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{{Infobox |
{{Infobox military unit |
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|unit_name=West Africa Command |
|unit_name=West Africa Command |
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|image= |
|image= Westafrica command.svg |
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|caption= |
|caption= Formation Sign |
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|country={{UK}} |
|country={{UK}} |
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|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]] |
|branch=[[File:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]] |
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|type=[[Formation (military)|Command]] |
|type=[[Formation (military)|Command]] |
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|dates= |
|dates=1940 to 1956 |
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|specialization= |
|specialization= |
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|command_structure= |
|command_structure= |
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|garrison=[[Achimota College]], [[Accra]], [[Ghana|Gold Coast]] |
|garrison=[[Achimota College]], [[Accra]], [[Ghana|Gold Coast]] |
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|battles= |
|battles= |
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|notable_commanders= |
|notable_commanders= |
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'''West Africa Command''' was a [[Command (military formation)|Command]] of the [[British Army]]. Conflicting information indicates that the command was either based at [[Achimota College]] in [[Accra]] or in Nigeria.<ref>[http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10063/941/thesis.pdf?sequence=1 ''The development of African History as a discipline in the English-speaking World'', Page 30]</ref> It was disbanded in 1956.<ref>[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13353&SearchInit=4&CATREF=WO+294 National Records Office]</ref> |
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'''West Africa Command''' was a [[Command]] of the [[British Army]]. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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After the [[First World War]], military forces in the four British West African colonies ([[Nigeria]], the [[Gold Coast (British colony)|Gold Coast]], [[Sierra Leone]], and [[the Gambia]]) were under the control of the individual colonial governments. "The regiments of the four colonies were all under the umbrella of the [[Royal West African Frontier Force]]. An Inspector General of African Colonial Forces was appointed to oversee their training and act as military adviser to the colonial governments. H.Q. Military Forces West Africa was formed on the 7 July 1940 with the arrival of Lieutenant General [[George Giffard]] and one staff officer. The headquarters were established on the 15 July near Accra. His task was the defence of all West African territories and coordination of all Military resources in these colonies."<ref>[http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/documents.php?aid=84&nid=11&start=5 British Military History - West Africa Command 1930 - 47]</ref> Additionally the command was an important recruiting ground for [[Allies of World War II|allied]] servicemen: it recruited 200,000 soldiers for the allies while defending itself from [[Vichy France|Vichy]] aggression.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=xTKtPPEDTtQC&dq=%22West+Africa+Command%22%22&pg=PA175 The British Empire and the Second World War By Ashley Jackson, Page 175] Hambledon Continuum, 2006, {{ISBN|978-1-85285-417-1}}</ref> |
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The Command was formed in June 1940 by General [[George Giffard]] around the [[Royal West African Frontier Force]] as an important recruiting ground for allied servicemen and women during [[World War II]]: it recruited 200,000 soldiers for the allies while defending itself from [[Vichy France|Vichy]] aggression.<ref>[http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=xTKtPPEDTtQC&pg=PA175&lpg=PA175&dq=%22West+Africa+Command%22%22&source=bl&ots=-x53FpOT1n&sig=VTsle9p508u4lblKSUQ0fffZ_Js&hl=en&ei=jeJIS6aSM9qrjAfC5fGABw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBUQ6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22West%20Africa%20Command%22%22&f=false The British Empire and the Second World War By Ashley Jackson, Page 175] Hambledon Continuum, 2006, ISBN 978-1852854171</ref> It was based at [[Achimota College]] in [[Accra]]<ref>[http://researcharchive.vuw.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10063/941/thesis.pdf?sequence=1 ''The development of African History as a discipline in the English-speaking World'', Page 30]</ref> and was disbanded in 1956.<ref>[http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/catalogue/displaycataloguedetails.asp?CATLN=3&CATID=13353&SearchInit=4&CATREF=WO+294 National Records Office]</ref> |
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From 31 May 1944, there was a [[Royal Air Force]] communications squadron associated with the area, and at times directly associated with the West Africa Command. The West Africa Communication Squadron RAF was formed on 31 May 1944; disbanded July 1945 and renamed twice; reformed on 1 October 1946 at RAF Waterloo in South Africa; and finally disbanded on 25 September 1947.{{sfn|Lake|1999|p=290}} |
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[[Image:British West Africa.PNG|thumb|West Africa Command's military area of responsibility.]] |
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Postwar plans to raise an infantry division in West Africa as part of a British strategic reserve were not realised due to lack of funding.<ref>Lee, J. M., African Armies and Civil Order, New York: Praeger, 1969. (Page number needed); {{cite journal|author=David Killingray|title=The Idea of a British Imperial African Army|journal=The Journal of African History|date=1979|volume=20|number=3|page=435|jstor=181123 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/181123}}</ref> It would have required 1,200 British officers and NCOs, construction totalling £13 million, and taken four to six years to establish.<ref>Lee, J. M., African Armies and Civil Order, New York: Praeger, 1969.</ref> |
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After disbandment, West Africa Command's infrastructure, including the officer training school at [[Teshie]], was used by the new [[Ghana Army]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA00495530_4|title=The development of the army officer corps in Ghana 1956-1966|first=Ebo|last= Hutchful}}</ref> |
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Commanders-in-Chief have included:<ref>Whitaker's Almanacks 1940–1955</ref><ref>[http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201900-2011.pdf Army Commands]</ref> |
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* 1940–1943 [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[George Giffard]] |
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== See also == |
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*[[West Africa Command Communication Squadron RAF]] - formed in July 1945, disbanded 1 November 1945.{{sfn|Lake|1999|p=290}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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==Sources== |
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*{{cite book |last1=Lake |first1=A |title= Flying units of the RAF |year=1999 |publisher= Airlife |location= [[Shrewsbury]], UK |isbn= 1-84037-086-6 }} |
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==External links== |
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* [https://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/docs-e-w-s-africa-1930-1947-west-africa-1930-1947/ West Africa 1930 - 1947] |
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*'Athos', "Recollections of an Area Commander in Africa," [[RUSI Journal]], Volume 94, 1949 - Issue 573 |
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{{British armies, commands, and corps during the Second World War}} |
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[[Category:Commands of the British Army]] |
[[Category:Commands of the British Army]] |
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[[Category:British West Africa]] |
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[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1940]] |
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Latest revision as of 21:09, 24 November 2023
| West Africa Command | |
|---|---|
 Formation Sign | |
| Active | 1940 to 1956 |
| Country |  United Kingdom |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Type | Command |
| Garrison/HQ | Achimota College, Accra, Gold Coast |
West Africa Command was a Command of the British Army. Conflicting information indicates that the command was either based at Achimota College in Accra or in Nigeria.[1] It was disbanded in 1956.[2]
History
[edit]After the First World War, military forces in the four British West African colonies (Nigeria, the Gold Coast, Sierra Leone, and the Gambia) were under the control of the individual colonial governments. "The regiments of the four colonies were all under the umbrella of the Royal West African Frontier Force. An Inspector General of African Colonial Forces was appointed to oversee their training and act as military adviser to the colonial governments. H.Q. Military Forces West Africa was formed on the 7 July 1940 with the arrival of Lieutenant General George Giffard and one staff officer. The headquarters were established on the 15 July near Accra. His task was the defence of all West African territories and coordination of all Military resources in these colonies."[3] Additionally the command was an important recruiting ground for allied servicemen: it recruited 200,000 soldiers for the allies while defending itself from Vichy aggression.[4]
From 31 May 1944, there was a Royal Air Force communications squadron associated with the area, and at times directly associated with the West Africa Command. The West Africa Communication Squadron RAF was formed on 31 May 1944; disbanded July 1945 and renamed twice; reformed on 1 October 1946 at RAF Waterloo in South Africa; and finally disbanded on 25 September 1947.[5]
Postwar plans to raise an infantry division in West Africa as part of a British strategic reserve were not realised due to lack of funding.[6] It would have required 1,200 British officers and NCOs, construction totalling £13 million, and taken four to six years to establish.[7]
After disbandment, West Africa Command's infrastructure, including the officer training school at Teshie, was used by the new Ghana Army.[8]
Commanders-in-Chief
[edit]Commanders-in-Chief have included:[9][10]
- 1940–1943 Lieutenant General George Giffard
- 1943–1945 Lieutenant General Francis Nosworthy
- 1945–1946 Lieutenant General Brocas Burrows
- 1946–1948 Lieutenant General Noel Irwin
- 1948–1951 Lieutenant General Cameron Nicholson
- 1951–1953 Lieutenant General Lashmer Whistler
- 1953–1956 Lieutenant General Otway Herbert
See also
[edit]- West Africa Command Communication Squadron RAF - formed in July 1945, disbanded 1 November 1945.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ The development of African History as a discipline in the English-speaking World, Page 30
- ^ National Records Office
- ^ British Military History - West Africa Command 1930 - 47
- ^ The British Empire and the Second World War By Ashley Jackson, Page 175 Hambledon Continuum, 2006, ISBN 978-1-85285-417-1
- ^ a b Lake 1999, p. 290.
- ^ Lee, J. M., African Armies and Civil Order, New York: Praeger, 1969. (Page number needed); David Killingray (1979). "The Idea of a British Imperial African Army". The Journal of African History. 20 (3): 435. JSTOR 181123.
- ^ Lee, J. M., African Armies and Civil Order, New York: Praeger, 1969.
- ^ Hutchful, Ebo. "The development of the army officer corps in Ghana 1956-1966".
- ^ Whitaker's Almanacks 1940–1955
- ^ Army Commands
Sources
[edit]- Lake, A (1999). Flying units of the RAF. Shrewsbury, UK: Airlife. ISBN 1-84037-086-6.
External links
[edit]- West Africa 1930 - 1947
- 'Athos', "Recollections of an Area Commander in Africa," RUSI Journal, Volume 94, 1949 - Issue 573