British Central Africa

British Central Africa comprised the colonies of Northern Rhodesia (1.5 million blacks, 14,300 whites) and Southern Rhodesia (1.4 million blacks, 65,000 whites), and the Protectorate of Nyasaland (1.8 million blacks, 1,800 whites). About 60,000 blacks, half of them from Nyasaland, and 11,000 whites, including 1,500 women, joined the armed forces and many saw action in African regiments in the East African, Western Desert, and Burma campaigns, and on Madagascar.

Southern Rhodesia's embryo air force fought in East Africa before becoming part of the RAF (as 237 Squadron). Three other RAF squadrons were also formed from Southern Rhodesian personnel, and ten air schools were constructed in the colony. The Rhodesian Air Askari Corps was formed in 1941 to defend airfields and lines of communication.

Personnel from all three countries served in East Africa Command, and some of Southern Rhodesia's continued to do so after October 1942 when it was grouped with South Africa as part of Southern Command. As a result of this reorganization, General Smuts became C-in-C of the colony's armed forces and the Southern Rhodesia Armoured Car Regiment served with the 6th SA Armoured Division in the Italian campaign.

Northern Rhodesia's copper was highly valued early in the war but production peaked at 250,000 tons in 1943, after which demand slackened. Zinc, vanadium (a metal used for manufacturing armour plate), cobalt, mica (employed in the manufacture of valves for oxygen masks), and lead were also produced in the colony, while gold remained Southern Rhodesia's most important source of income, though it also produced high grade asbestos, chrome, and coal. See also raw and synthetic materials.

Bibliography

Macdonald, J. , The War History of Southern Rhodesia, 2 vols. (Salisbury, S. Rhodesia, 1947–50).