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Libyan Arab Force

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The Libyan Arab Force (LAF),[1] also known as the Sanusi Army,[2] was established in August 3-4, 1940,[3][4] ultimately reaching a formation of 30,000 personnel,[5] while presumably starting of with a formation of 11,084 soldiers and 96 officers[6] it's authorized strength reached five battalions[7][8] (most likely intended to operate as infantry) made up of volunteers, exiles[9] and refugees (which resided in Egypt) it was established in order to aid the British war effort (presumably because of their expertise in desert navigation)[10] as part of Eighth Army (United Kingdom).[11][12][13][14] With the exception of one military engagement near to Benghazi, this force's role did not extend beyond support and gendarmerie duties.[15] It was initially known as the British Arab Force and was renamed the Cyrenaica Defence Force in March 26, 1943.[16]

Background[edit]

Following the outbreak of World War II in August 31, 1939 (Gleiwitz incident), Idris of Libya supported the United Kingdom—which was now at war with Italy—in the hope of ridding his country of Italian occupation. He argued that even if the Italians were victorious, the situation for the Libyan people would be no different than it had been before the war. Delegates from both the Cyrenaicans and Tripolitanians agreed that Idris should conclude agreements with the British that they would gain independence in return for support during the war.[15] Vladimir Peniakoff was commissioned as a second lieutenant served in the Libyan Arab Force.[17] before creating a unit known as Popski's Private Army.

Shortly after Italy entered the war, a number of Libyan leaders living in exile in Egypt called on their compatriots to organise themselves into military units and join the British in the war against the Axis powers.[citation needed] Five battalions, which were initially designed for guerrilla warfare in the Jabal al Akhdar region of Cyrenaica, were established under British command.[citation needed] Because the high mobility of the desert campaigns required a considerable degree of technical and mechanical expertise, the Libyan forces were used primarily as auxiliaries, guarding military installations and prisoners.[citation needed] At least three battalions participated in the fighting at the Siege of Tobruk until June of that year.[18]

In c. 1941 during the events in the Levant area Syria–Lebanon campaign and namely Britan's recognition of then Emperor Haile Selassie as the ruler of Ethopia, had spurred Idris of Libya to refuse a British military request of transferring two LAF battalions as a guard force in the recently captured Syrian territory.[19] Around the same time period at least two Senussi officers (part of the LAF) served as guides in Operation Flipper[20]

In c. September 1942 at least two Senussi "spies" (which were part of the LAF) participated in Operation Caravan[21] Around the same time period at least 25 commandos from LAF were part of the Long Range Desert Group.[22]

After the British retreat from Cyrenaica during Operation Sonnenblume (February 6 – May 25 1941) the military administration of Cyrenaica lapsed. In the autumn preparations were made for the administration of Cyrenaica again once it had been reoccupied. On October 14th, GHQ Middle East revived a small military administration for Cyrenaica commanded by Brigadier Stephen Longrigg. A small number of people were transferred to 102 Military Mission which had trained the British Sanusi Army, later called the Libyan Arab Force. The new establishment began on December 19th at the fall of Derna.[23]

The force did partake in the Second Battle of El Alamein as 3rd Libyan Arab Force under Eighth Army (United Kingdom) and was assigned guard duties.[24] Later on the Western Desert campaign in 1943, at least one battalion was stationed in Egypt as 2nd Libyan Arab Force.[25]

After Britain occupied Cyrenaica, the need for the British-trained and equipped Sanusi troops appeared to be over. The Sanusi Army was reluctant to disband and the majority of its members arranged to be transferred to the local police force in Cyrenaica under the British military administration. It was finally disbanded in August and September 1943.[citation needed] When Libya gained its independence in December 24, 1951, veterans of the original Sanusi Army formed the nucleus of the Royal Libyan Army.[citation needed]

The roots of the 1951–2011 Libyan armed forces can be traced to the Libyan Arab Force (popularly).[26]

Notable Personnel[edit]

Vladimir Peniakoff[27]

Major Ian Selby Nevill (2nd I/C of 4th Battalion Libyan Arab Force)[28]

Norman Dalrymple Anderson[29][30]

Company Sergeant Major William Arthur Doncaster (presumably was a part of 2nd Battalion Palestine Regiment)[31]

Staff Sergeant Christopher Fraser (previously part of No. 11 (Scottish) Commando)[32]

2nd/Lieutenant L. J. P. Watts (originally from 8th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment)[33]

2nd/Lieutenant Yunnie, Robert Park "Bob" (later joined Popski's Private Army)[34]

Lieutenant Colonel John Haselden Edward "Jock" (later commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Intelligence Corps)[35][36][37][38]

L. P. Mosdell (as of June 2024, unknown rank)[39]

(.doc file list of some KIA personnel that were part of LAF,[40] and another webpage of some Allied merchant personnel that were part of LAF)[41]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Covert Operations, British Views of Islam and Anglo-Sanusi Relations in North Africa, 1940–45". www.tandfonline.com.
  2. ^ Colonel W. H. Kingsberry M.B.E. (2009). "The Cyrenaica Defence Force". www.tandfonline.com.
  3. ^ "Operation Idris: Inside the British Administration of Cyrenaica and Libya, 1942-52". www.jstor.org.
  4. ^ GREAT SOCIALIST PEOPLE'S LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA (26 August 1991). "Memorial submitted by the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" (PDF). www.icj-cij.org. I.
  5. ^ Patrick Bernhard (December 2012). "Behind the Battle Lines: Italian Atrocities and the Persecution of Arabs, Berbers, and Jews in North Africa during World War II". www.researchgate.net. doi:10.1093/hgs/dcs054.
  6. ^ Hasan Karayam (December 2018). "LIBYAN-AMERICAN RELATIONS, 1951-1959 THE DECADE OF WEAKNESS". jewlscholar.mtsu.edu.
  7. ^ HONKONEN JOHANNA (May 2017). ""CYRENAICA IS PARAMOUNT"" (PDF). trepo.tuni.fi.
  8. ^ Simon Browne (2020). "Masculinities, Heroic Self-Fashioning and Popular Culture" (PDF). pure.manchester.ac.uk.
  9. ^ Yousef Mohamed Ali Madi (April 2018). "The social, cultural, and political impact of the British Military Administration on Libya, 1943-1951". research.bangor.ac.uk.
  10. ^ Matt Fratus (22 July 2021). "HOW THE BRITISH 'LIBYAN DESERT TAXI SERVICE' COMMITTED DESERT PIRACY DURING WORLD WAR II". coffeeordie.com.
  11. ^ "Libya, February 1974, National Intelligence Survey" (PDF). www.cia.gov.
  12. ^ Saul Kelly (22 October 2019). "The SLS and the modern history of Libya". www.cambridge.org. doi:10.1017/lis.2019.10.
  13. ^ Paula Hardy (12 November 2002). "Libya: Brothers in arms". www.telegraph.co.uk.
  14. ^ Eileen Ryan (2012). "Italy and the Sanusiyya; Negotiating Authority in Colonial Libya, 1911-1931". academiccommons.columbia.edu.
  15. ^ a b Vandewalle 2006, p. 36.
  16. ^ "History: P/M Speedy, Scots Guards, and a Libyan Band he Trained During WW2".
  17. ^ "No. 35063". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 January 1941. pp. 681–682.
  18. ^ "The Libyan Arab Force during the Second World War". blog.nationalarchives.gov.uk.
  19. ^ Saul Kelly (6 October 2014). "Desert Conquests; Early British Planning on the future of the Italian Colonies, June 1940 – September 1943". www.tandfonline.com. doi:10.1080/00263206.2014.933424.
  20. ^ "11 (Scottish) Commando". www.combinedops.com.
  21. ^ "OPERATION AGREEMENT". the-bay-museum.co.uk.
  22. ^ Andrew L. Hargreaves (2013). Special Operations in World War II. Campaigns and Commanders. Vol. XXXIX. ISBN 978-0-8061-4396-5.
  23. ^ Rodd 1970, pp. 243–244.
  24. ^ "British Forces Battle of El Alamein 23 October 1942" (PDF). usacac.army.mil.
  25. ^ "British Troops in Egypt (1943)" (PDF). www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk.
  26. ^ Metz 1989.
  27. ^ ANDREW LENNOX HARGREAVES (August 2008). "An Analysis of the Rise, Use, Evolution and value of anglo-american commando and special forces formations 1939-1945" (PDF). kclpure.kcl.ac.uk.
  28. ^ Dr. Richard Duckett. "The Men of SOE Burma". soeinburma.com.
  29. ^ CHRIS COOK (1985). SOURCES IN BRITISH POLITICAL HISTORY 1900-1951. Vol. VI. doi:10.1007/978-1-349-17825-4. ISBN 978-1-349-17827-8.
  30. ^ Sati Fwatshak Philip Ostien (27 January 2012). "Northern Nigeria's Settlement of 1960: Who Was Who" (PDF). papers.ssrn.com.
  31. ^ "SURREY HISTORY SERVICE; SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL" (PDF). www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk.
  32. ^ "FRASER, Christopher". www.commandoveterans.org.
  33. ^ Louis Scully. "1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment 1941 - 1942". www.worcestershireregiment.com.
  34. ^ Hans Houterman Jeroen Koppes. "British Army Officers 1939-1945". www.unithistories.com.
  35. ^ "Lieutenant Colonel John HASELDEN MC and Bar". www.hambo.org.
  36. ^ "Haselden, John Edward "Jock"". www.tracesofwar.com.
  37. ^ Jack Valenti. "The Men of the LRDG". www.lrdg.org.
  38. ^ John Sadler (2015). GHOST PATROL; A History of the Long Range Desert Group, 1940-1945. ISBN 978-1-61200-842-4.
  39. ^ "The ABINGDONIAN" (PDF). www.abingdon.org.uk. VIII. 1946.
  40. ^ "Casualty Search".
  41. ^ Guðmundur Helgason. "Ships hit by U-boats". uboat.net.

Bibliography[edit]

Further reading[edit]

  • Baldinetti, Anna (2010). The Origins of the Libyan Nation: Colonial Legacy, Exile and the Emergence of a New Nation-State. London: Routledge. ISBN 9781135245023.
  • Kelly, Saul (2010). War & Politics in the Desert: Britain and Libya during the Second World War. London: Silphium Press. ISBN 9781900971096.

External links[edit]

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