African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps

The African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps (AAPC) was a formation of the British Colonial Auxiliary Forces recruited among Africans in the High Commission Territories (HCT) during World War II. It was established in July 1941 after paramount chiefs in the HCT convinced British authorities to raise a military force from among their subjects. Initially formed as a labour unit, the AAPC's duties gradually expanded to include operating anti-aircraft artillery and other combat duties. The formation was renamed the African Pioneer Corps (APC) in 1943 in recognition of its service, which included providing logistical and combat support to Allied forces during the North African, Dodecanese and Italian campaigns. Commanded by Colonel H. G. L. Prynne, it ultimately numbered 36,000 servicemen, 1,216 of whom died during the war. The last soldiers of the formation were repatriated to Africa by spring 1946, and it was disbanded in 1949.