Battle of Banjo facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Banjo
Part of the Kamerun campaign in World War I
Date 4–6 November 1915 Location Banjo, Kamerun Result British victory
Belligerents
British Empire British Nigeria	German Empire German Kamerun
Commanders and leaders
Brigadier General Frederick Hugh Cunliffe Captain Bowyer-Smijth   †	Captain Adolf Schipper   †
Strength
	23 Europeans 200 Africans
Casualties and losses
50	3 Europeans 25 Africans

The Battle of Banjo was an important fight during World War I in a place called Kamerun (which is now Cameroon). From November 4 to 6, 1915, British forces attacked German soldiers who were strongly dug in on a mountain near the town of Banjo.

By November 6, many German soldiers had left their posts, and the rest gave up. This battle was a big win for the Allies. It also meant that German forces in northern Kamerun could no longer fight effectively.

Why Was the Battle of Banjo Fought?

The Start of the War in Africa

When World War I began in 1914, Britain and Germany were enemies. British forces in Nigeria, a country next to Kamerun, attacked German forts in northern Kamerun. Their first attack on the forts at Garua didn't go well, and they lost many soldiers.

After this, the British decided to defend their borders instead. The German commander at Garua, Von Crailsheim, felt confident. He launched a raid into British territory, but his attack was stopped at the Battle of Gurin in April 1915.

German Retreat and British Advance

After the German defeat at Gurin, Captain Adolf Schipper led his injured soldiers to the fort at Banjo. This German raid made the British commander, Hugh Cunliffe, want to strike back.

Cunliffe then successfully captured the forts at Garua in a second battle. In July, he also won the Battle of Ngaundere further south. However, heavy rains made it hard to move, so Cunliffe decided to join the Siege of Mora instead of pushing further south to the main German base at Jaunde (now called Yaoundé).

Preparing for the Banjo Battle

When the weather got better in October, Cunliffe continued his push south. On October 22, his forces took over the town of Bamenda. Two days later, on October 24, British forces occupied the village of Banjo.

On November 3, they reached Tibati, about 90 kilometers southwest of Ngaundere. The German fort near the town of Banjo was very close to the Nigerian border. It was the last German stronghold in northern Kamerun. If Cunliffe could take it, he would have a clear path to Jaunde.

The German Fort's Strong Defenses

The fort was built on top of a mountain. The mountain had very steep sides but a fairly flat top. There were many large rocks on the slopes.

German soldiers used these rocks to their advantage. They built about 300 small forts, called sangars, between the boulders. They also dug many trenches on the hillsides. Captain Adolf Schipper was in charge of the fort. He had prepared it for a long siege, just like the ones at Mora and Garua. They even prepared the mountaintop for farming! By October 1915, the fort was defended by 23 European officers and about 200 African soldiers, known as Askaris.

What Happened During the Battle?

The First Attacks

British forces had been in the town of Banjo since late October. But the real fighting to capture the fort didn't begin until November 4. That morning, a British company led by Captain Bowyer-Smijth launched an attack. They had three artillery guns to help them.

A thick fog helped the British surprise the German defenders. However, during the intense fighting, Captain Bowyer-Smijth was killed near the top of the mountain. His company had to retreat back down. That night, five more British companies tried another attack. The Germans fought them off by throwing dynamite at the approaching soldiers.

The Final Push

On November 5, British forces stayed on the slopes, about 100 meters from the summit. At this point, their three artillery guns started running out of ammunition. But by that evening, more ammunition arrived, allowing for another attack.

On the night of November 5, during a thunderstorm, the British launched their final assault. When Nigerian troops finally reached the top, there was fierce hand-to-hand combat. Both sides suffered many casualties.

Who Won the Battle of Banjo?

During the battle, many German soldiers deserted, meaning they left their posts. The remaining German soldiers surrendered by the morning of November 6, 1914. The German commander, Captain Adolf Schipper, was killed during the fighting, along with about 27 other German soldiers. The British lost around 50 soldiers. The British had won the Battle of Banjo.

What Happened After the Battle of Banjo?

After the battle, British forces were able to capture most of the German soldiers who had deserted. When the British took over the fort at Banjo, they found it was a very strong position. It had plenty of ammunition and supplies, enough to keep fighting for a long time. On the summit, the Germans even had pigs, sheep, and 226 cattle!

The British victory at Banjo was very important. It meant that German resistance in northern Kamerun was almost completely over. The British forces led by Cunliffe in the north could now connect with other British forces led by Dobell in the southwest. Taking this German fort allowed for a second attack on Jaunde. It also forced the remaining German forces to escape to the neutral Spanish colony of Río Muni.