Nigeria Regiment
Nigeria Regiment | |
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Queen Elizabeth II |
The Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force, also known as the Nigeria Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force was formed by the amalgamation of the Northern Nigeria Regiment and the Southern Nigeria Regiment on 1 January 1914.
Structure
At that time of its founding, the regiment consisted of five battalions:
- 1st Battalion - ex 1st Bn, Northern Nigeria Regiment
- 2nd Battalion - ex 2nd Bn, Northern Nigeria Regiment
- 3rd Battalion - ex 3rd Bn, Northern Nigeria Regiment
- 4th (Lagos) Battalion - ex 2nd Bn, Southern Nigeria Regiment
- 5th Battalion - ex 1st Bn, Southern Nigeria Regiment
History
World War I
The regiment served throughout the First World War in the Cameroons (1914-1916), and in
World War II
At the start of World War II the 4th battalion, along with the 6th, 7th and 12th battalions, was grouped with the
With the decision to form two West African divisions the 6th West African Brigade joined the
Post World War
In 1956, at the time of the visit of
There was eventually a Nigeria Regiment Training Centre at Zaria, a field company of engineers, and a field battery of artillery. In its last years the battalions were stationed in Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan, and Abeokuta (one each); these rotated stations.
Domestically, the regiment had a negative image for their punitive behaviour as instrument of British imperial policy.[5] Until shortly before independence in 1960 there was still a majority of British officers, and some specialist British NCOs. Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi was commissioned as early as 1949 (with the result that he later became the first Nigerian General Officer Commanding of the Army and the first military head of state), but the number of African officers rose only slowly during the 1950s.
Notable personnel
- Michael Crowder, historian (national service, 1953–54).
- Military Head of State of Nigeria(1942–1960).
References
- ^ Marino, James (October–November 2017). "4th Nigerian Rifles". World at War. pages. 68-71: Strategy & Tactics Press.
{{cite magazine}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "Armed Forces of Nigeria – Multinational Joint Task Force". Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ISSN 2630-7073.
- ^ "QUEEN PRESENTS COLOURS TO NIGERIA REGIMENT AND VISITS IGOBI ORTHOPEADIC HOSPITAL | AP Archive". www.aparchive.com. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
- ^ "Africana" (PDF). www.cambridge.org. Retrieved 22 September 2023.