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THE 81st WEST AFRICAN DIVISION
For Rob Palmer's excellent write up of the 81st (West African) Division, please CLICK HERE
Obituary - General Sir Antony Read - CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE for the Personnel Pages
CLICK HERE for the Divisional Structure
The Badge of this unit was
A
Black Tarantula Spider on a Yellow Circular background, (in West African
folklore the Spider always comes out on top)
History
This
Formation was the first Division ever to be formed from units of the West
African Frontier Force, it was made up of the Troops from each of the Four
African Colonies, it was assembled in Nigeria in March 1943, & was
dispatched to India in August 1943, one Brigade was sent to help form part of
Wingate's Chindits in Long Range Penetration.
In
December 1943 the Division crossed the hills into the Kaladah Valley &
Operated on the Left Flank of the Main Force, thereby becoming part of the
Biggest Formation to be supplied wholly
by Air.
In
the following year it again Advanced down the Kaladah Valley & took part in
the successful assault on Myowaung, & helping the "Fourteenth
Army" in it's hard fought Battles that led to the Liberation of Burma.
They were COMMANDED by
Maj/Gen C.S. Woolner (C.B. M.C.)
DIVISIONAL
COMMANDERS:
MAJ/GEN. C.C. Woolner (C.B. D.S.O.)
MAJ/GEN. Loftus-Tottenham (D.S.O.)
Headquarters Brigade
Divisional
Artillery
3rd.5th.6th.
Light Field Regt (Royal Artillery)
5th
West African Brigade
5th Btn
Gold Coast Rifles
7th Btn Gold Coast Rifles
Brig. N.H. Collins
Brig. F.J. Jefferys ( O.B.E. D.S.O.)
6th
West African Brigade
4th Btn Nigerian Rifles
1st Btn Sierra Leonne Rifles
1st Btn
Gambian Rifles
COMMANDED by
Brig. J.W.A. Hayes (D.S.O.)
Brig. R.N.
Cartwright
Brig. A.A. Crook (D.S.O.)
West
African Service Corps
5th.
6th, Brigade G.P. Trt Coy's
Divisional Trt Coy
Medical
Services
5th.
6th. Field Ambulances
5th. 6th. Field Hygenic Coy's
81st
West African Provost Unit
81st West African Signal Coy
| NORMAN COTTON | Keith Cotton is seeking information on his Uncle Norman. If you remember him, could you please CLICK HERE |
|
Corporal Michael (Bill) Cody 3rd West African Engineers |
Family seeking information. Please CLICK HERE if you remember Bill |
|
STAFF SGT BILL ORTON |
Bill's son is seeking information about his father and the RWAFF in general. If you can help, please CLICK HERE |
| 81st WA Signals Football Team 1945-46 | Are there
any survivors from the team incl: Sgt Eric Robertson (goalie)
L/Cpl Frampton
L/Cpl Eynott
Sgt Sweet
Sgt Leigh
Cpl Carey
Sgt Bommer
Cpl Green
Cpl Beer
Maj Singleton
Sig Saunders
Please contact Ian Robertson on irobertson0@talk21.com |
| CAPT CHARLES HAYNES - 7th Bn Nigeria Regiment & Chindit | If you remember Capt Haynes, please CLICK HERE |
| CPL FRANCIS MCCULLOCH | If you knew Cpl McCullough, please CLICK HERE |
| CAPT W.T.T.H. WHITE | Can you help Capt White's daughter with information. Please CLICK HERE |
| CAPT KEN YOUNG | Trying to contact old friends. Please CLICK HERE for details |
| ARTHUR (KOFI) MOSS | Member of the 5th WA Field Ambulance crews. If you can remember Kofi, could you please CLICK HERE |
| BISIKER F.G.B. | Member of the Wigston & District Branch of the Burma Star Association |
|
MAPS OF BURMA |
|
Examples of WWII Japanese propaganda Click Here |
|
Read about the A
Nurses Story
Click here |