The inspiration for the division's formation came from General George Giffard, commander of the British Army's West Africa Command, who subsequently commanded India Command's Eastern Army, facing the Japanese army on the frontier between India and Burma. Giffard had wide experience with African troops, and was eager for them to participate in the war. The framework on which the division was formed was the Royal West African Frontier Force. One of the brigades (the 3rd West African) and several of the supporting units which formed the division had already seen action with the 11th (African) Division, against the Italians in East Africa. The division was established as the 1st (West African) Division on 1 March 1943. Three days later it was renamed the 81st (West African) Division, taking the next vacant number in the list of British infantry divisions. The division's badge was a spider, in black on a yellow circular background. This spider was a reference to Ananse, a cunning character in Ashanti mythology, and drawn so that when a soldier raised his weapon to fire, the spider would appear to be going forwards.
Men of the 81st West African Division mingle with Indian soldiers after their arrival in India for jungle training.
The division arrived in India on 14 August 1943. The movement of the 5th (West African) Brigade was delayed, however, after the troopship which was to carry it was lost in the German attack on Convoy Faith off Portugal on the night of 11/12 July 1943. The 3rd (West African) Brigade was detached to the Chindits, and was intended to garrison jungle bases for the raiding columns. The remainder of the division took part in the second Arakan campaign from February to May, 1944, operating in the Kaladan Valley on the flank of XV Indian Corps. In late March, substantial Japanese reinforcements (with some troops from the Indian National Army) outflanked the division and forced it to retreat over a range of hills out of the Kaladan valley into that of the Kalapanzin. In August, the division re-entered the Kaladan valley, forcing the Japanese and Indian National Army to abandon Mowdok, a few miles east of the India–Burmese frontier. The division then advanced down the valley once again, reaching Myohaung near the mouth of the river on 28 January 1945. The division was withdrawn to India to rest on 22 April 1945. On 31 August, it was returned to West Africa and disbanded.
Character and organisationedit
Doctors operating on some of the 81st Division's casualties in Burma, August 1944
The division was originally intended to operate on a pack basis, with porters carrying all equipment and supplies. Lieutenant General William Slim, then commanding XV Corps, commented on first inspecting units of the division in late 1943,
Their discipline and smartness were impressive, and they were more obviously at home in the jungle than any troops I had yet seen... I was at once struck by two things. First, by the horde of unarmed porters who were needed to carry supplies, ammunition, baggage and the heavier weapons, and secondly by the large number of white men in a unit, fifty or sixty to a battalion. Accustomed as I was to Indian battalions in the field with usually only seven or eight Europeans, it struck me as an unnecessarily generous supply.[3]
Order of Battleedit
General Officers Commanding
Major General C G Woolner, from 3 March 1943
Major General Frederick Joseph Loftus-Tottenham, from 3 August 1943 to 31 August 1945
except for
15 to 26 August 1944, Brigadier E Collins
31 January to 2 March 1945, Brigadier A Crook
Formation and North Arakanedit
From formation to reorganisation during September 1944. Infantry
Seth Anthony, first non-European from Africa to gain the King's Commission
Notesedit
^Composed of soldiers who acted as porters and pioneers. Numbering approximately 2,000 men organised into four companies ~550 were armed and acted as the unit's protection.[5]
^Giffard, George (13 March 1951). "Operations in Burma and North-East India from 16th November, 1943 to 22nd June, 1944" (PDF). The London Gazette (Supplement) (39171 ed.). p. 1349. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
Luto, James (2013). Fighting with the Fourteenth Army in Burma. Pen and Sword Military. ISBN978-1-78303-031-6.
External linksedit
"81 (West Africa) Infantry Division". Orders of Battle.com.
April 11, 2024
81st, west, africa, division, 81st, west, african, division, formed, under, british, control, during, second, world, took, part, burma, campaign, 81st, west, african, divisionformation, sign, 81st, west, african, division, active1943, 1945allegianceunited, kin. The 81st West African Division 2 was formed under British control during the Second World War It took part in the Burma Campaign 81st West African DivisionFormation sign of the 81st West African Division 1 Active1943 1945AllegianceUnited KingdomBranchBritish ArmyTypeInfantrySize15 000 personnelPart ofFourteenth Army United Kingdom EngagementsSecond World War Burma CampaignCommandersNotablecommandersChristopher WoolnerFrederick Joseph Loftus Tottenham Contents 1 History 2 Character and organisation 3 Order of Battle 3 1 Formation and North Arakan 3 2 Reorganisation and Arakan beaches 4 See also 5 Notes 6 References 7 Bibliography 8 External linksHistory editThe inspiration for the division s formation came from General George Giffard commander of the British Army s West Africa Command who subsequently commanded India Command s Eastern Army facing the Japanese army on the frontier between India and Burma Giffard had wide experience with African troops and was eager for them to participate in the war The framework on which the division was formed was the Royal West African Frontier Force One of the brigades the 3rd West African and several of the supporting units which formed the division had already seen action with the 11th African Division against the Italians in East Africa The division was established as the 1st West African Division on 1 March 1943 Three days later it was renamed the 81st West African Division taking the next vacant number in the list of British infantry divisions The division s badge was a spider in black on a yellow circular background This spider was a reference to Ananse a cunning character in Ashanti mythology and drawn so that when a soldier raised his weapon to fire the spider would appear to be going forwards nbsp Men of the 81st West African Division mingle with Indian soldiers after their arrival in India for jungle training The division arrived in India on 14 August 1943 The movement of the 5th West African Brigade was delayed however after the troopship which was to carry it was lost in the German attack on Convoy Faith off Portugal on the night of 11 12 July 1943 The 3rd West African Brigade was detached to the Chindits and was intended to garrison jungle bases for the raiding columns The remainder of the division took part in the second Arakan campaign from February to May 1944 operating in the Kaladan Valley on the flank of XV Indian Corps In late March substantial Japanese reinforcements with some troops from the Indian National Army outflanked the division and forced it to retreat over a range of hills out of the Kaladan valley into that of the Kalapanzin In August the division re entered the Kaladan valley forcing the Japanese and Indian National Army to abandon Mowdok a few miles east of the India Burmese frontier The division then advanced down the valley once again reaching Myohaung near the mouth of the river on 28 January 1945 The division was withdrawn to India to rest on 22 April 1945 On 31 August it was returned to West Africa and disbanded Character and organisation edit nbsp Doctors operating on some of the 81st Division s casualties in Burma August 1944The division was originally intended to operate on a pack basis with porters carrying all equipment and supplies Lieutenant General William Slim then commanding XV Corps commented on first inspecting units of the division in late 1943 Their discipline and smartness were impressive and they were more obviously at home in the jungle than any troops I had yet seen I was at once struck by two things First by the horde of unarmed porters who were needed to carry supplies ammunition baggage and the heavier weapons and secondly by the large number of white men in a unit fifty or sixty to a battalion Accustomed as I was to Indian battalions in the field with usually only seven or eight Europeans it struck me as an unnecessarily generous supply 3 Order of Battle editGeneral Officers Commanding Major General C G Woolner from 3 March 1943 Major General Frederick Joseph Loftus Tottenham from 3 August 1943 to 31 August 1945 except for 15 to 26 August 1944 Brigadier E Collins 31 January to 2 March 1945 Brigadier A CrookFormation and North Arakan edit From formation to reorganisation during September 1944 Infantry 3rd West African Infantry Brigade Group 4 5 Detached to Special Force on 8 November 1943 6 6th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 7th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 12th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 1st West African Auxiliary Group Nigeria Regiment a 3rd West African Light Battery West African Artillery WAA left 14 May 1943 7th West African Field Company West African Engineers WAE 3rd West African Field Ambulance West African Army Medical Corps WAAMC 3rd West African Infantry Brigade Provost Section details from West African Army Service Corps WAASC 5th West African Infantry Brigade GroupReorganised as an infantry brigade on 31 August 1944 6 5 5th Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 7th Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 8th Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 3rd West African Auxiliary Group Gold Coast Regiment 5th Light Battery WAA left 24 May 1944 2x Troops 3 7 inch mountain guns 1 Troop 4 x 3 inch Mortars 3rd Field Company WAE 4th Survey Section 4th West African Field Butchery WAASC 5th West African Field Ambulance WAAMC 5th West African Field Hygiene Section WAAMC 5th West African Infantry Brigade Provost Section 6th West African Infantry Brigade GroupReorganised as an infantry brigade on 31 August 1944 6 5 1st Battalion Gambia Regiment 1st Battalion Sierra Leone Regiment 4th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 4th West African Auxiliary Group Sierra Leone Regiment 3rd Light Battery WAA left 24 May 1944 2x Troops 3 7 inch mountain guns 1 Troop 4 x 3 inch Mortars 6th Field Company WAE 3rd Survey Section 6th West African Brigade Group Company WAASC 8th West African Field Butchery WAASC 6th West African Field Ambulance WAAMC 6th West African Field Hygiene Section WAAMC 6th West African Infantry Brigade Provost SectionDivisional Troops Artillery 6 5 1st Light Anti Aircraft Anti Tank Regiment WAA joined 6 May 1943 101st Light Regiment WAA formed 24 May 1944 formed from the 3rd 5th and 6th Light Batteries 3 7 inch guns 3rd 5th and 6th Light Batteries 41st Mortar Regiment WAA formed 24 May 1944 formed from the mortar troops of the 3rd 5th and 6th Light Batteries and strengthened 101st 102nd 103rd Mortar Batteries 8 x 3 inch mortars Reconnaissance 6 5 81st West African Division Regiment West African Armoured Corps re rolled on 1 January 1944 left February 1944 for XV Corps 11th East African Division Scouts from 20 January 1944 Engineers 6 5 3rd Field Company WAE Bearers 5 1st West African Auxiliary Group Nigeria Regiment from 17 January 1944 Service Corps West African Army Service Corps 5 81st West African Infantry Division Transport Regiment WAASC 81st West African Infantry Division Troops Company Composite Platoon WAASC 1st West African Field Butchery WAASC Division Troops 5 81st West African Divisional Signals Air Support Liaison Section 26th Motor Ambulance Convoy 5th Platoon Burma Intelligence Corps 16th Provost Section 6th Field Security SectionReorganisation and Arakan beaches edit On reorganisation to a standard divisional establishment 6 Infantry 5th West African Infantry BrigadeAs a standard infantry brigade from 31 August 1944 6 5 5th Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 7th Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 8th Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 3rd West African Auxiliary Group Gold Coast Regiment 5th West African Field Ambulance WAAMC 1780 Composite Platoon WAASC 1001st Detachment West African Mobile Workshops West African Electrical and Mechanical Engineers WAEME 6th West African Infantry BrigadeAs a standard infantry brigade from 31 August 1944 6 5 1st Battalion Gambia Regiment 1st Battalion Sierra Leone Regiment 4th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 4th West African Auxiliary Group Sierra Leone Regiment 6th West African Field Ambulance WAAMC 1781 Composite Platoon WAASC 1002nd Detachment West African Mobile Workshops WAEME Divisional Troops Artillery 6 5 1st Light Anti Aircraft Anti Tank Regiment WAA reorganised as an anti tank regiment on 1 October renamed 22 October 1944 21st Anti Tank Regiment WAA renamed from the 1st Anti Tank Regiment WAA 101st Light Regiment WAA 3rd 5th and 6th Light Batteries 41st Mortar Regiment WAA 101st 102nd 103rd Mortar Batteries 8 x 3 inch mortars Reconnaissance 6 5 81st West African Reconnaissance Regiment West African Armoured Corps organised as infantry 11th East African Division Scouts Engineers 6 5 3rd Field Company WAE 5th Field Company WAE 6th Field Company WAE 8th Field Park Company WAE Bearers 5 1st West African Auxiliary Group Nigeria Regiment Division Troops 5 81st West African Divisional SignalsSee also editMilitary history of Nigeria during World War II The Gambia in World War II 82nd West African Division Seth Anthony first non European from Africa to gain the King s CommissionNotes edit Composed of soldiers who acted as porters and pioneers Numbering approximately 2 000 men organised into four companies 550 were armed and acted as the unit s protection 5 References edit Cole p 92 Giffard George 13 March 1951 Operations in Burma and North East India from 16th November 1943 to 22nd June 1944 PDF The London Gazette Supplement 39171 ed p 1349 Retrieved 21 December 2019 Defeat into Victory William Slim Cassell 1956 Joslen p 436 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Palmer Robert 81 West africa infantry division 1943 1945 PDF British Military History Retrieved 29 April 2022 a b c d e f g h i j k l Joslen 123 124Bibliography editLuto James 2013 Fighting with the Fourteenth Army in Burma Pen and Sword Military ISBN 978 1 78303 031 6 External links edit 81 West Africa Infantry Division Orders of Battle com Burma Star organisation page British Military History Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 81st West Africa Division amp oldid 1195584435, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
