East Africa Force was rapidly expanded following the Italian declaration of war in June 1940. Colonial units were increased in size and scope and East African troops were reinforced by contingents from West Africa (Nigeria, The Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia) and the Union of South Africa. By November 1940, an impressive field force had been organised and deployed.
Order of Battle for East Africa Force on 6th November 1940
Based on Public Record Office document WO 201/324
East
Africa Force
Nairobi
Force
Troops (East Africa Force)
1st
East African Armoured Car Regiment
Nanyuki.
Less one sqn at Arbo
The
Somaliland Camel Corps
detachment
Nairobi
27th
Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery
Kijabe
53rd
(East Africa) Light Battery, EAA
Kabete
1/3rd
Battalion, King's African Rifles
machine
gun battalion
Nyeri,
less 'A' Coy - Garissa, 'B' Coy -
Wajir-Arbi,
one pln 'C' Coy - Lamu
1/4th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
mile
139 on the Nairobi-Garissa road
2/4th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
detached from 25th (EA) Infantry Brigade
Lokitaung,
less one coy at Kalin
1st
Battalion, Northern Rhodesia Regiment
Malindi
1st
(East Africa) Pioneer Battalion
Wajir
2nd
(East Africa) Pioneer Battalion
Isiolo
Kenya
Independent Squadron
Isiolo
1st (Africa) Infantry Division
1st
Anti-Tank Battery, SAA
Mitubiri,
less one section at Wajir
one
section, 5th Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
attached
Garissa
52nd
(Nigeria) Light Battery
Mitubiri
16th
Field Company, SAE
Garissa
51st
(Nigeria) Field Company
Bura,
less one section at Malindi
53rd
(Gold Coast) Field Company
Garissa
21st
(East Africa) Infantry Brigade
Garissa
1/2nd
Battalion, King's African Rifles
Bura
with one coy at Mile 254 Garissa-Liboi
Rd,
one coy at Garissa
1/4th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
23rd
(Nigeria) Infantry Brigade
Mitubiri
1st
Battalion, The Nigeria Regiment
Mitubiri
2nd
Battalion, The Nigeria Regiment
Mitubiri
3rd
Battalion, The Nigeria Regiment
Mitubiri
2nd
(Africa) Infantry Division
Mitubiri
51st
(Gold Coast) Light Battery
Nanyuki
22nd
Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery (ex 26th Mountain
Habaswein
Regiment,
IndianArtillery)
52nd
(Gold Coast) Field Company
Wajir
54th
(East Africa) Field Company, EAE
Marsabit,
less one section at Archer's Post
1st
South African Infantry Brigade
attached
Habaswein
1st
Transvaal Scottish
Habaswein
1st
Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles
Habaswein
1st
Royal Natal Carabineers
Malka
Tulla
22nd
(East Africa) Infantry Brigade
Marsabit
1/1st
Battalion, King's African Rifles
Marsabit
5th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
Marsabit
1/6th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
Marsabit
24th
(Gold Coast) Infantry Brigade
Arbo
1st
Battalion, The Gold Coast Regiment
Mile
4 on the Wajir-Arbo road
2nd
Battalion, The Gold Coast Regiment
Wajir
3rd
Battalion, The Gold Coast Regiment
East
Shalante, with coys and detachments
at
Ruska, El Bey, El Tulli & Alati
25th
(East Africa) Infantry Brigade
Nairobi
2/3rd
Battalion, King's African Rifles
3/4th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
Bombo
4/4th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
Bombo
3/6th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
Moshi
2/4th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
Force
Troops 06-21-Nov-40
27th
(Northern Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade
formerly
7th (Northern
Lusaka
Rhodesia)
Infantry Brigade
2nd
Battalion, Northern Rhodesia Regiment
Bwana
Mkuba
3rd
Battalion, Northern Rhodesia Regiment
forming
Lusaka
2/1st
Battalion, King's African Rifles
attached
Ekwendini
2/2nd
Battalion, King's African Rifles
attached
Namweras
4th
Battalion, Northern Rhodesia Regiment
attached
- forming (?)
Lusaka
South
African Forces
previously
known as ‘Mobile Field Force’
No
1 South African Light Tank Company, SATC
Arbo
No
2 South African Armoured Car Company, SATC
Mitubiri
No
3 South African Armoured Car Company, SATC
Nanyuki
No
1 South African Motor-Cycle Company, SATC
Gilgil
3rd
Field Brigade, THA, SAA
4
gun battery only, main body
Gilgil
arrived
from SA 23-Oct-40
7th
Field Battery, SAA
Nanyuki
8th
Field Battery, SAA
Gilgil
9th
Field Battery, SAA
Gilgil
4th
Field Brigade, SAA
Arbo
10th
Field Battery, SAA
Arbo
11th
Field Battery, SAA
Arbo
12th
Field Battery, SAA
Arbo
1st
Medium Brigade, SAA
Gilgil
1st
Medium Battery, SAA
Gilgil
2nd
Medium Battery, SAA
Gilgil
1st
Antiaircraft Brigade, SAA
under
command HQ Mombasa Fortress
Mombasa
1st
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
Mombasa
2nd
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
Mombasa
3rd
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
Mombasa
1st
Searchlight Battery, SAA
Mombasa
2nd
Antiaircraft Brigade, SAA
Kabete
4th
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
Mombasa,
less one section at Kabete
5th
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
Kabete,
less sections at Garissa and Nakuru
6th
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
Nanyuki
1st
Anti-Tank Battery, SAA
?
Also with 1st (Africa) Division?
Wajir,
less one section at Gilgil
one
section, 5th Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
attached
Garissa
2nd
Anti-Tank Battery, SAA
Gilgil
3rd
Anti-Tank Battery, SAA
Gilgil
4th
Rhodesian Anti-Tank Battery
Gilgil
1st
Field Company, SAE
Wajir
16th
Field Company, SAE
3rd
Field Company, SAE
Nanyuki
19th
Field Park Company, SAE
Garba
Tulla
1st
South African Infantry Brigade
attached
to 2nd (Africa) Infantry Division
Habaswein
1st
Transvaal Scottish
Habaswein
1st
Duke of Edinburgh's Own Rifles
Habaswein
1st
Royal Natal Carabineers
Malka
Tulla
2nd
South African Infantry Brigade
Gilgil
1st
Field Force Battalion
Gilgil
2nd
Field Force Battalion
Gilgil
1st
Natal Mounted Rifles
Gilgil
Line
of Communications (East Africa Force)
HQ
Line of Communications (EAF)
Nairobi
HQ
Mombasa Fortress
Mombasa
Coast
Defence Battery (Mombasa)
Mombasa
4th
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
under
command
1st
Antiaircraft Brigade, SAA
attached
Mombasa
1st
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
Mombasa
2nd
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
Mombasa
3rd
Antiaircraft Battery, SAA
Mombasa
1st
Searchlight Battery, SAA
Mombasa
Coast
Defence Rifle Company
Mombasa
Kenya
Arab Company
Mombasa
two
garrison companies
Mombasa
HQ
Nairobi and Local British Forces
Nairobi
Nairobi
Battalion, Kenya Defence Force
Nairobi
and Mombasa
'Y'
Garrison Company
less
one section
Nairobi
and Thika
HQ
Moshi Area
Arusha
HQ
Nanyuki Area
Nanyuki
'S'
Garrison Company
Nanyuki
'T'
Garrison Company
Nanyuki
'W'
Garrison Company
Nanyuki
'X'
Garrison Company
Nanyuki
HQ
Nakuru Area
Nakuru
Kenya
Regiment
Eldoret
'Y'
Garrison Company
one
section
Nakuru
HQ
Uganda Area
Bombo
7th
Battalion, King's African Rifles
Entebbe,
less one company at Soroti
HQ
Tanganyika Sub-Area
Dar-es-Salaam
one
garrison company
Dar-es-Salaam
HQ
Nyasaland Area
Zomba
internal
security battalion
Zomba
HQ Northern Rhodesia Area Lusaka
03 March 2002