81st (West Africa) Division explained

Unit Name:81st (West African) Division
Dates:1943–1945
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:British Army
Type:Infantry
Size:15,000 personnel
Command Structure:Fourteenth Army (United Kingdom)
Notable Commanders:Christopher Woolner
Frederick Joseph Loftus-Tottenham
Battles:Second World War

The 81st (West African) Division[1] was formed under British control during the Second World War. It took part in the Burma Campaign.

History

The inspiration for the division's formation came from General George Giffard, commander of the British Army's West Africa Command, who subsequently commanded 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.

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

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,

Order of Battle

General Officers Commanding

Formation and North Arakan

From formation to reorganisation during September 1944.Infantry

Detached to Special Force on 8 November 1943[4]

Reorganised as an infantry brigade on 31 August 1944.[4] [3]

Reorganised as an infantry brigade on 31 August 1944.[4] [3]

Divisional Troops

Reorganisation and Arakan beaches

On reorganisation to a standard divisional establishment.[4]

Infantry

As a standard infantry brigade from 31 August 1944.[4] [3]

As a standard infantry brigade from 31 August 1944.[4] [3]

Divisional Troops

See also

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Giffard, George . Operations in Burma and North-East India from 16th November, 1943 to 22nd June, 1944 . The London Gazette (Supplement) . 13 March 1951 . 21 December 2019 . 39171 . 1349.
  2. Joslen p. 436
  3. Web site: Palmer . Robert . 81 (West africa) infantry division 1943 - 1945 . British Military History . 29 April 2022.
  4. Joslen 123-124

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