11th (East Africa) Division

The 11th (East Africa) Infantry Division was a British Empire colonial unit formed in February 1943 during World War II.

Formation

In 1943, the 11th (East Africa) Division was formed primarily of troops from British East Africa.

The division should not be confused with the 11th (African) Division which fought in the East African Campaign and was disbanded in late 1941. Unlike the 11th (East Africa) Division, the 11th (African) Division was composed of brigades from British East Africa and Nigeria in British West Africa.

Combat history

The Division was composed of Troops from Kenya , Uganda , Nyasaland , Tanginika plus Troops from Rhodesia.The 11th (East Africa) Division fought with the Fourteenth Army in Burma during the Burma Campaign. In 1945, elements of the division played a part in the Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay.

Commanding officers

* Major-General Charles Christopher Fowkes (February 1943 to December 1944)
* Major-General Eric Mansergh {January 1945 to February 1945)
* Major-General William Alfred Dimoline (March 1945 to August 1945)

Formation

21st East African Brigade

:Commander - Brigadier J. F. Macnab::2nd King's African Rifles::4th King's African Rifles::1st Northern Rhodesia Regimentcite web|title=burmastar|url=http://www.burmastar.org.uk/11theaf.htm]

25th East African Brigade

:Commander - Brigadier N. C. Hendricks::11th King's African Rifles::26th King's African Rifles::34th King's African Rifles

26th East African Brigade

:Commander - Brigadier V. K. H. Channer (up to November 18, 1944) , Brigadier A. P. Walsh (November 18, 1944 )::22nd King's African Rifles::36th King's African Rifles::44th King's African Rifles

Divisional Reconassiance

:5th King's african rifles

Divisional Artillery

:Commander - Brigadier J. V. D. Radford::302nd East African Field Regiment::303rd East African Field Regiment::304th East African Field Regiment

Divisional Engineers

::34th East African Field Company::58th East African Field Company::64th East African Field Company::62nd East African Field Park Company

Divisional Signals

::11th East African Divisional Signals

Divisional HQ battalion

::13th King's African Rifles

ee also

* List of British Empire divisions in World War II
* Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay

References