East African Artillery
When World War Two began in September 1939, the modest colonial defence forces in East Africa could boast only a single light battery with four 3.7-inch guns and two 6-inch coast defence guns at Kilindini, the port of Mombasa, manned by a detachment of the King’s African Rifles. There were no anti-aircraft units.
The deep-water port of Mombasa, Kenya, was important to British interests. It provided an alternate route to Egypt, via road, rail and river which, although slow, acted as an insurance policy should the Italians have closed the Red Sea. This the Italians never did, instead the port became central to the build-up of forces for an attack against Italian East Africa. However, the port was vulnerable to all forms of attack, being defended only by infantry with just a single light battery and a mountain battery from India.
In 1940, the South Africans provided some of the first reinforcements for the defence of Kenya. Most significant was the arrival of the 1st South African Anti-Aircraft Brigade, a regiment-sized unit, whose first assignment was the protection of South African forces arriving at Mombasa. By 1941 , there were two East African light batteries and these joined in the campaign against the Italians. Two further batteries were formed in August 1941.
With the successful conclusion of the East African Campaign, the South Africans were withdrawn to Egypt. Then, in December 1941, Japan entered the war. Initial Japanese successes were such that it was feared that the Indian Ocean coast of Africa would come under threat once again. In early 1942, British reinforcements were despatched to East Africa and plans enacted to expand the colonial forces. Field and anti-aircraft units were formed and equipped, the latter based on British cadres taken from Royal Artillery units recently arrived from the United Kingdom and brought up to war establishment with African personnel.
East African artillery deployed to Madagascar in 1942, when the island was seized from the Vichy French. Two light batteries were sent with infantry to reinforce the defence of Ceylon. In 1943, the 11th (E.A.) Infantry Division was formed for service Ceylon and later transferred to India in 1944, from where it entered Burma. It was provided with a full complement of divisional artillery, raised and trained in East Africa.
The story of the East African Artillery and the Royal Artillery units from which it grew, is told on these pages, primarily through the histories of the units. These are organised by arm of service:
- Coast Defence Artillery (known as Heavy Artillery until late 1940)
- Field Artillery (including field units and other divisional artillery)
- Anti-Aircraft Artillery
- Fire Commands (geographically based headquarters, commanding coast and anti-aircraft batteries)
- Depots, Training Centres and Schools.
Clicking on one of the menu options to the left of this screen will expand the section. The unit histories are then accessible as menu options or via the index of units listed.
Research is ongoing and new material will be added as it is prepared.
18 September 2025