Royal West African Frontier Force

The West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) was a multi-battalion field force, formed by the British Colonial Office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. The decision to raise this force was taken in 1897 because of concern at French colonial expansion in territories bordering on Northern Nigeria.

Origins

The task of raising the new locally recruited force was entrusted to Colonel F.D. Lugard who arrived in Nigeria in 1898. The following year an interdepartemental committee recommended the amalgamation of all existing British colonial military forces in West Africa under the designation of the West African Field Force.

On formation in 1900, the RWAFF comprised:
* Northern Nigeria Regiment - 3 battalions
* Southern Nigeria Regiment - 2 battalions
* The Gold Coast Regiment - 1 battalion
* The Sierra Leone Battalion - 1 battalion
* The Gambia Company - 1 company

By 1908 the RWAFF in Northern Nigeria comprised two battalions of infantry, two batteries of artillery and one company of engineers. The infantry battalions at that time had an establishment of 1,200 men, the artillery 175 and the engineers 46. There were 217 British officers, non-commissioned officers and specialists. Mounted infantry detachments were subsequently raised. The standard weapon was the .303 Martini-Enfield carbine, with QF 2.95 inch mountain guns (quick firing pack howitzers) for the artillery.

Uniforms

The parade uniform of the RWAFF throughout its history was a distinctive one. It comprised khaki drill with red fezes, scarlet zouave style jackets edged in yellow and red cummerbunds. Artillery units wore blue jackets with yellow braid and engineers red with blue braid. African warrant officers were distinguished by yellow braiding on the front of their jackets. The badge on the fez was a palm tree. For field dress khaki shirt, shorts, jersey and puttees were worn with a round kilmarnock cap.

British officers wore khaki serge or drill uniforms with tropical helmets for review order and field dress. A white mess uniform with rolled collar was worn for evening functions with cummerbunds in blue for artillery and battalion colours for infantry officers.

Because of its identification with colonial rule this uniform was replaced shortly after Nigerian independence by a high collared dark green tunic, peaked cap and light coloured trousers. In Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast) a scarlet and blue British style dress uniform was adopted.

First World War (1914-1918)

The West African Frontier Force saw initial action during the occupation of the German Kamerun (present day Cameroon). The experience gained during in this campaign during 1914-15, in difficult terrain against stubborn resistance, made the West Africans a valuable reinforcement to the British Empire forces operating against the German Schutztruppe (colonial troops) in East Africa led by General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck. A single battalion of the Gold Coast Regiment arrived in German East Africa in 1916 and was soon joined by four battalions of the Nigerian Regiment. All remained active in this theatre of war until 1918.

RWAFF strength 1914-18

* The Queen’s Own Nigeria Regiment: "9 battalions"
* The Gold Coast Regiment: "5 battalions"
* The Royal Sierra Leone Regiment: "1 battalion"
* The Gambia Regiment: "2 companies"

Battle honours 1914-18

Battle honours were awarded separately to the constituent regiments of the RWAFF. These include:
* Kamina
* Duala
* Garua
* Banyo
* Cameroons 1914-16
* Behobeho
* Nyangao
* East Africa 1916-18

Second World War (1939-1945)

In 1939 the RWAFF was transferred from Colonial Office to War Office control. Under the leadership of General George Giffard (GOC West Africa) the RWAFF served as a cadre for the formation of 81st (West Africa) Division and 82nd (West Africa) Division. Both divisions saw service during the Second World War serving in Italian Somaliland, Abyssinia, and Burma. In 1947 the RWAFF reverted to Colonial Office control.

Commanders

From 1901-1938 the RWAFF was administered by an Inspector General. From 1945 the force was administered by a Colonel Commandant.

Inspector General

* Brigadier G. V. Kembell, DSO - 1901-1905
* Brevet Colonel T. L. N. Morland, DSO - 1905-1909
* Major-General Sir Percival Spearman Wilkinson, KCMG, CB - 1909-1913
* Brevet Colonel C. M. Dobell, DSO - 1913-1914
* "Vacant" - 1914-1920
* Colonel A. H. W. Haywood, CMG, CBE, DSO - 1920-1924
* Colonel R. D. F. Oldman, CMG, DSO
* Colonel S. S. Butler, CMG, DSO - 1926-1930
* "Vacant" - 1930-1932
* Brigadier C. C. Norman, CMG, CBE, DSO - 1932-1936
* General Sir George James Giffard, GCB, DSO - 1936-1938
* "Vacant" - 1938-1945 (role filled by General Officer Commanding West Africa)

Colonel Commandant

* General Sir George James Giffard, GCB, DSO - 1945-1954
* Brigadier Charles Roger Alan Swynnerton, CB, DSO - 1954-1958
* General Sir Lashmer Gordon Whistler, GCB, KBE, DSO - 1958-1960

Colonel-in-Chief

The RWAFF received royal patronage through its Colonels-in-Chief:
* 1928 FM HM King George V
* 1936 FM HM King Edward VIII
* 1936 FM HM King George VI
* 1953 HM Queen Elizabeth II

RWAFF disbanded at independence

In 1957 the British colony of The Gold Coast obtained independence as Ghana and the Gold Coast Regiment was withdrawn from the RWAFF to form the Ghana Regiment of Infantry in the newly independent nation.

The RWAFF was finally disbanded in 1960 as the British colonies of Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia moved towards independence. The former RWAFF units formed the basis of the new national armies of their respective states.

ee also

* East African Campaign (World War II)
* 1st (West Africa) Infantry Brigade
* 2nd (West Africa) Infantry Brigade

References

* Haywood, A.; and Clarke, F.A.S. "The History of the Royal West African Frontier Force". Aldershot: Gale & Polden, 1964.
*"Military Report on Northern Nigeria" published by the War Office 1908

External links

* [http://www.regiments.org/regiments/africawest/regts/rwaff.htm RWAFF regiments.org]