Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver Leese, commander Allied Land Forces South East Asia (ALFSEA), visits 11th East African Division.

At an airfield Leese is met by Major-General Briggs (101 Area Commander) and Major-General Dimoline (commander 11th East African Division). His aircraft is an RAF Douglas Dakota transport, serial KK205, marked with the crest of ALFSEA on the rear fuselage. Leese takes the salute at a march past of 4th Battalion, King's African Rifles. Leese speaking with British officers and NCOs. Leese inspecting men of 1st Battalion, Northern Rhodesia Regiment. Close-ups of African soldiers. A guard of honour presents arms; pan right to a band of 6th Battalion, King's African Rifles. The bandmaster is named on the dopesheet as F R Hartley of Ipswich and adds that the band had toured Abyssinia (Ethiopia), Somaliland (Somalia), the Middle East and Madagascar.

Notes

The 11th East African Division was formed in February 1943 and comprised troops from Kenya, Uganda, Nyasaland (now part of Malawi), Tanganyika (now Tanzania) and Rhodesia. The Division's combat debut was in August 1944, relieving the 23rd Indian Division. 4th Battalion King's African Rifles was recruited from Uganda.

More footage of East African troops, shot by a Sergeant John Wernham (of the Army Film and Photo Unit) while attached to East Africa Command, can be found at the references below. See related items.

At the time this film was shot an ugly dispute was in progress between Leese, Mountbatten and Slim over command of 14th Army for the upcoming invasion of Malaya. In mid-June 1945 Leese was removed from his post, and in July Slim took over as commander of ALFSEA.