1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
| 3rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade 23rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1940–1945 |
| Allegiance | 11th (African) Division 82nd (West Africa) Division |
| Engagements | East African campaign Burma campaign |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Brigadier Gerald Smallwood |
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 Italians and against the Japanese in Burma.
History
The 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade was originally raised in 1940 as the 3rd (Nigerian) Brigade. In this guise it was involved in the
East African Campaign against the forces of the Italian Empire in Kenya under the command of Brigadier Gerald Smallwood. Later it was renamed the 23rd (Nigerian) Brigade and was attached to the 1st (African) Division.[1] In February 1941, the 23rd (Nigerian) Brigade took the Italian Somaliland capital of Mogadishu.[1] On 10 March 1941, the Brigade quickly advanced to Degehabur, about 160 km (100 mi) south of Jijiga, and captured the city days later without resistance,[2] before it participated in the reoccupation of British Somaliland later in the year.[1]
In 1944 the Brigade was attached to the
third Arakan campaign in December 1944.[3]
During this campaign, the Brigade first advanced south along the
Gwa shortly before the Japanese abandoned Burma.[4]
Formations
The 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade was made up of the following units:
- 1st Bn., The Nigeria Regiment;
- 2nd Bn., The Nigeria Regiment;
- 3rd Bn., The Nigeria Regiment;
- 52nd (Nigeria) Light Battery West African Artillery;
- 51st (Nigeria) Field Company, West African Engineers.
Notes
- ^ a b c Jackson 2006, p. 214.
- ^ Mockler 2003, p. 365.
- ^ Moreman 2005, p. 268.
- ^ "The 82nd West African Division". burmastar.org.uk. Archived from the original on 28 August 2008. Retrieved 8 August 2008..
References
- Jackson, Ashley (2006). The British Empire and the Second World War. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-85285-417-1.
- Mockler, Anthony (2003). Haile Selassie's War. New York: Olive Branch. ISBN 978-1-5665-6473-1.
- Moreman, T.R (2005). The Jungle, the Japanese and the British Commonwealth Armies at War, 1941-45. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-7146-4970-2.