The 82nd (West African) Division[2] was formed under British control during the Second World War. It took part in the later stages of the Burma Campaign and was disbanded in Burma between May and September 1946.[3]
The inspiration for the division's formation came from General George Giffard. He had extensive experience of leading East African troops, and early in the Second World War became the commander of Britain's West Africa Command. He was eager for troops from Britain's African colonies to play their part in the war. When he was subsequently appointed to command India Command's Eastern Army, facing the Japanese army on the frontier between India and Burma, he requested that the two divisions being organised in West Africa be used in the Burma campaign.
The division was formed from the existing 1st (West African) Infantry Brigade and 2nd (West African) Infantry Brigade, both of which had previously taken part in the East African Campaign in 1940 and 1941, and the freshly raised 4th (Nigerian) Infantry Brigade. The Division's headquarters was created on 1 August 1943. It followed the 81st (West African) Division in the numbering sequence of British war-raised infantry divisions. The HQ took control of its sub-units on 1 November 1943.
The division's formation sign was crossed spears on a porter's headband, in black (sometimes white) on a yellow shield.
Burma campaignEdit
On 20 May 1944, the division sailed for Ceylon, where the complete division was assembled on 20 July. In August the organisation was slightly changed, with supporting arms which had previously been distributed between the brigades being controlled centrally by the division HQ. The division was organised on a "head load" basis, with porters carrying all heavy equipment and supplies. Although many of the troops were from the savannah of northern Ghana and Nigeria, they were well-trained and effective when operating in jungle and mountains.
After further training, the division took part in the third Arakan campaign in December 1944 under Indian XV Corps. On 15 December the Division captured Buthidaung on the Kalapanzin River and created a bridgehead on the east bank of the river. This allowed allied troops to control the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road which had been contested for three years and enabled the transport of 650 river craft by road through railway tunnels to Buthidaung to supply Indian troops in the Mayu Range.
The 82nd Division (supported by 28th Anti-tank Regiment IA and 33rd Mountain Artillery Regiment IA) then crossed a steep and jungle-covered mountain range to converge with the British 81st (West African) Division on Myohaung near the mouth of the Kaladan River. This move forced the Japanese to evacuate the Mayu peninsula which they had held for almost four years and retreat south along the coast. As they retreated, British commandos from the 3rd Commando Brigade and units of the Indian 25th Infantry Division landed in inlets and chaungs ahead of them. Caught between the troops landing from the sea and the pursuing 82nd African Division, the Japanese suffered heavy casualties.
At this point, air supply was withdrawn from the Arakan front to allow the transport aircraft to supply the Allied forces in Central Burma. The 82nd Division's carrier battalions carried all supplies and equipment for the division from this point.
The Japanese 54th Division holding the Arakan was divided into two detachments holding the roads across the Arakan Hills leading from An and Taungup. The 82nd Division was asked to cross the Dalet Chaung and hilly terrain to approach the An Pass from the north west, while being supplied by air. The 1st and 4th (Nigerian) Brigades suffered heavy casualties in opening the routes to Kaw and Kyweguseik in late February. The 4th Brigade even lost two of its commanding officers. By March, the division captured Dalet Chaung and the strategic supply base of Tamandu, in coordination with Indian units.
The Gold Coast 2nd Brigade based at Letmauk subsequently became the target of intense Japanese counter-attacks, sustaining heavy casualties. They were forced to withdraw, covered by the 1st (Nigerian) Brigade. By sending long distance fighting patrols to harass the Japanese flanks, the Nigerian unit was able to force a Japanese retreat and retake An on 13 May 1945. Meanwhile, the main body of the division, with the East African 22nd Brigade under command, advanced south from Tamandu. By the end of May Kindaungyyi, Taungup and Sandoway had been captured. Campaigning ceased during the monsoon rains but the war ended a few weeks later.
MemorialsEdit
During the third Arakan campaign, the 82nd Division suffered 2,085 casualties, the highest of any unit in XV Corps. Some of those killed were buried in jungle tracts, but many Nigerian graves remain in cemeteries at the Dalet Chaung near Tamandu and the Taukkyan War Cemetery. Others are remembered at the War Memorial in Rangoon.
Other commemorations of the division's (and its component formations') service are the names of Dodan, An, Myohaung, Arakan and Marda Barracks in Lagos; Letmauk Barracks in Ibadan; Dalet, Mogadishu, Colito and Kalapanzin Barracks in Kaduna; the Chindit Barracks in Zaria;Arakan Barracks in Accra; Myohaung Barracks in Takoradi;
Order of BattleEdit
General Officer Commanding : Major General George McIlree Stanton Bruce (replaced due to illness by Major General Hugh Charles Stockwell 12 January 1945)
On formationEdit
The division's brigades were originally organised as infantry brigade groups.[4][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. 1378. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
^Palmer, Rob. (PDF). British Military History website. p. 50. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 19 November 2011.
^ abcdefghijklmnoPalmer, Robert. "82nd (west africa) infantry division 1943 - 1945" (PDF). British Military History. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
^Palmer, Robert. "81 (West africa) infantry division 1943 - 1945" (PDF). British Military History. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
BibliographyEdit
Luto, James (2013). Fighting with the Fourteenth Army in Burma. Pen and Sword Military. pp. 204–218. ISBN978-1-78303-031-6.
Cole, Howard (1973). Formation Badges of World War 2. British Commonwealth and Empire. Arms and Armour Press.
NotesEdit
^Composed of soldiers who acted as porters and pioneers. Numbering approximately 2,000 men organised into four companies ~500 were armed and acted as the unit's protection.[6]
External linksEdit
"82 (West Africa) Infantry Division". Orders of Battle.com.
Divisional Histories
October 17, 2023
82nd, west, africa, division, 82nd, west, african, division, formed, under, british, control, during, second, world, took, part, later, stages, burma, campaign, disbanded, burma, between, september, 1946, 82nd, west, african, divisionformation, sign, 82nd, wes. The 82nd West African Division 2 was formed under British control during the Second World War It took part in the later stages of the Burma Campaign and was disbanded in Burma between May and September 1946 3 82nd West African DivisionFormation sign of the 82nd West African Division 1 Active1941 1945CountryBritish West AfricaAllegianceUnited KingdomBranchRoyal West African Frontier ForceTypeInfantrySize15 000 personnelEngagementsBurma CampaignCommandersNotablecommandersGeorge McI S BruceHugh Stockwell Contents 1 History 1 1 Formation 1 2 Burma campaign 2 Memorials 3 Order of Battle 3 1 On formation 3 1 1 1st West Africa Infantry Brigade 3 1 2 2nd West Africa Infantry Brigade 3 1 3 4th West Africa Infantry Brigade 3 1 4 Division Troops 3 2 On Reorganisation 3 2 1 1st West Africa Infantry Brigade 3 2 2 2nd West Africa Infantry Brigade 3 2 3 4th West Africa Infantry Brigade 3 2 4 Divisional Units 4 See also 5 References 6 Bibliography 7 Notes 8 External linksHistory EditFormation Edit The inspiration for the division s formation came from General George Giffard He had extensive experience of leading East African troops and early in the Second World War became the commander of Britain s West Africa Command He was eager for troops from Britain s African colonies to play their part in the war When he was subsequently appointed to command India Command s Eastern Army facing the Japanese army on the frontier between India and Burma he requested that the two divisions being organised in West Africa be used in the Burma campaign The division was formed from the existing 1st West African Infantry Brigade and 2nd West African Infantry Brigade both of which had previously taken part in the East African Campaign in 1940 and 1941 and the freshly raised 4th Nigerian Infantry Brigade The Division s headquarters was created on 1 August 1943 It followed the 81st West African Division in the numbering sequence of British war raised infantry divisions The HQ took control of its sub units on 1 November 1943 The division s formation sign was crossed spears on a porter s headband in black sometimes white on a yellow shield Burma campaign Edit On 20 May 1944 the division sailed for Ceylon where the complete division was assembled on 20 July In August the organisation was slightly changed with supporting arms which had previously been distributed between the brigades being controlled centrally by the division HQ The division was organised on a head load basis with porters carrying all heavy equipment and supplies Although many of the troops were from the savannah of northern Ghana and Nigeria they were well trained and effective when operating in jungle and mountains After further training the division took part in the third Arakan campaign in December 1944 under Indian XV Corps On 15 December the Division captured Buthidaung on the Kalapanzin River and created a bridgehead on the east bank of the river This allowed allied troops to control the Maungdaw Buthidaung road which had been contested for three years and enabled the transport of 650 river craft by road through railway tunnels to Buthidaung to supply Indian troops in the Mayu Range The 82nd Division supported by 28th Anti tank Regiment IA and 33rd Mountain Artillery Regiment IA then crossed a steep and jungle covered mountain range to converge with the British 81st West African Division on Myohaung near the mouth of the Kaladan River This move forced the Japanese to evacuate the Mayu peninsula which they had held for almost four years and retreat south along the coast As they retreated British commandos from the 3rd Commando Brigade and units of the Indian 25th Infantry Division landed in inlets and chaungs ahead of them Caught between the troops landing from the sea and the pursuing 82nd African Division the Japanese suffered heavy casualties At this point air supply was withdrawn from the Arakan front to allow the transport aircraft to supply the Allied forces in Central Burma The 82nd Division s carrier battalions carried all supplies and equipment for the division from this point The Japanese 54th Division holding the Arakan was divided into two detachments holding the roads across the Arakan Hills leading from An and Taungup The 82nd Division was asked to cross the Dalet Chaung and hilly terrain to approach the An Pass from the north west while being supplied by air The 1st and 4th Nigerian Brigades suffered heavy casualties in opening the routes to Kaw and Kyweguseik in late February The 4th Brigade even lost two of its commanding officers By March the division captured Dalet Chaung and the strategic supply base of Tamandu in coordination with Indian units The Gold Coast 2nd Brigade based at Letmauk subsequently became the target of intense Japanese counter attacks sustaining heavy casualties They were forced to withdraw covered by the 1st Nigerian Brigade By sending long distance fighting patrols to harass the Japanese flanks the Nigerian unit was able to force a Japanese retreat and retake An on 13 May 1945 Meanwhile the main body of the division with the East African 22nd Brigade under command advanced south from Tamandu By the end of May Kindaungyyi Taungup and Sandoway had been captured Campaigning ceased during the monsoon rains but the war ended a few weeks later Memorials EditDuring the third Arakan campaign the 82nd Division suffered 2 085 casualties the highest of any unit in XV Corps Some of those killed were buried in jungle tracts but many Nigerian graves remain in cemeteries at the Dalet Chaung near Tamandu and the Taukkyan War Cemetery Others are remembered at the War Memorial in Rangoon Other commemorations of the division s and its component formations service are the names of Dodan An Myohaung Arakan and Marda Barracks in Lagos Letmauk Barracks in Ibadan Dalet Mogadishu Colito and Kalapanzin Barracks in Kaduna the Chindit Barracks in Zaria Arakan Barracks in Accra Myohaung Barracks in Takoradi Order of Battle EditGeneral Officer Commanding Major General George McIlree Stanton Bruce replaced due to illness by Major General Hugh Charles Stockwell 12 January 1945 On formation Edit The division s brigades were originally organised as infantry brigade groups 4 5 1st West Africa Infantry Brigade Edit See also 1st West Africa Infantry Brigade 1st Battalion Nigeria Regiment 2nd Battalion Nigeria Regiment 3rd Battalion Nigeria Regiment 5th West Africa Auxiliary Group a 1st West Africa Light Battery West African Artillery WAA 2x Troops 3 7 inch mountain guns 1 Troop 4 x 3 inch Mortars 1st West Africa Field Company West African Engineers WAE 1st West Africa Field Ambulance West African Army Medical Corps WAAMC details West Africa Army Service Corps WAASC 1st West Africa Infantry Brigade Provost Section2nd West Africa Infantry Brigade Edit See also 2nd West Africa Infantry Brigade 1st Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 2nd Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 3rd Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 6th West Africa Auxiliary Group Gold Coast Regiment 2nd West Africa Light Battery WAA 2x Troops 3 7 inch mountain guns 1 Troop 4 x 3 inch Mortars 2nd West Africa Field Company WAE 2nd West Africa Field Ambulance WAAMC details WAASC 2nd West Africa Infantry Brigade Provost Section4th West Africa Infantry Brigade Edit 5th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 9th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 10th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 2nd West Africa Auxiliary Group 4th West Africa Light Battery WAA 2x Troops 3 7 inch mountain guns 1 Troop 4 x 3 inch Mortars 4th West Africa Field Company WAE 4th West Africa Field Ambulance WAAMC details WAASC 4th West Africa Infantry Brigade Provost SectionDivision Troops Edit Artillery 2nd Light Anti Aircraft Anti Tank Regiment WAA joined 12 December 1943 102nd Light Regiment WWA formed 1 July 1944 from the 1st 2nd and 4th Light Batteries 3 7 inch guns 1st 2nd and 4th Light Batteries 42nd Mortar Regiment WAA formed 1 August 1944 formed from the mortar troops of the 1st 2nd and 4th Light Batteries Reconnaissance 4 5 81st West African Division Regiment West African Armoured Corps reconnaissance Engineers 4 5 1st Field Company WAE from 1st WA Brigade 22 August 1944 2nd Field Company WAE from 2nd WA Brigade 1 August 1944 4th Field Company WAE from 4th WA Brigade 1 August 1944 9th Field Park Company WAE Bearers 4 5 7th West African Auxiliary Group Division Troops 4 5 81st West African Divisional SignalsOn Reorganisation Edit in October 1944 the division was reorganised as a standard division not as brigade groups 4 5 1st West Africa Infantry Brigade Edit 1st Battalion Nigeria Regiment 2nd Battalion Nigeria Regiment 3rd Battalion Nigeria Regiment 5th West Africa Auxiliary Group 5 2nd West Africa Infantry Brigade Edit 1st Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 2nd Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 3rd Battalion Gold Coast Regiment 6th West Africa Auxiliary Group Gold Coast Regiment 5 4th West Africa Infantry Brigade Edit 5th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 9th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 10th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 2nd West Africa Auxiliary Group 5 Divisional Units Edit Artillery 4 5 102nd Light Regiment WAA 1st 2nd 4th Light Batteries 42nd Mortar Regiment WAA 22nd Anti Tank Regiment West African Artillery Engineers 4 5 1st Field Company West African Engineers 2nd Field Company West African Engineers 4th Field Company West African Engineers 9th Field Park Company West African Engineers Bearers 4 5 7th West African Auxiliary Group Service Corps WAASC 5 82nd West African Infantry Division Transport Regiment 825th and 836th Divisional Transport Company WAASC 1784th 1785th 1786th 1787th Composite Platoons WAASC 26th and 29th Field Butchery Sections WAASC West African Army Medical Corps WAAMC 1st West Africa Field Ambulance WAAMC 2nd West Africa Field Ambulance WAAMC 4th West Africa Field Ambulance WAAMC 82nd West Africa Field Hygiene Section WAAMC West African Electrical amp Mechanical Engineers WAEME 5 1003rd 1004th and 1005th Mobile Workshops WAEME 1016th 1022nd Light Aid Detachments WAEME Division Troops 5 81st West African Divisional Signals 82nd West Africa Divisional Postal Unit 119th Field Cash Office West African Army Pay Corps 82nd Field Security Section 276th Divisional Provost CompanySee also EditMilitary history of Nigeria during World War II 81st West African DivisionReferences 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 1378 Retrieved 21 December 2019 Palmer Rob Divisional Histories 82nd West Africa Division PDF British Military History website p 50 Archived from the original PDF on 7 May 2012 Retrieved 19 November 2011 a b c d e f g h i Joslin p 125 6 a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Palmer Robert 82nd west africa infantry division 1943 1945 PDF British Military History Retrieved 4 May 2022 Palmer Robert 81 West africa infantry division 1943 1945 PDF British Military History Retrieved 29 April 2022 Bibliography EditLuto James 2013 Fighting with the Fourteenth Army in Burma Pen and Sword Military pp 204 218 ISBN 978 1 78303 031 6 Cole Howard 1973 Formation Badges of World War 2 British Commonwealth and Empire Arms and Armour Press Notes Edit Composed of soldiers who acted as porters and pioneers Numbering approximately 2 000 men organised into four companies 500 were armed and acted as the unit s protection 6 External links Edit 82 West Africa Infantry Division Orders of Battle com Burma Star organisation page Divisional Histories Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 82nd West Africa Division amp oldid 1123833938, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
