The Northern Rhodesia Regiment
A separate military organisation in Northern Rhodesia (since 1964, after Zambia's independence), the Northern Rhodesia Regiment was formed between 1912 and 1933, when separate civilian and military police forces were established in the territory. In April 1933 (04/1933) it is modelled on the neighbouring East African Force (formed from battalions of the King's African Rifles) Northern Rhodesia Regiment.
In August 1938 (08/1938), the regiment consists of 401 native infantrymen and 20 European officers, most of whom are detached from the British Army. In this year the first reserves are formed for the regiment - first white settlers are trained (European Reserve), the following year the regiment also recruits black volunteers (African Reserve). In August 1939 (08/1939) the European Reserve are mobilised and the members of the former regiment are officially organised into the 1st Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment. From humble beginnings and utilising the local community of over 20,000 white settlers, a total of 8 battalions and a separate company were formed to fight as part of the British forces on the battlefields of World War II.
Historické medzníky:
05/1900 - Established North Eastern Rhodesia Constabulary headquarters at Fort Jameson
December 18, 1912Northern Rhodesia Constabularyheadquarters created at Livingston, merging with the Barotse Native Police.
01.04.1932 - formed Northern Rhodesia Military Police
20.07.1932 - police headquarters moved to Lusaka
04/193304/1933- formed The Northern Rhodesia Regiment
05/1938 - created European Reserve
01/1964 - dissolution of The Northern Rhodesia Regiment, formation of The Zambia Regiment as the armed forces of independent Zambia.
Zloženie:
1st Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (from 1933)
2nd Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment(1939-1946)
2-2nd Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1941)
3rd Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1941-1946, 1964 - ??)
4th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1941-1946)
5th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1941-1946)
6th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1942-1946)
7th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1942-1945)
8th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1943-1945)
96th Independent Garrison Company The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1939 - ??)
Colonel-in-Chief
from 05/1939 - F.M. HM King George VI
from 02.06.1953 - to 1964 HM Queen Elizabeth II
Velitelia:
1933 Maj. B.J. Graham
1937 Lt-Col. William Alfred Dimoline, CBE, MC
??
from 08.06.1945 - Gen. Sir George James Giffard, GCB, DSO
from 28.09.1954 - Maj-Gen. William Alfred Dimoline, CB, CMG, CBE, DSO, MC
History and activities of components:
1st Battalion
The battalion was formed on 03.09.1939 with the task of guarding the border with the Belgian Congo against an imaginary invasion by a mythical 1,300-strong mechanised force, probably coming from Portuguese Angola. After a three-week patrol, the battalion was moved to Kenya with a brief stop for training in Tanganyika. On 11 May 1940 the battalion landed at Mombasa and after a four-day crossing reached Berbera. From there it proceeded to positions at Tug Argan Pass. At this pass the unit defended itself alongside the Somaliland Camel Corps Italian troops during their advance into British Somaliland. After the defeat, the unit withdrew and was evacuated to the port of Aden on 16 August 1940. The battalion returned to Mombasa on 17.09.1940 and became part of the 21st (East African) Infantry Brigade (in the line-up of the 11th African Division, later 1st South African Division). In 1941 the unit again took part in combat action - in May, as part of Cunningham's offensive, it advanced from Kenya's Moyale, and after the fighting was over, provided garrison duty in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Kenya.
On 10.03.1942, together with 21st (East African) Infantry Brigadeshe landed in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). It was transferred to the capital Colombo (Colombo), where it did garrison duty and jungle training for two years. In July 1944 (07/1944) the battalion moved to Chittagong (Burma) and provided construction duties near Palel until October (10/1944). By December 1944 (12/1944), the battalion is combat deployed on the Palel-Tamu-Kalewa route. He remains in Burma until the end of World War II.
2nd Battalion
Formed in late 1939. In April 1940 (04/1940) it is drawn into civil unrest during the miners' strike. During the so-called "Copperbelt Riots", 80 striking miners are wounded or killed by gunfire from intervening battalion members. In 1941, the battalion is split into two battalions - 2nd Battalion and 2-2nd Battalion (later rebranded 5th Battalion) - and continues to perform security duty in Northern Rhodesia. In July 1942 (07/1942) as part of the 27th (Northern Rhodesian) Infantry Brigade, along with the 3rd Battalion and the 4th Battalion, he is transferred to Madagascar via South Africa. On board the Dutch ship Nieuw Amsterdam he arrives on 14 August 1942 at Diego Suarez, where he performs garrison duties. From 09/1943 she performs garrison duty in Italian Somalia.
3rd Battalion
Initially the battalion performed security duties in Northern Rhodesia, later as part of the 27th (Northern Rhodesian) Infantry Brigade garrison duties in Madagascar.
In 1944 he is transferred back to the mainland for training and refilling, then in July 1944 (07/1944) he is transferred to Sri Lanka, from where he is transferred to Chittagong in Burma on 10/12/1944. In the 22nd East African Brigade line-up, he is a reserve of the 15th Indian Corps in the so-called "Tunnels" region. In February 1945 (02/1945) it is moved to Arakan, reassigned to 7th Indian Division with which it crosses the Irrawaddy, takes part in the capture of Rangoon and reaches the Salween River.
4th Battalion
Since its formation, the battalion has carried out security duties in Northern Rhodesia, and later garrison duty in Madagascar, Kenya and Somalia as part of the 27th (Northern Rhodesian ) Infantry Brigade.
5th Battalion
Formed by splitting 2nd Battalion as 2-2nd Battalion. Moved to garrison duty in Italian Somaliland and then to the Middle East where he performed security and garrison duties, mostly in Palestine.
6th Battalion
The battalion was formed in the first half of 1942 and carried out duties in Italian Somaliland.
7th Battalion
Formed in 1942, then moved to Madagascar where it was stationed until the end of the war.
8th Battalion
Formed in January 1943, it saw service in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Somalia.
96th Independent Garrison Company
The company provided security for East Africa Command.
Zdroje: www.regiments.org , www.sonic.net
A separate military organisation in Northern Rhodesia (since 1964, after Zambia's independence), the Northern Rhodesia Regiment was formed between 1912 and 1933, when separate civilian and military police forces were established in the territory. In April 1933 (04/1933) it is modelled on the neighbouring East African Force (formed from battalions of the King's African Rifles) Northern Rhodesia Regiment.
In August 1938 (08/1938), the regiment consists of 401 native infantrymen and 20 European officers, most of whom are detached from the British Army. In this year the first reserves are formed for the regiment - first white settlers are trained (European Reserve), the following year the regiment also recruits black volunteers (African Reserve). In August 1939 (08/1939) the European Reserve are mobilised and the members of the former regiment are officially organised into the 1st Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment. From humble beginnings and utilising the local community of over 20,000 white settlers, a total of 8 battalions and a separate company were formed to fight as part of the British forces on the battlefields of World War II.
Historické medzníky:
05/1900 - Established North Eastern Rhodesia Constabulary headquarters at Fort Jameson
December 18, 1912Northern Rhodesia Constabularyheadquarters created at Livingston, merging with the Barotse Native Police.
01.04.1932 - formed Northern Rhodesia Military Police
20.07.1932 - police headquarters moved to Lusaka
04/193304/1933- formed The Northern Rhodesia Regiment
05/1938 - created European Reserve
01/1964 - dissolution of The Northern Rhodesia Regiment, formation of The Zambia Regiment as the armed forces of independent Zambia.
Zloženie:
1st Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (from 1933)
2nd Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment(1939-1946)
2-2nd Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1941)
3rd Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1941-1946, 1964 - ??)
4th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1941-1946)
5th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1941-1946)
6th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1942-1946)
7th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1942-1945)
8th Battalion The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1943-1945)
96th Independent Garrison Company The Northern Rhodesia Regiment (1939 - ??)
Colonel-in-Chief
from 05/1939 - F.M. HM King George VI
from 02.06.1953 - to 1964 HM Queen Elizabeth II
Velitelia:
1933 Maj. B.J. Graham
1937 Lt-Col. William Alfred Dimoline, CBE, MC
??
from 08.06.1945 - Gen. Sir George James Giffard, GCB, DSO
from 28.09.1954 - Maj-Gen. William Alfred Dimoline, CB, CMG, CBE, DSO, MC
History and activities of components:
1st Battalion
The battalion was formed on 03.09.1939 with the task of guarding the border with the Belgian Congo against an imaginary invasion by a mythical 1,300-strong mechanised force, probably coming from Portuguese Angola. After a three-week patrol, the battalion was moved to Kenya with a brief stop for training in Tanganyika. On 11 May 1940 the battalion landed at Mombasa and after a four-day crossing reached Berbera. From there it proceeded to positions at Tug Argan Pass. At this pass the unit defended itself alongside the Somaliland Camel Corps Italian troops during their advance into British Somaliland. After the defeat, the unit withdrew and was evacuated to the port of Aden on 16 August 1940. The battalion returned to Mombasa on 17.09.1940 and became part of the 21st (East African) Infantry Brigade (in the line-up of the 11th African Division, later 1st South African Division). In 1941 the unit again took part in combat action - in May, as part of Cunningham's offensive, it advanced from Kenya's Moyale, and after the fighting was over, provided garrison duty in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Kenya.
On 10.03.1942, together with 21st (East African) Infantry Brigadeshe landed in Ceylon (Sri Lanka). It was transferred to the capital Colombo (Colombo), where it did garrison duty and jungle training for two years. In July 1944 (07/1944) the battalion moved to Chittagong (Burma) and provided construction duties near Palel until October (10/1944). By December 1944 (12/1944), the battalion is combat deployed on the Palel-Tamu-Kalewa route. He remains in Burma until the end of World War II.
2nd Battalion
Formed in late 1939. In April 1940 (04/1940) it is drawn into civil unrest during the miners' strike. During the so-called "Copperbelt Riots", 80 striking miners are wounded or killed by gunfire from intervening battalion members. In 1941, the battalion is split into two battalions - 2nd Battalion and 2-2nd Battalion (later rebranded 5th Battalion) - and continues to perform security duty in Northern Rhodesia. In July 1942 (07/1942) as part of the 27th (Northern Rhodesian) Infantry Brigade, along with the 3rd Battalion and the 4th Battalion, he is transferred to Madagascar via South Africa. On board the Dutch ship Nieuw Amsterdam he arrives on 14 August 1942 at Diego Suarez, where he performs garrison duties. From 09/1943 she performs garrison duty in Italian Somalia.
3rd Battalion
Initially the battalion performed security duties in Northern Rhodesia, later as part of the 27th (Northern Rhodesian) Infantry Brigade garrison duties in Madagascar.
In 1944 he is transferred back to the mainland for training and refilling, then in July 1944 (07/1944) he is transferred to Sri Lanka, from where he is transferred to Chittagong in Burma on 10/12/1944. In the 22nd East African Brigade line-up, he is a reserve of the 15th Indian Corps in the so-called "Tunnels" region. In February 1945 (02/1945) it is moved to Arakan, reassigned to 7th Indian Division with which it crosses the Irrawaddy, takes part in the capture of Rangoon and reaches the Salween River.
4th Battalion
Since its formation, the battalion has carried out security duties in Northern Rhodesia, and later garrison duty in Madagascar, Kenya and Somalia as part of the 27th (Northern Rhodesian ) Infantry Brigade.
5th Battalion
Formed by splitting 2nd Battalion as 2-2nd Battalion. Moved to garrison duty in Italian Somaliland and then to the Middle East where he performed security and garrison duties, mostly in Palestine.
6th Battalion
The battalion was formed in the first half of 1942 and carried out duties in Italian Somaliland.
7th Battalion
Formed in 1942, then moved to Madagascar where it was stationed until the end of the war.
8th Battalion
Formed in January 1943, it saw service in Abyssinia (Ethiopia) and Somalia.
96th Independent Garrison Company
The company provided security for East Africa Command.
Zdroje: www.regiments.org , www.sonic.net