Gerard Russell Smallwood
Encyclopedia
Gerald Russell Smallwood (1889 – 1977) 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 Brigade was sent to East Africa
. There, the Nigerian brigade was joined by two brigades of the King's African Rifles
(KAR) to form the 1st African Division. Smallwood was the acting Commanding Officer of this division during its formation.
When Major-General H. E. de R. Wetherall
officially took command of the 1st African Division, Smallwood once again reverted to command of his original brigade, now named the 23rd Nigerian Brigade.
In 1942, Smallwood was promoted to Major-General.
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...
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...
.
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 Brigade was sent to 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:...
. There, the Nigerian brigade was joined by two brigades of the King's African Rifles
King'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) to form the 1st African Division. Smallwood was the acting Commanding Officer of this division during its formation.
When Major-General H. E. de R. Wetherall
Harry Edward de Robillard Wetherall
Lieutenant 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....
officially took command of the 1st African Division, Smallwood once again reverted to command of his original brigade, now named the 23rd Nigerian Brigade.
In 1942, Smallwood was promoted to Major-General.
Command history
- 1937 to 1939 General Staff Officer 1, British Military Mission to EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
- 1939 to 1940 Commanding Officer, Nigerian Brigade, West AfricaWest AfricaWest 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:...
- 1940 Commanding Officer, 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...
, West Africa - 1940 Acting General Officer Commanding, 1st African Division, East AfricaEast AfricaEast 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:...
- 1940 to 1941 Commanding Officer, 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...
, East Africa - 1942 General Officer Commanding, MadagascarMadagascarThe Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...
- 1945 Head Training Staff, Greek Army
- 1946 Retired
See also
- Royal West African Frontier ForceRoyal West African Frontier ForceThe 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...
- 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....
- Battle of MadagascarBattle of MadagascarThe Battle of Madagascar was the Allied campaign to capture Vichy-French-controlled Madagascar during World War II. It began on 5 May 1942. Fighting did not cease until 6 November.-Geo-political:...