Somaliland Camel Corps

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The Somaliland Camel Corps was a unit of the British Army based in British Somaliland.

Camels are a necessity in Somalia, Camels in Somalia are as important as ponies in Mongolia. In Somalia's drought stricken land, the camel was one of the only animals worth the effort associated with domestication.


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[edit] Beginnings and the "Mad Mullah"

In 1884, the British established a protectorate in Somaliland. They immediately recognized the affinity between the Somali people and camels. The "Somaliland Camel Constabulary" was an early attempt harness this natural affinity militarily.

On 9 August 1913, the "Somaliland Camel Constabulary" suffered a serious defeat at the Battle of Dul Madoba. This was during the "Mad Mullah" (Mohammed Abdullah Hassan) period of Somali history (1899-1920). Hassan roamed British Somaliland and had already evaded several attempts to capture him. At Dul Madoba, 57 members of the 110-man unit were killed or wounded. The dead included the British commander, Colonel Richard Corfield.

On 12 March 1914, the British set out to create what was to become the "Somaliland Camel Corps" to better maintain order in northern Somaliland. The corps served gallantly against the "Mad Mullah." But, after a total of four major expeditions to capture him, Hassan remained on the loose. During the same period, the corps set an impressive standard by covering one-hundred-and-fifty miles in seventy-two hours. The camel corps grew to include some 700 mounted riders.

In November 1919, the British launched the fifth and final expedition. In 1920, a combined land and air offensive -- which included the Somaliland Camel Corps, Somaliland Police, elements from the 2nd (Nyasaland) Battalion and 6th (Somaliland) Battalion of the King's African Rifles (KAR), and an Indian battalion -- finally defeated Hassan's army. Despite this defeat, many Somalis continued to hail Hassan as a warrior hero and he remains the source of pride among modern Somali nationalists.

During the period between World War I and World War II, the Somaliland Camel Corps was re-configured to better defend the protectorate in case of a future war. In 1930, Colonel Arthur Reginald Chater of the Royal Marines was placed in command of a slightly smaller corps of five-hundred troopers. Like many other colonial unit, the Somaliland Camel Corps had British officers. In the late 1930s, the corps was givien nine-hundred British pounds to build pillboxes and reserve water tanks.

In September 1939, the Somaliland Camel Corps had a total strength of fourteen British officers, one British non-commissioned officer, and five-hundred-and-fifty-four non-European other ranks. Initially, the corps was placed under the garrison commander of French Somaliland. The Somaliland Camel Corps fought alongside units of the KAR and the Northern Rhodesian Regiment. [1] The Somaliland Camel Corps' four companies were split among five different locations in the colony. Only "A" Company retained its camels. The other companies had become infantry units.

Field Marshal Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief of the Middle East Command, was apalled by the under-equipped force that was supposed to defend an entire colony. In 1940, as a result of his concern, the unit was partially mechanized and further defenses were built. But, before the upgrades could be completed, the funds dried up.

[edit] World War II

At the beginning of the East African Campaign, the Somaliland Camel Corps only had a total of one thousand, four hundred and seventy-five men to defend British Somaliland. This number included a battalion of the Northern Rhodesian Regiment. Reinforcements were eventually sent in a vain hope to stop the Italian invasion.

During the Italian invasion of British Somaliland, the Somaliland Camel Corps skirmished and screened the attacking force along the border before pulling back to more defensible positions. At Observation Hill, the corps made a formidable stand. One of its officers, Captain Eric Charles Twelves Wilson of the East Surreys, received a Victoria Cross (VC) for his use of a machine gun during the defense. Despite wounds, malaria, and having several guns destroyed out from under him, he stayed at his post. Wilson was the only VC recipient during the Italian invasion of British Somaliland and his was the only VC ever earned in Somalia. Only six other VCs were awarded for operations in East Africa. Wilson was later found alive in an Italian prisoner of war camp.

However, despite a spirited defense, the British were over-matched and withdrew from Berbera on 17 August 1941. [2] With the final withdrawal, most of the Somali troops of the Somaliland Camel Corps were disbanded. [3]

On 16 March 1941, less than one year from the date of withdrawal, the British returned to the colony. Soon afterwards the Somaliland Camel Corps was re-founded. By 18 April, the unit was at about 80% of its former strength. The camel corps spent the following months rounding up stray Italians and policing against local bandits.

In 1942, the Somaliland Camel Corps did become a mechanized regiment.

On 13 March 1943, the crew of the German U-852 submarine is indicated to have been interned by members of the camel corps. 52 members of the crew, commanded by Lieutenant-Captain (Kapitänleutnant) Heinz-Wilhelm Eck, came ashore after the U-852 was attacked and sunk by six bombers of 621 Squadron, Royal Air Force.

For some time there were plans to send the unit to Burma. However, after several mutinies in 1943, the unit was disbanded for good.

[edit] Organization

In 1939, on the brink of war, the Somaliland Camel Corps was organized as follows:

  • Headquarters and Headquarters Company, The Somaliland Camel Corps: Laferug
  • 'A' (Camel) Company: Hargeisa
  • 'B' (Nyasa Infantry) Company: Tug Argen
  • 'C' Company: Burao
  • 'D' Company: Tug Argen (Less 2 Platoons at Sheik)

[edit] Uniform

The troopers of the Somaliland Camel Corps had a distinctive dress which was based on the standard British Army khaki drill, but included a knitted woolen pullover and drill patches on the shoulders. Shorts were worn with woolen socks on "puttees" and "chaplis", boots or bare feet. Equipment consisted of a leather ammunition bandolier and a leather waist belt. The officers wore sun helmets and khaki drill uniforms. Other ranks wore a "kullah" with "puggree" which ended in a long tail which hung down the back. [4] A "chaplis" is typically a colorful sandal. A "kullah" is a type of cap. A "puggree" is typically a strip of cloth wound around the upper portion of a hat or helmet, particularly a pith helmet, and falling down behind to act as a shade for the back of the neck.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Mollo, Andrew, The Armed Forces of World War II, Crown Publishing, New York, ISBN 0-517-54478-4, p. 138
  2. ^ Time Magazine, Little Dunkirk
  3. ^ Mollo, Andrew, The Armed Forces of World War II, Crown Publishing, New York, ISBN 0-517-54478-4, p. 138
  4. ^ Mollo, Andrew, The Armed Forces of World War II, Crown Publishing, New York, ISBN 0-517-54478-4, p. 139
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