Royal West African Frontier Force - The 82nd West African Division. The two original Nigerian and Gold Coast Brigades, which had fought in the East African and Abyssinia campaign plus the newly formed Nigerian 4th Brigade, a Gold Coast battery, two Nigerian batteries and the Auxiliary Carriers Groups arrived in India in January 1944. It had been preceded by the 81stWest African Division consisting of the 3rd Nigerian Brigade which in fact was to serve outstanding with the Chindits the 5th Gold Coast Brigade and the 6th Brigade comprising one battalion each from Nigeria, Sierra Leone and the Gambia. After a pause for re-equipping and further training, 82nd Division move into the Arakan in November as part of XV Crops for the offensive to clear the Japanese from Central Burma and recapture Rangoon. From the Kalapanzin Valley, its task was to move down the Mayn Peninsula, then link up with 81st Division which in the first move of the offensive have been pushing across the mountainous terrain of the Kaladon Valley.
Although most of the men came from open grass land countries of the Northern Region of West Africa, they were quick to adapt to jungle warfare conditions. Both division fought very hard and persuasively over the hilly, forested and sodden terrain, pushing there fore ever south wards, with the objectives of eliminating them from the Myochaung area. Towards the end of January 1945 fierce opposition had been overcome when elements of both divisions were heavily engaged particularly the 1st Nigerian Brigade.
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