11th (East Africa) Division

The 11th (East Africa) Infantry Division was a British infantry division consisting of troops from the British Colonial Auxiliary Forces which was formed in February 1943 during World War II. Consisting of East African troops, the division fought in the Burma campaign.

11th (East Africa) Division
Formation sign of the 11th (East Africa) Division (second pattern)[1]
Active1943–1945
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Colonial Auxiliary Forces
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Part ofFourteenth Army
EngagementsSecond World War

Formation

In 1943, the 11th (East Africa) Division was formed primarily of troops from British East Africa. The division should not be confused with the earlier 11th (African) Division which was composed of brigades both from British East Africa and from Nigeria in British West Africa, fought in the East African Campaign and was disbanded in late 1941.

Combat history
Men of the 11th Division on the road to Kalewa, Burma after crossing the Chindwin River, 1945

The Division was composed of troops from Kenya, Uganda, Nyasaland, Tanganyika, Southern Rhodesia, Northern Rhodesia,[2] and from Belgian Congo. The 11th (East Africa) Division fought with the Fourteenth Army in Burma during the Burma Campaign. In the later part of 1944, the division pursued the Japanese retreating from Imphal down the Kabaw valley and established bridgeheads over the Chindwin River. In 1945, elements of the division played a part in the Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay.

Commanding officers

Order of battle

21st East African Brigade

Under Brig. J. F. Macnab:

25th East African Brigade

Under Brig. N. C. Hendricks:

  • 11th (Kenya) Battalion, King's African Rifles
  • 26th (Tanganyika) Battalion, King's African Rifles
  • 34th (Uganda) Battalion, King's African Rifles[2]
  • 1st Battalion, Rhodesia Regiment[3]

26th East African Brigade

Under Brig. V. K. H. Channer (to 18 November 1944), and Brig. A. P. Walsh (from 18 November 1944):

  • 22nd (Nyasaland) Battalion, King's African Rifles
  • 36th (Tanganyika) Battalion, King's African Rifles
  • 44th (Uganda) Battalion, King's African Rifles[2]
  • 1st Battalion, Rhodesian African Rifles[4] (later 22nd East African Brigade, XV Indian Corps)

Divisional units

Divisional artillery

Under CRA Brig. J. V. D. Radford:

  • 302nd East African Field Regiment
  • 303rd East African Field Regiment
  • 304th East African Field Regiment[2]

Divisional engineers
  • 34th East African Field Company
  • 58th East African Field Company
  • 64th East African Field Company
  • 62nd East African Field Park Company[2]

Divisional signals
  • 11th East African Divisional Signals[2]

See also

References
  1. Cole, Howard (1973). Formation Badges of World War 2. Britain, Commonwealth and Empire. London: Arms and Armour Press. pp. 91–2.
  2. "Burma Star Association - The 11th East African Division". Archived from the original on 20 January 2008. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  3. "11th East African Division - Burma Star Memorial Fund". burmastarmemorial.org. July 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2021.
  4. "Rhodesian African Rifles - Rhodesian African Rifles". rhodesianafricanrifles.co.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2021.
  5. Balériaux, André (1991). Un Belge face aux japs du Fort de Battice à la Birmanie. Bruxelles: Ed. Collet.
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