The Gambia in World War II

A Lockheed Hudson at RAF Yundum.

During the Second World War (1939–1945), the Gambia was part of the British Empire as the Gambia Colony and Protectorate. At the outbreak of war between the British Empire and Nazi Germany in September 1939, the Gambia was home to the Gambia Company of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF).

Risk of invasion

There was a risk of Axis invasion of the Gambia due to Senegal being aligned with Vichy France and the failure of the Battle of Dakar.[1]

Home front

Home defence

The Gambia Local Defence Volunteers were founded in the war. It was later renamed as the Gambia Home Guard.[2] The Gambia Naval Volunteer Force, part of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (RNVR), was raised in 1935. In March 1938, it had six officers - five lieutenants, and Lieutenant Commander Alexander Skinner, the commanding officer.

Domestic politics

On 13 November 1941, members of the Bathurst Advisor Town Council (BATC) voted for Edward Francis Small to be appointed to the Legislative Council to replace the late W. D. Carrol. Small served from 1 January 1942, becoming the first Gambian member elected to the Legislative Council.[3]

Governance

At the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Thomas Southorn was the Governor of the Gambia, having been appointed to the role in October 1936. In March 1942, Hilary Blood was appointed as Governor and continued to serve until March 1947.

Economy

In 1940, the British passed the Colonial Development and Welfare Act 1940, which provided funding to research efforts in the colonies.[3] In July 1941, a commission of inquiry was launched to investigate the wages of manual labourers in the Gambia. It was decided that a minimum wage for workers in Bathurst should be set.[4] Also, during the war, a full income tax was established in the Gambia along with other West African British territories.[5] Kenneth Blackburne, then Colonial Secretary, published a report in 1943 that assessed the long-term and immediate economic needs of The Gambia.[3] It examined how best to use post-war funds from the Colonial Development and Welfare Act. Many of its recommendations were ignored, but it served as a blueprint for development from 1945 to 1950.[6]

Domestic military presence

RAF Bathurst

RAF Bathurst was formed in March 1941. It initially included three bases of operation, at Half-Die, Jeswang, and Yundum. A detachment from the anti-submarine No. 95 Squadron RAF was based at Bathurst from March 1941 to March 1943, before relocating wholly to Bathurst and remaining there until 30 June 1945. No. 95 Squadron was created to operate Short Sunderland flying boat patrol bombers. The biggest threat that the Squadron faced were Vichy French fighter aircraft based in Senegal, so in July 1941 it formed a Hawker Hurricane fighter wing.[7][8]

In October 1941, this fighter wing became No. 128 Squadron RAF. A detachment of this Squadron was based in Jeswang from October 1941 to March 1943.[8][7]

Other units based at RAF Bathurst include No. 228 Squadron RAF, from 28 August to 26 October 1941, and a detachment from No. 270 Squadron RAF from November 1942 to July 1943.[7]

On 11 November 1943, a Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (RAFVR) Catalina IB with the callsign FP122 crashed in the river while coming in to land at RAF Bathurst. All five crewmembers were killed.[9]

RAF personnel at RAF Bathurst.

RAF Yundum

RAF Yundum was primarily home to No. 200 Squadron RAF. It was also home to No. 82 Squadron, No. 128 Squadron, No. 541 Squadron, the HQ of No. 295 Wing, and No. 54 Staging Post.[10]

Medical aid and hospitals

The Gambia was home to a number of military hospitals during the Second World War. 55 British General Hospital was stationed in Bathurst from April 1941 to May 1942, 40 British General Hospital was stationed there from May 1942 to May 1943, and 55 British General Hospital was again stationed in Bathurst from January 1945 to January 1946.[11] A Red Cross Committee was also founded in the Gambia in order to assist British soldiers detained in French West Africa.[12]

Gambia Regiment

The Gambia Regiment was formed out of the Gambia Company of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) in 1940. Originally at battalion strength, in 1941 a second battalion was also raised. The 1st Battalion served in the Burma Campaign from 1944 to 1945.[13]

1943 visit of Franklin F. Roosevelt

Soldiers of the Gambia Regiment on patrol in Burma, 1945.

In 1943, Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the Gambia, the first visit by a sitting President of the United States to the African continent.

Connection to HMS Gambia

The Colony-class light cruiser HMS Gambia, which saw active service during World War II, took its name from the colony. It maintained a connection with the Gambia throughout its service, and on 28 May 1943, called at Bathurst when it was en route to Cape Town.[14]

Legacy

The Gambia is also home to Fajara War Cemetery, now maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which contains 203 Commonwealth burials from World War II, four of which are unidentified.[15]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Hughes and Perfect, p. 223
  2. ↑ "COLONIAL WAR EFFORT". Hansard. 20 May 1942. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Hughes and Perfect, p. XXIV
  4. ↑ "WEST AFRICA (COST OF LIVING)". Hansard. 25 February 1942. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  5. ↑ "Excess Profits (Taxation)". Hansard. 12 May 1943. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  6. ↑ Hughes and Perfect, p. 22
  7. 1 2 3 "RAF Stations - B". RAF Web. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  8. 1 2 "No. 95 Squadron (RAF): Second World War". History of War. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  9. ↑ "431111 - Unaccounted Airwoman & Airmen - 11-11-1943". RAF Commands. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  10. ↑ "RAF Stations - Y & Z". RAF Web. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  11. ↑ "Hospitals WW2". Scarlet Finders. Retrieved 22 May 2017.
  12. ↑ "BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR". Hansard. 15 July 1941. Retrieved 24 May 2017.
  13. ↑ Hughes and Perfect, p. 80
  14. ↑ "HMS GAMBIA, later HMNZS". Naval History. Retrieved 21 May 2017.
  15. ↑ "Fajara War Cemetery". Commonwealth War Graves Commission. Retrieved 21 May 2017.

Sources

  • Hughes, Arnold; Perfect, David (2008). Historical Dictionary of The Gambia. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. Archived from the original on 5 September 2017.
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