The 1st (African) Division was a

British Empire The British Empire was composed of the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates, and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom and its predecessor states. It began with the overseas possessions and trading posts e ...

colonial unit during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

. The division was formed on 24 July 1940 in

East Africa East Africa, Eastern Africa, or East of Africa, is the eastern subregion of the African continent. In the United Nations Statistics Division scheme of geographic regions, 10-11-(16*) territories make up Eastern Africa: Due to the historica ...

. 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 West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of Africa. The United Nations defines Western Africa as the 16 countries of Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali ...

n and

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 Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

Background

In 1938, the King's African Rifles (KAR) in

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

had been composed of 2 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.Andrew Mollo, ''The Armed Forces of World War II'', p. 133 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 defence and the second was responsible for the defence of the interior. By the end of July, 2 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 The 2nd (African) Division was a British Empire colonial unit that fought during the Second World War. On 19 July 1940, the 2nd (African) Division was formed in Kenya, British East Africa. On 24 November of that year, the division was redesignat ...

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 2 brigades for service in

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

. One brigade was from the Gold Coast (

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and Tog ...

) and one brigade was from

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. The

1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade The 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the British Army during the Second World War. It was formed in 1940 from battalions of the Royal West African Frontier Force and served in the East African campaign against the ...

, together with 2 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

. 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 Ethiopia, , om, Itiyoophiyaa, so, Itoobiya, ti, ኢትዮጵያ, Ítiyop'iya, aa, Itiyoppiya officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a landlocked country in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Eritrea to the ...

, transferring to

Nairobi Nairobi ( ) is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The name is derived from the Maasai phrase ''Enkare Nairobi'', which translates to "place of cool waters", a reference to the Nairobi River which flows through the city. The city proper ...

, where it opened again on 20 August. It took command of new formations upon the transfer to

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi , ...

. On 23 November 1941 the division headquarters ceased to exist.

Commanding officers

* Brigadier G. R. Smallwood (acting Commanding Officer) 24 July 1940 to 13 August 1940 * Major-General H. E. de R. Wetherall 13 August 1940 to 23 November 1941

Order of battle

On formation

On formation, as 1st (African) Division, 24 July to 24 November 1940.Joslen p. 118 * 1st (East African) Brigade **1/4th Battalion, King's African Rifles **2/6th Battalion, King's African Rifles ''(left 1 October 1940)'' **1/2nd Battalion, King's African Rifles ''(from 9 October 1940)'' **1st Battalion,

Northern Rhodesia Regiment The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (NRR) was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the protectorate of Northern Rhodesia. It was formed in 1933 from elements of the Northern Rhodesia Police, which had been formed during Company ...

''(from 21 November 1940)'' Renamed the 21st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade on 18 November 1940. * 23rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade **1st Battalion, Nigeria Regiment **2nd Battalion, Nigeria Regiment **3rd Battalion, Nigeria Regiment *Artillery **1st (Nigeria) Light Battery, West African Artillery *Engineers **1st (Nigeria) Field Company, West African Engineers **3rd (Gold Coast) Field Company, West African Engineers Renamed the 51st and 53rd Field Companies, West African Engineers, respectively on 18 October 1940. *Division Troops **1st (African) Divisional Signals Renamed 11th (African) Divisional Signals on 18 November 1940.

As 11th (African) Division

As the 11th (African) Division, in East Africa and, from 15 February to 16 March 1941,

Italian Somaliland Italian Somalia ( it, Somalia Italiana; ar, الصومال الإيطالي, Al-Sumal Al-Italiy; so, Dhulka Talyaaniga ee Soomaalida), was a protectorate and later colony of the Kingdom of Italy in present-day Somalia. Ruled in the 19th centu ...

. * 21st (East African) Brigade ''(left 27 February 1941)'' **1/4th Battalion, King's African Rifles **1/2nd Battalion, King's African Rifles **1st Battalion, Northern Rhodesia Regiment *

22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade The 22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade was a brigade sized formation of the British Army, which was founded on 19 September 1939 in British East Africa. The brigade was initially called the 2nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade, but was redesignat ...

''(from 3 December 1940 to 8 January 1941; 23 February to 1 March 1941; 12 March 1941)'' **5th Battalion, King's African Rifles **1/1st Battalion, King's African Rifles **1/6th Battalion, King's African Rifles The brigade brought, and took, with it the 22nd Indian Mountain Battery and 54th (East African) Field Company, East African Engineers, see below *23rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade **1st Battalion, Nigeria Regiment **2nd Battalion, Nigeria Regiment **3rd Battalion, Nigeria Regiment ''(left 12 March 1941)'' *Artillery **52nd (Nigeria) Light Battery, West African Artillery **22nd Indian Mountain Battery ''(from 3 December 1940 to 8 January 1941; 23 February to 1 March 1941; 12 March 1941)'' **53rd (East Africa) Light Battery, East African Artillery ''(from 6 February to 23 February 1941)'' *Engineers **51st (Nigeria) Field Company, West African Engineers **53rd (Gold Coast) Field Company, West African Engineers ''(left 23 February 1941)'' **54th (East Africa) Field Company, East African Engineers ''(from 3 December 1940 to 8 January 1941; 23 February to 1 March 1941; 12 March 1941)'' *Division Troops **11th (Africa) Divisional Signals

Abyssinia and after

From deployment in Abyssinia to the division's disbanding in East Africa on 23 November 1941. * 21st (East African) Brigade ''(from 20 August 1941)'' **1/4th Battalion, King's African Rifles **1/2nd Battalion, King's African Rifles **1st Battalion, Northern Rhodesia Regiment *22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade ''(left 26 July 1941)'' **5th Battalion, King's African Rifles **1/1st Battalion, King's African Rifles **1/6th Battalion, King's African Rifles *23rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade ''(left 20 July 1941)'' **1st Battalion, Nigeria Regiment **2nd Battalion, Nigeria Regiment * 28th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade ''(from 20 August to 2 October 1941)''Joslen p. 427 **4/6th Battalion, King's African Rifles **2/1st Battalion, King's African Rifles **7th Battalion, King's African Rifles *Artillery **52nd (Nigeria) Light Battery, West African Artillery ''(left 20 July 1941)'' **22nd Indian Mountain Battery ''(left 26 July 1941)'' **18th Indian Mountain Battery ''(from 3 April to 26 July 1941)'' *Engineers **51st (Nigeria) Field Company, West African Engineers ''(left 20 July 1941)'' **53rd (Gold Coast) Field Company, West African Engineers ''(from 20 August 1941)'' **54th (East African) Field Company, East African Engineers ''(left 26 July 1941)'' *Division Troops **11th (African) Divisional Signals

Headquarters

This is a list of higher formations British 1st (African) Division served under. * Headquarters East Africa Force 24/07/40-14/09/41 * Headquarters East Africa Command 15/09/41-22/11/41

References

External links

British Military History - East Africa 1940 - 47
{{British Divisions in World War II 01 01 01 Kenya in World War II Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II Military units and formations established in 1940 Military units and formations disestablished in 1941

Background

Combat history

Commanding officers

Order of battle

On formation

As 11th (African) Division

Abyssinia and after

Headquarters

See also

References

External links