More than a million African soldiers fought for
colonial powers in World War II. Few of them understood why. Survivors received little
compensation and veterans are calling for recognition of their rights.
The 14th
army, like the Eighth Army, was a multinational force made up from units that
came from all corners of the Commonwealth during World War II. Many of its
units were from West Africa, India as well as British units.
It was
often referred to as the “Forgotten Army” because its operations in the Burma
Campaign were overlooked by the colonial powers, contemporary press, and
remained
Obscure
than those of the corresponding formations in Europe for long after the war.
For most
of the Army’s existence, it was commanded by Lieutenant General William Slim.
Nigerians
made up more than half of the total force of 90,000 West African soldiers
deployed to south east Asia after 1943, as part of the British army’s 81st and
82nd (West Africa) Divisions. But while the role of Indians and Gurkhas in the
campaign to drive the Japanese out of Burma is well-known, allied commander
General William Slim did not mention the African soldiers in his speech
thanking the 14th army.
Seventy
years on, many remain bitter that their contribution was never recognised
fully. This is their story, of surviving two years of intense jungle warfare,
of helping secure Victory over Japan, through exclusive, never before seen
footage of West Africa divisions fighting in Burma, courtesy of the Imperial War
Museum, and Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League.
In 1945
not only was the Fourteenth Army the largest army in the Commonwealth, it was
the largest single army in the world with about half a million men under its
command. Men of the 81st and 82nd
West African and 11th East African Divisions served with great distinction.
Burma
campaign
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 Africa) 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
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;
and the Chindit Barracks in Zaria;
Sources: The Guardian, Wikipedia, Imperial War Museum, Royal
Commonwealth Ex-Services Leagu
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