1st (African) Division facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 1st (African) Division 11th (African) Division
Formation sign of the 11th (Africa) Division.
Active	24 July 1940 –
Part of	East Africa Command
Engagements	East African Campaign
Disbanded	23 November 1941
Commanders
24 July 1940 – 13 August 1940	Brigadier G. R. Smallwood (acting Commanding Officer)
1940 – 23 November 1941	Major-General H. E. de R. Wetherall 13 August

The 1st (African) Division was a special military group from the British Empire during World War II. It was created on July 24, 1940, in East Africa. A few months later, on November 24, it changed its name to the 11th (African) Division.

This division was mostly made up of soldiers from West Africa and East Africa. It was active for about a year before it was officially ended on November 23, 1941. Its different parts then joined other military groups. It is important not to confuse this division with the 11th (East Africa) Division formed later in 1943, which fought in Burma.

How the African Division Was Formed

In 1938, before World War II began, the King's African Rifles (KAR) in Kenya had two main groups. These were called the Northern Brigade and the Southern Brigade. They had about 94 officers and over 2,800 African soldiers.

When the war started, these groups helped train many more soldiers. By March 1940, the KAR had grown a lot. It had over 800 officers and more than 20,000 African soldiers. Each KAR battalion (a military unit) had about 36 officers and over 1,000 African soldiers.

Early Military Groups in East Africa

At first, the KAR formed two brigades: the 1st East African Infantry Brigade and the 2nd East African Infantry Brigade. The first one protected the coast, and the second protected the inland areas.

By July 1940, two more East African brigades were created. These were the 3rd East African Infantry Brigade and the 6th East African Infantry Brigade. Instead of creating coastal and northern divisions, the 1st (African) Division and the 2nd (African) Division were formed on July 19. On November 24, these became the 11th African Division and the 12th African Division.

West African Soldiers Join In

Also in July 1940, soldiers from the Royal West African Frontier Force came to help in Kenya. Two brigades arrived, one from the Gold Coast (now Ghana) and one from Nigeria. The 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade joined with two East African brigades and some South African soldiers to form the 11th African Division. The 12th African Division was set up in a similar way.

Battles and Movements

The 1st (African) Division fought in East Africa. Its only major battle was from February 4 to February 26, 1941. This was during the East African Campaign, and the battle took place at the Juba River.

On July 28, 1941, the division's main office closed in Ethiopia. It then moved to Nairobi, where it reopened on August 20. In Kenya, it took charge of new military groups. The division officially stopped existing on November 23, 1941.

Leaders of the Division

• Brigadier G. R. Smallwood was the acting leader from July 24, 1940, to August 13, 1940.
• Major-General H. E. de R. Wetherall led the division from August 13, 1940, until it was disbanded on November 23, 1941.

Units in the Division

The 1st (African) Division and later the 11th (African) Division were made up of many different military units. These included infantry brigades (groups of foot soldiers), artillery (big guns), and engineers (who built and repaired things).

Units When First Formed

When it was first formed as the 1st (African) Division (July 24 to November 24, 1940), it included:

• The 1st (East African) Brigade, which later became the 21st (East Africa) Infantry Brigade.
  • This brigade included battalions from the King's African Rifles and the Northern Rhodesia Regiment.
• The 23rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade.
  • This brigade had battalions from the Nigeria Regiment.
• Artillery units like the 1st (Nigeria) Light Battery.
• Engineer units like the 1st (Nigeria) Field Company.

Units as the 11th (African) Division

When it became the 11th (African) Division, it operated in East Africa and briefly in Italian Somaliland. Its units changed over time but generally included:

• The 21st (East African) Brigade.
• The 22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade (joining and leaving at different times).
• The 23rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade.
• Various artillery units, including Nigerian and Indian batteries.
• Engineer units from Nigeria and the Gold Coast.

Units in Abyssinia and Later

From its time in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) until it was disbanded, the division's units continued to change. It included:

• The 21st (East African) Brigade.
• The 22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade (leaving in July 1941).
• The 23rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade (leaving in July 1941).
• The 28th (East Africa) Infantry Brigade (joining for a period).
• Different artillery and engineer companies as units moved in and out.

Where the Division Was Based

The 1st (African) Division, and later the 11th (African) Division, was part of larger military commands:

• It was under the Headquarters East Africa Force from July 24, 1940, to September 14, 1941.
• Then it was under the Headquarters East Africa Command from September 15, 1941, until November 22, 1941.

See also

• King's African Rifles
• East African Campaign (World War II)
• 2nd (African) Division (United Kingdom)
• Order of Battle, East African Campaign (World War II)
• List of British Empire divisions in the Second World War