First Battle of Garua facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Battle of Garua
Part of the Kamerun campaign in World War I
A German officer fires a gun from the defences at Garua during the Kamerun Campaign
Date 29–31 August 1914 Location Garua, German Kamerun and British Nigeria Result German victory
Belligerents
British Empire British Nigeria	Germany German Kamerun
Commanders and leaders
Col. C. H. P. Carter Col. MacLear  † Maj. Puckle  †	Cap. Kurt Freiherr von Crailsheim-Rügland
Strength
600	3 companies
Casualties and losses
Europeans: majority of officer corps Nigerians: 250	light

The First Battle of Garua was an important fight during the Kamerun campaign of World War I. It happened from August 29 to 31, 1914. This battle was fought in northern Kamerun (which was a German colony) at a place called Garua. It was between German forces and British forces who were trying to invade. The battle was the first big event in the Kamerun campaign. The German forces successfully pushed back the British attack.

Why Did the Battle Happen?

World War I started in Europe in August 1914. A few weeks later, on August 25, British cavalry soldiers crossed the border. These soldiers were part of the West African Frontier Force. They came from British Nigeria and took over Tepe. Tepe was a German border post located north of Garua.

Taking Tepe gave the British a starting point in northern Kamerun. From there, they could attack the many German forts in the area. The forts at Garua were among these important German strongholds.

How Were the German Defenses at Garua?

German trenches in Garua during the Kamerun Campaign

The Germans had built five strong, modern forts at Garua. Each fort was placed so it could help protect the others if needed. The forts had deep trenches and dugouts. These dugouts had protection overhead. Barbed wire surrounded the forts to make them harder to attack.

Three companies of African soldiers, called Askaris, defended the forts. German officers and non-commissioned officers led these Askari troops. The forts were so strong that heavy artillery (big guns) would be needed to cause serious damage.

What Happened During the Battle?

British forces, led by Colonel MacLear, moved south from Tepe towards Garua. They arrived on August 29 and dug their own trenches around the German forts. That night, the British attacked the German forts. They had to charge across 400 meters of open ground.

The British soldiers faced many dangers and lost many men. However, they managed to capture one of the five forts. The next day, German forces launched a counter-attack. They pushed the British out of the fort they had captured.

Reports say that the Nigerian troops fighting for the British ran away. This left the British officers alone in the trenches. As the British forces retreated, the Germans kept pushing. They chased the British completely out of Kamerun. The Germans even pursued them into Nigeria for several days.

Most of the British officers were killed in the battle. This included their commanding officer, Colonel MacLear. About forty percent of the Nigerian troops fighting for the British were also lost. The Germans, in comparison, had only a few losses.

What Happened After the Battle?

The battle at Garua was a success for the Germans. They also won battles in other areas along Kamerun's border with Nigeria. The Germans were able to stop every British attack in the first days of the war. They even got into a position to threaten Calabar. Calabar was a main port in eastern Nigeria.

The victory at Garua made the German Askari soldiers feel much more confident. It also stopped the Allied forces from moving into northern Kamerun. This delay lasted until the middle of 1915. Later, the Second Battle of Garua took place, which the British won.