigades for service in Kenya
. One brigade was from the Gold Coast
(Ghana
) and one brigade was from Nigeria
. The 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
, together with two East African brigades (KAR brigades) and some South Africans, formed 11th African Division. The 12th African Division had a similar formation with a Ghanaian brigade taking the place of a Nigerian brigade.
. Between 4 February to 26 February, during the East African Campaign
, the division fought its only battle on the Juba. On 28 July 1941 the headquarters closed in Ethiopia
, transferring to Nairobi
, where it opened again on 20 August. It took command of new formations upon the transfer to Kenya
. On 23 November 1941 the division headquarters ceased to exist.
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
colonial unit during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The division was formed on 24 July 1940 in East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. On 24 November of that year, the division was re-designated as the British Army's
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
11th (African) Division. The division were composed primarily of West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n and East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
n troops. It was disbanded on 23 November 1941 and its component units reassigned.
The division should not be confused with 11th (East Africa) Division
11th (East Africa) Division
The 11th Infantry Division was a British Empire colonial unit formed in February 1943 during World War II.-Formation:In 1943, the 11th Division was formed primarily of troops from British East Africa....
which was raised in 1943 using solely East African units and which fought in Burma
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
.
Background
In 1938, the King's African RiflesKing's African Rifles
The King's African Rifles was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the various British possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions within the East African colonies as well as external service as...
(KAR) in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
had been composed of two brigade-strength units organized as a Northern Brigade and a Southern Brigade. The combined strength of both units amounted to 94 officers, 60 non-commissioned officers, and 2,821 African other ranks. After the outbreak of war, these units provided the trained nucleus for the rapid expansion of the KAR.
By March 1940, the strength of the KAR had reached 883 officers, 1,374 non-commissioned officers, and 20,026 African other ranks. The size of a KAR battalion was established at 36 officers, 44 non-commissioned officers and other ranks, and 1,050 African other ranks.
Initially the KAR deployed as the 1st East African Infantry Brigade and the 2nd East African Infantry Brigade. The first brigade was responsible for coastal defense and the second was responsible for the defense of the interior.
By the end of July, two additional East African brigades were formed, the 3rd East African Infantry Brigade and the 6th East African Infantry Brigade. Initially a Coastal Division and a Northern Frontier District Division were planned. But, instead, on 19 July, the 1st (African) Division and the 2nd (African) Division
2nd (African) Division
The 2nd Division was a British Empire colonial unit that fought during World War II. On 19 July 1940 , the 2nd Division was formed in Kenya, British East Africa. On 24 November of that year, the division was redesignated as the British Army's 12th Division...
were formed. On 24 November, these divisions became the 11th African Division and the 12th African Division.
By July 1940, under the terms of a war contingency plan, the Royal West African Frontier Force
Royal West African Frontier Force
The West African Frontier Force was a multi-battalion field force, formed by the British Colonial Office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. The decision to raise this force was taken in 1897 because of concern at French colonial...
provided two brigades for service in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. One brigade was from the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
(Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
) and one brigade was from Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
. The 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
The 1st Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army during World War II. It was formed in 1940 from battalions of the Royal West African Frontier Force and served in the East African campaign against the Italians and against the Japanese in Burma.-History:The 1st Infantry...
, together with two East African brigades (KAR brigades) and some South Africans, formed 11th African Division. The 12th African Division had a similar formation with a Ghanaian brigade taking the place of a Nigerian brigade.
Combat history
The 1st (African) Division fought in East AfricaEast Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. Between 4 February to 26 February, during the East African Campaign
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
, the division fought its only battle on the Juba. On 28 July 1941 the headquarters closed in Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, transferring to Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
, where it opened again on 20 August. It took command of new formations upon the transfer to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. On 23 November 1941 the division headquarters ceased to exist.
Commanding officers
- Brigadier G. R. SmallwoodGerard Russell SmallwoodGerald Russell Smallwood was an officer in the British Army during World War II.In 1939, at the outbreak of war, Brigadier Smallwood commanded the Nigerian Brigade. By 1940, his brigade was named the 3rd Nigerian Brigade. In July 1940, under the terms of a war contingency plan, the 3rd Nigerian...
(acting Commanding Officer) 24 July 1940 to 13 August 1940 - Major-General H. E. de R. WetherallHarry Edward de Robillard WetherallLieutenant General Sir Harry Edward de Robillard Wetherall KBE CB DSO MC was an officer in the British Army during World War I and World War II.-Military career:Wetherall was commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment in 1909....
13 August 1940 to 23 November 1941
Artillery
- 1st (Nigerian) Light Battery 24/7/40-17/10/10
- 52nd (Nigerian) Light Battery 18/10/40-20/07/41
- 53rd (East African) Light Battery 06/02/41-23/02/41
- 22nd Indian Mountain Battery 03/12/40-01/01041; 23/02/41-01/03/41; 12/03/41-26/07/41
- 18th Indian Mountain Battery 03/04/41-26/07/41
Engineers
- 1st (Nigerian) Field Company 24/07/40-17/10/40
- 3rd (Gold Coast) Field Company 24/07/40-17/10/40
- 51st (Nigerian) Field Company 18/10/40-20/07/41
- 53rd (Gold Coast) Field Company 18/10/40-23/02/41; 20/08/41-22/11/41
- 54th (East African) Field Company 03/12/40-08/01/41; 23/02/41-01/03/41; 12/03/41-26/07/41
Signals
- 1st (African) Division Signals 24/07/40-23/11/40
- 11th (African) Division Signals 24/11/40-22/11/41
Brigades
- 1st (East African) Brigade 24/07/40-17/10/40
- 3rd (Nigerian) Brigade1st (West Africa) Infantry BrigadeThe 1st Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army during World War II. It was formed in 1940 from battalions of the Royal West African Frontier Force and served in the East African campaign against the Italians and against the Japanese in Burma.-History:The 1st Infantry...
24/07/40-17/10/40 - 21st (East African) Brigade 18/10/40-27/02/41; 20/08/41-22/11/41
- 23rd (Nigerian) Brigade1st (West Africa) Infantry BrigadeThe 1st Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army during World War II. It was formed in 1940 from battalions of the Royal West African Frontier Force and served in the East African campaign against the Italians and against the Japanese in Burma.-History:The 1st Infantry...
18/10/40-20/07/41 - 22nd (East African) Brigade 03/12/40-08/01/41; 23/02/41-01/03/41; 12/03/41-26/07/41
- 28th (East African) Brigade 20/08/41-02/10/41
See also
- King's African RiflesKing's African RiflesThe King's African Rifles was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the various British possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions within the East African colonies as well as external service as...
- East African Campaign (World War II)East African Campaign (World War II)The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
- 2nd (African) Division (United Kingdom)
- Order of Battle, East African Campaign (World War II)Order of Battle, East African Campaign (World War II)The Order of Battle, East African Campaign shows the ground forces available to both sides in East Africa on the date that the Italians declared war on Britain and France, 10 June 1940...
- List of British Empire divisions in World War II
- List of higher formations British 1st (African) Division served under