Description
Physical description
badge
a green woollen square superimposed over a red square to leave a narrow red border, worn on its point, on which a blackened brass 'V' shape, the left arm being thicker than the right, this being the Arabic numeral 7.
Label
The badge. Worn on the upturned brim of the bush hat.
Unit history: this Battalion was raised at the end of May 1939 at Bombas and designated 7th (Uganda Territorial Force) Battalion The Kings African Rifles. In December 1940 it came under GHQ East Africa Command and in the summer of 1941 it was raised in status to a first line battalion, becoming 7th Battalion The King's African Rifles. In October 1941 it transferred to the recently formed (July) 28th (East Africa) Brigade. It was in Ceylon between March and November 1944. It later moved via India to Burma, where it served from mid November 1944 to April 1945. After their return to East Africa later in 1945, the Battalion was disbanded in 1946.
Following elevation to a first line unit, in July 1941 the Battalion moved by sea from Mogadishu to Eritrea where it took over the port of Assab as part of the blockade of Vichy French Somaliland. It became part of 28th (EA) Brigade when that formation arrived in Ethiopia in October 1941 with responsibility for patrolling the French frontier. Over Christmas 1942 the Brigade concentrated ready for an invasion of French Somaliland and crossed the border on Boxing Day. The Vichy authorities capitulated on 28th December.
The Battalion returned with the Brigade to East Africa in July 1943 before moving to Ceylon at the beginning of March 1944. It transferred to Burma in early November 1944 where it undertook intensive training in the Imphal area until the end of the year.
In January 1945, 28th (EA) Brigade, under command of 7th Indian Division, was tasked to lead an advance from Gangaw south and then south east to the Irrawaddy in the Seikpyu - Chauk area. During the move, they were to attempt a deception by simulating the movement of 11th (East Africa) Division, using that Division's wireless frequencies and with Brigade vehicles wearing the 11 (EA) Divisional sign. The advance south down the Myitta River valley commenced on 11th January, with a further advance begun on 2nd February, directed south-east from Pauk to Seikpyu on the Irrawaddy. Here the Brigade was to launch a feint river crossing. The Battalion failed to take a strong bunker position on the approaches to Seikpyu on 9th February but the Brigade was able to stage its feint river crossing on 13th February. The Japanese heavily counter-attacked the Battalion on 15th February and inflicted significant casualties. Two Companies were withdrawn the following day and the remaining two were relieved two days later. The Brigade withdrew on 20th February, the Battalion bringing up the rear. A determined attack on the new Brigade position was beaten off on 22 February.
The following day, the Battalion was relieved by 4/14 Punjab Regiment, now under command of the Brigade. The Battalion was withdrawn and was flown out to Chittagong on 8th –9th March. One plane crashed, killing one officer and 16 askaris. The Battalion subsequently undertook garrison duties at Manipur Road, Tezpur and Shillong.
For an outline history of the KAR, see INS 433.
History note
Bibliographical sources. THE KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES. A Study in the Military History of East and Central Africa, 1890 –1945. Lt. Col. H. Moyse-Bartlett. Aldershot, Gale & Polden, 1956.
A HISTORY OF THE KING'S AFRICAN RIFLES and East African Forces. Malcolm Page. Leo Cooper, 1998.
http://www.regiments.org/regiments/africaeast/regts/kar.htm
ORDERS OF BATTLE OF THE SECOND WORLD WAR 1939 –1945. Lt. Col. H. F. Joslen. London Stamp Exchange (reprint) 1990.