2nd (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 2nd Infantry Brigade was a World War II
unit of the British Army
it was formed from battalions of the Royal West African Frontier Force
in 1940. The Brigade served in the East African campaign in the early part of the war before seeing action against the Japanese in Burma in 1944–45.
) Infantry Brigade but was re-designated 24th (Gold Coast) Infantry Brigade in October 1940. It was involved in the East African Campaign
against the forces of the Italian Colonial Empire in Kenya
under the command of Brigadier Collen Edward Melville Richards
and was attached to the 2nd (African) Division
. During the East African Campaign, the brigade was part of Andrew Cunningham
's force which attacked from Kenya
into Italian Somaliland
and then advanced into Ethiopia
. After the campaign, in December 1941, the brigade returned to West Africa and was reorganised as an independent brigade group (with attached engineer and artillery units) and designated 2nd (West African) Infantry Brigade.
In October 1942 command of the brigade passed to Brigadier Ernest Western
who was to remain in this role until March 1945. In 1944, reorganised once more as an infantry brigade, the 2nd (West African) was attached to the 82nd (West Africa) Division
and sailed for Ceylon, where the complete division was assembled on July 20. They then moved to Burma and took part in the third Arakan Campaign
in December, 1944 as part of Philip Christison
's XV Corps.
It first advanced south along the Kalapanzin valley, then crossed a steep and jungle-covered mountain range to converge with the British 81st (West Africa) Division on Myohaung at the mouth of the Kaladan River
. This move forced the Japanese to evacuate the Mayu peninsula which they had held for almost four years, and retreat south along the coast. They continued to advance maintaining pressure, on the Japanese capturing the port of Gwa
shortly before the Japanese abandoned Burma. Western was wounded in March 1945 and command of the brigade was given to Brigadier Adam Wilson-Brand.
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...
unit of the British Army
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...
it was formed from battalions of 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...
in 1940. The Brigade served in the East African campaign in the early part of the war before seeing action against the Japanese in Burma in 1944–45.
History
The brigade was originally formed as 4th (Gold CoastGold 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...
) Infantry Brigade but was re-designated 24th (Gold Coast) Infantry Brigade in October 1940. It was involved in 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....
against the forces of the Italian Colonial Empire 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...
under the command of Brigadier Collen Edward Melville Richards
Collen Edward Melville Richards
Collen Edward Melville Richards was an officer in the British Army during World War I and World War II.Joining the East Lancashire Regiment in 1911, Brigadier Richards commanded the 24th Gold Coast Brigade during the East African Campaign.-Command history:* Commanding Officer, Gold Coast Regiment...
and was attached to 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...
. During the East African Campaign, the brigade was part of Andrew Cunningham
Andrew Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope
Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne Cunningham, 1st Viscount Cunningham of Hyndhope KT, GCB, OM, DSO and two Bars , was a British admiral of the Second World War. Cunningham was widely known by his nickname, "ABC"....
's force which attacked from 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...
into Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland
Italian Somaliland , also known as Italian Somalia, was a colony of the Kingdom of Italy from the 1880s until 1936 in the region of modern-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th century by the Somali Sultanate of Hobyo and the Majeerteen Sultanate, the territory was later acquired by Italy through various...
and then advanced into 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...
. After the campaign, in December 1941, the brigade returned to West Africa and was reorganised as an independent brigade group (with attached engineer and artillery units) and designated 2nd (West African) Infantry Brigade.
In October 1942 command of the brigade passed to Brigadier Ernest Western
Ernest Walter Davie Western
Brigadier Ernest Walter Davie Western was the first son of Walter Western and Elizabeth Ann Heard . E.W.D. Western was born on 2 Feb, 1901, in Gibraltar. He was educated at the Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys, Canterbury, in 1918...
who was to remain in this role until March 1945. In 1944, reorganised once more as an infantry brigade, the 2nd (West African) was attached to the 82nd (West Africa) Division
82nd (West Africa) Division
The 82nd Division was formed under British control during World War II. It took part in the later stages of the Burma Campaign and was disbanded in Burma between May and September 1946.-Formation:...
and sailed for Ceylon, where the complete division was assembled on July 20. They then moved to Burma and took part in the third Arakan Campaign
Burma Campaign 1944-1945
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, who were assisted to some degree by Thailand, the Burmese Independence Army and the Indian National Army...
in December, 1944 as part of Philip Christison
Philip Christison
General Sir Philip Christison, 4th Baronet GBE CB DSO MC was a British military commander of the Second World War.-Early life and career:...
's XV Corps.
It first advanced south along the Kalapanzin valley, then crossed a steep and jungle-covered mountain range to converge with the British 81st (West Africa) Division on Myohaung at the mouth of the Kaladan River
Kaladan River
The Kaladan River is a river in eastern Mizoram State of India, and in Chin State and Rakhine State of western Myanmar. It forms the international border between India and Burma between 22° 47′ 10" N and 22° 11′ 06" N.-Geography:The river arises in central Chin State as the Timit, 22° 49′ 28″ N ...
. This move forced the Japanese to evacuate the Mayu peninsula which they had held for almost four years, and retreat south along the coast. They continued to advance maintaining pressure, on the Japanese capturing the port of Gwa
GWA
GWA may stand for:* Genome-wide association study* George Walton Academy, a college preparatory school.* Georgia Writers Association* God's Wife of Amun* Google Web Accelerator, a software utility* GWA International Limited, an Australian company...
shortly before the Japanese abandoned Burma. Western was wounded in March 1945 and command of the brigade was given to Brigadier Adam Wilson-Brand.
Formation
The 2nd (West Africa) Infantry Brigade was made up of the following units:- 1st Bn., The Gold Coast Regiment;
- 2nd Bn., The Gold Coast Regiment;
- 3rd Bn., The Gold Coast Regiment.