81st (West Africa) Division


The 81st Division 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 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 Division on 1 March 1943. Three days later it was renamed the 81st 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 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 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 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 The division was withdrawn to India to rest on 22 April 1945.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.
Infantry3rd Infantry Brigade Group
Detached to Special Force on 8 November 1943
Reorganised as an infantry brigade on 31 August 1944.
Reorganised as an infantry brigade on 31 August 1944.
  • * 1st Battalion, Gambia Regiment
  • * 1st Battalion, Sierra Leone Regiment
  • * 4th Battalion, Nigeria Regiment
  • * 4th Auxiliary Group '
  • * 3rd Light Battery, '
  • ** 2x Troops 3.7 inch mountain guns
  • ** 1 Troop 4 x 3 inch Mortars
  • * 6th Field Company,
  • * 3rd Survey Section
  • * 6th Brigade Group Company,
  • * 8th Field Butchery,
  • * 6th Field Ambulance,
  • * 6th Field Hygiene Section,
  • * 6th Infantry Brigade Provost Section
Divisional Troops
  • Artillery
  • * 1st Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment, '
  • * 101st Light Regiment, '
  • ** 3rd, 5th and 6th Light Batteries
  • * 41st Mortar Regiment, '
  • ** 101st, 102nd, 103rd Mortar Batteries '
  • Reconnaissance
  • * 81st Division Regiment, West African Armoured Corps '
  • * 11th Division Scouts '
  • Engineers
  • * 3rd Field Company,
  • Bearers
  • * 1st Auxiliary Group , from 17 January 1944
  • Service Corps
  • * 81st Infantry Division Transport Regiment
  • * 81st Infantry Division Troops Company Composite Platoon
  • * 1st Field Butchery
  • Division Troops
  • * 81st Divisional Signals
  • * Air Support Liaison Section
  • * 26th Motor Ambulance Convoy
  • * 5th Platoon, Burma Intelligence Corps
  • * 16th Provost Section
  • * 6th Field Security Section

Reorganisation and Arakan beaches

On reorganisation to a standard divisional establishment.
Infantry5th Infantry Brigade
As a standard infantry brigade from 31 August 1944.
  • * 5th Battalion, Gold Coast Regiment
  • * 7th Battalion, Gold Coast Regiment
  • * 8th Battalion, Gold Coast Regiment
  • * 3rd Auxiliary Group '
  • * 5th Field Ambulance,
  • * 1780 Composite Platoon,
  • * 1001st Detachment Mobile Workshops, West African Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 6th Infantry Brigade
As a standard infantry brigade from 31 August 1944.
  • * 1st Battalion, Gambia Regiment
  • * 1st Battalion, Sierra Leone Regiment
  • * 4th Battalion, Nigeria Regiment
  • * 4th Auxiliary Group '
  • * 6th Field Ambulance,
  • * 1781 Composite Platoon,
  • * 1002nd Detachment Mobile Workshops,
Divisional Troops
  • Artillery
  • * 1st Light Anti-Aircraft/Anti-Tank Regiment, '
  • * 21st Anti-Tank Regiment, renamed from the 1st Anti-Tank Regiment,
  • * 101st Light Regiment,
  • ** 3rd, 5th and 6th Light Batteries
  • * 41st Mortar Regiment,
  • ** 101st, 102nd, 103rd Mortar Batteries '
  • Reconnaissance
  • * 81st Reconnaissance Regiment, West African Armoured Corps
  • * 11th Division Scouts
  • Engineers
  • * 3rd Field Company,
  • * 5th Field Company,
  • * 6th Field Company,
  • * 8th Field Park Company,
  • Bearers
  • * 1st Auxiliary Group
  • Division Troops
  • * 81st Divisional Signals