1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade

September 2021 September 2015 3rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade 23rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade 1940–1945 British Crown British Empire Infantry Brigade 1st (African) Division11th (African) Division82nd (West Africa) Division Brigadier Gerald Smallwood East African campaignBurma campaign The 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade of the British Colonial Auxiliary Forces during World War II. It was formed in 1940 from battalions of the Royal West African Frontier Force and served in the East African and Burma campaigns. History The 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade was originally raised in 1940 as the 3rd (Nigerian) Brigade. In this guise it was involved in the East African Campaign against the forces of the Italian Empire in Kenya under the command of Brigadier Gerald Smallwood. Later it was renamed the 23rd (Nigerian) Brigade and was attached to the 1st (African) Division.Jackson 2006 214 In February 1941, the 23rd (Nigerian) Brigade took Mogadishu the capital of Italian Somaliland.Jackson 2006 214 On 10 March 1941, the Brigade quickly advanced to Degehabur, about 160 km -1 south of Jijiga, and captured the city days later without resistance, before it participated in the reoccupation of British Somaliland later in the year.Mockler 2003 365Jackson 2006 214 In 1944 the brigade was attached to the 82nd (West Africa) Division and renamed the 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade. In this same year it sailed for Ceylon, where the division was assembled on 20 July. The brigade then moved to Burma and took part in the third Arakan campaign in December 1944.Moreman 2005 268 The brigade first advanced south along the Kalapanzin valley, then crossed a steep and jungle-covered mountain range to converge with the 81st (West Africa) Division on Myohaung at 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. They continued to advance, maintaining pressure on the Japanese, capturing the port of Gwa shortly before the Japanese abandoned Burma.The 82nd West African Division http://www.burmastar.org.uk/82stwa.htm burmastar.org.uk 8 August 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080828131550/http://www.burmastar.org.uk/82stwa.htm 28 August 2008 dead . Formations The 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade was made up of the following units 1st Bn., The Nigeria Regiment 2nd Bn., The Nigeria Regiment 3rd Bn., The Nigeria Regiment 52nd (Nigeria) Light Battery West African Artillery 51st (Nigeria) Field Company, West African Engineers Notes References Jackson Ashley The British Empire and the Second World War Continuum International Publishing Group 2006 978-1-85285-417-1 Mockler Anthony Haile Selassie's War New York Olive Branch 2003 978-1-5665-6473-1 Moreman T. R. The Jungle, the Japanese and the British Commonwealth Armies at War, 1941–45 Routledge 2005 978-0-7146-4970-2 External links Burma Star.org 1 West African Category:Military units and formations in Burma in World War II Category:Military units and formations in British Somaliland in World War II Category:Military units and formations established in 1940 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1945 Category:History of Jijiga