KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES

Hi Gentlemen,

Please if you have any records or history books, please let me know the name/s of the Commanding Officers of the below mentioned East African Battalions which served in Ceylon from June 1943 - June 1944. The Rank at that time ( Lt. Col / Major ), First Name or Full Names with Surname would do.

11TH EAST AFRICAN INFANTRY DIVISION : JUNE 1943-JUNE 1944

21ST EAST AFRICA INFANTRY BRIGADE

1. 2nd ( Nyasaland ) Battalion, The Kings African Rifles –

2. 4th ( Uganda ) Battalion, The Kings African Rifles -

3. 1st Battalion, The Northern Rhodesian Regiment -


25TH EAST AFRICA INFANTRY BRIGADE

1. 34th ( Uganda ) Battalion, The Kings African Rifles -

2. 26th ( Tanganyika Territory ) Battalion, The Kings African Rifles –

3. 11th ( Kenya ) Battalion, The Kings African Rifles -


26TH EAST AFRICA INFANTRY BRIGADE

1. 22nd ( Nyasaland ) Battalion, The King’s African Rifles –

2. 36th ( Tanganyika Territory ) Battalion, The King’s African Rifles –

3. 44th ( Uganda ) Battalion, The Kings African Rifles –


THE DIVISIONAL TROOPS IN CEYLON



22ND EAST AFRICA INDEPENDENT INFANTRY BRIGADE

1. 1st ( Nyasaland ) Battalion, The Kings African Rifles -

2. 3rd Battalion, The Northern Rhodesia Regiment -

3. 1st Battalion, The Rhodesia African Rifles -

4. 59th ( East Africa ) Field Company, East Africa Engineers –


28TH EAST AFRICA INDEPENDENT INFANTRY BRIGADE

1. 7th ( Uganda ) Battalion, The King’s Africa Rifles -

2. 46th ( Tanganyika Territory ) Battalion, The King’s African Rifles –

3. 71st ( Somali ) Battalion, The King’s Africa Rifles -

4. 63rd ( East Africa ) Field Company, East Africa Engineers –

5. 28th ( East Africa ) Infantry Brigade Group, East Africa Army Service Corps –

6. 108th Casualty Clearing Section, East Africa Army Medical Corps

 

Laksiri,

I only have none book on the KAR: 'tales From The KIng's African Rifles' by John Nunnerley, published 1998. No C.O. names, except the divisional C.O. Fowkes.

He refers - as a British officer - being posted to 36th KAR (not in Ceylon till months later) and wanted to rejoin his unit, 11th KAR. He was posted to 25th East African Brigade HQ @ Kurunegala, Ceylon (no exact dates, but he was there in August). Their HQ building was the Loretto Convent in the town centre.

In April 21 (no date) East African Brigade arrived for jungle training and moved to 'the ancient city of Anuradhapura' with HQ ina large country house, with a row of bungalows in the grounds.

Have you seen this thread? East Africa Command photographs.

 

Thanks David. Major General Charles Christopher Fowkes was the General Officer Commanding - 11th East African Infantry Division right through out his stay in Ceylon. He was never a Brigade Commander in Ceylon. Dear David, could you check for some one who has the book KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES by Lt Colonel H Moyse- Bartlett and get him to give me the accurate names of COs during their period in Ceylon.? This will be a big help for me as our book is already with the printer. Need to insert these new findings also to this book.

Regards,

Laksiri

 

Laksiri,

There is one member, nedrutland, who in 2014 cited the book and he was last logged in June 2025. From Post 2 in: Williamson - 5th Battalion Kings African Rifles

In 2013 Idler a regular, active member, referred to buying the book in Post 949 in: ABDA-CBI-SEAC. Book thread.

PM sent to both and cc'd to you.

 

Dear David,

I also saw pages 1-74 in the online format. It covers the Burma Campain of the 11th East Africa Campaign and gives the history of the operations in Burma. It also has a separate Chapter on the Operations of the 22nd & 28th East African Independent Brigades. If some one can go through this chapter and let me know the COs names of the Battalions of @@ and 28 Brigades much appreciate. Prior to Burma Campain these Brigades were stationed in Ceylon for garrison duties and training for Burma Campain for 1 year. Hence, we can safely assume that it was the same COs in Burma who commanded the respective Battalions in Ceylon too. In Ceylon they were from June 1943 to June 1944.

Regards,

Laksiri

 

Hi,
I have a copy but could not find a list of Battalion COs in there. Are you certain there is such a list in that book? There is a list of Battalions that served in "South East Asia" which almost matches your list of Battalions that served in Ceylon.




Regards,
Col

 

Dear Col,

In that book, there is a chapter on OPERATIONS OF 11TH EAST AFRICAN INFANTRY DIVISION in Burma. I have written down some names of the Battalion Commanders in Ceylon for 21,25th and 26th EA Infantry Brigades given by another person called George from the KAR Association. As prior to the Burma Campaign, the 11 EA Inf Division was in Ceylon for 1 Year from June 1943 to June 1944. Hence, we can presume that the same COs were in command while in Ceylon. Below I give the list I received.

11 (EA) Div Burma 1944
21 Bde
2(NY) Bn
CO Lt Col RCH Miers DSO SWB
4 (U) Bn
CO Lt Col JED Watson DSO Leics Regt
1 NRR
CO Lt Col HP Glass MC Sherwood Forrestors

25 Bde
26 (T) Bn
CO Lt Col JR Thompson N. Staffs
34(U) Bn
CO CB Trimmer DSO West Yorks
11 (K) Bn
CO Lt Col TH Birbeck DSO Border Regt
302 (EA) Field Regt
CO Lt Col RN Syme

26 Bde
22 (NY) Bn
CO Lt Col KH Collen KRRC
36(T) Bn
CO Lt Col Robertson-Glasgow R. Inniskilling Fus
44 (U) Bn
CO S Galletly DSO SWB
303(EA) Light Regt
CO Lt Col RFJ Anderson

Div Protection Bn
13(NY) Bn
CO Lt Col H French RUR

I regret I do not have any details of 22 and 28 Bdes.
I have no other papers to assist you.
Incidentally, do you have a copy of "The King's African Rifles" (KAR) by Lt Col Moyse-Bartlett? It was published in 1956 by Gale & Polden Ltd
It is the official history of the KAR and could help you in your research.

With best wishes,
George

In this book the next chapter after the above mentioned chapter is OPERATIONS OF THE 22ND AND 28TH GRIGADES. Just go through that chapter and see whether you can find the names of the COs of those 2 Independent Battalions. They also was in Ceylon garrisoning Ceylon and training in jungle warefare to get ready for the Burma Campaign. The list of Battalions of 22 and 28 are also in my uploaded document.

Regards,

Laksiri

 

I found the following Battalion commanders for units of the 22nd and 28th East African Brigades from the KAR official history and the Northern Rhodesia Regiment regimental history:

22ND EAST AFRICA INDEPENDENT INFANTRY BRIGADE

1. 1st ( Nyasaland ) Battalion, The Kings African Rifles - Lt-Coil R,D Blackie

2. 3rd Battalion, The Northern Rhodesia Regiment - Lt. Col. T.H S. Galletly MC

3. 1st Battalion, The Rhodesia African Rifles -Possibly Lt-Col F.J Wane (First CO)


28TH EAST AFRICA INDEPENDENT INFANTRY BRIGADE

1. 7th ( Uganda ) Battalion, The King’s Africa Rifles - Lt-Col S.D. Field

2. 46th ( Tanganyika Territory ) Battalion, The King’s African Rifles – Lt-Col G.P.R. Adams

3. 71st ( Somali ) Battalion, The King’s Africa Rifles - - Lt-Col D.C. Campbell-Miles

 

Hi Dryan,

Thanks so much. Are you sure they are pertaining to their times in Ceylon? 22nd EA Infantry Brigade was in Ceylon from July - December 1944 and 28th Brigade May - November 1944. Hope the 21st, 25th and 26th EA Brigade COs are also the same as in your book during their stay in Ceylon from June 1943 to June 1944?

Please confirm the 11th East Africa Infantry Division ( 21/25/26 Brigades ) COs mentioned above is correct for Ceylon period of June 1943 to June 1944.

Thanks once again.

Regards,

Laksiri

 

From Post 7 & 8

Id'd as Richard Capel Hanmer Miers, commissioned in 1933 into SWB, seconded to KAR in 1936, Temp. Major June 1942 to 1946, and commanded 1st SWB in Burma for 10 months (not dated). Nowt about CO 2 KAR.
From: British Army Officers 1939-1945  -- M

Note he appears in Post 8: 2. 3rd Battalion, The Northern Rhodesia Regiment - Lt. Col. T.H S. Galletly MC

Id'd as Thomas Henry Scott Galletly, brief history, but not as CO KAR Bn.
From: Thomas Henry Scott Galletly - Wikipedia and Biography of Brigadier Thomas Henry Scott Galletly (1905 – 1972), Great Britain

All the other names in Posts 7 & 8 were checked on: British Army Officers 1939-1945  -- M All negative.

 

I believe that the commander of 22 (EA) Brigade was Brigadier R F Johnstone and that of 28 (EA) Brigade, Brigadier, later Maj-Gen, W A Dimoline.

 

Hi CJD ,

22nd Brigade you are correct. 28th First it was Brigadier Harley Gerald Veasey and then Brigadier William Dimoline.

 

Dear Dryan,
You have to find me the COs of below supporting elements units
1. 59th East Africa Field Company East Africa Engineers
2. 63rd East Africa Field Company East Africa Engineers
3. 28th East Africa Infantry Brigade Group, East Africa Army Service Corps
4. 108th Casualty Clearing Section, East Africa Army Medical Corps

 

Hi Dryan,

Are the COs names of 21/25/26 EA Infantry Brigades correct for June 1943 to June 1944?

 

F

for Ceylon period

 

Hi Dryan,

Appreciate very much if you could confirm that the names given to me for 21, 25 & 26 East African Brigade Battalion Commanders are correct for Ceylon period June 1943 - June 1944. George who supplied me with the names mentions that these were taken in the period for 1944 Burma Campaign.

Hence, please confirm the same names are applicable for their period in Ceylon.

Regards,

Laksiri