Flag Officer, West Africa

Last updated June 20, 2025

Flag Officer, West Africa
Active	1942-1945
Country	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Type	Fleet
Part of	Admiralty
Garrison/HQ	Freetown, Sierra Leone

The Flag Officer, West Africa (FOWA) was a military command of the British Royal Navy during the Second World War. It existed from 1942 to 1945.

The Royal Navy's prior history in West Africa
The Second World War
Flag Officers, West Africa
Components
References
External links

The Royal Navy's prior history in West Africa

During the 19th century, the West Africa Squadron was created, primarily as an anti-slavery effort. Later the Cape of Good Hope Station, homeported at Simonstown, South Africa, merged with the West Coast of Africa Station to create the Cape of Good Hope and West Africa Station for the periods 1857-1865 and 1867-1920.

1807: British slave trade illegal
1808: First RN anti-slavery patrol, West Africa Squadron, ships on "particular service"
1819: West African Station an independent command under a Commodore
1840: West African Station still independent, but not under a Commodore
1842: West African Station once more commanded by a Commodore
1857-1865: West African Station again combined with Cape of Good Hope Station
1866: West African Station an independent command again
1867 West Africa/Preventative Squadron is disbanded
1867-1920 Ships in West Africa under control of Commander-in-Chief, Cape of Good Hope Station and West Africa Station
1942-1945 Flag Officer, West Africa operated from Freetown, Sierra Leone

The Second World War

In 1941, escort forces began to be built up at Freetown.^[1] The post of Flag Officer, West Africa was established in August 1942 as part of the Admiralty re-organisation of commands.^[1] He initially controlled two corvettes and a few Free French ships.^[1] This was due to the growing importance of Freetown as a major base for convoy escorts.^[1] It existed until 1945.

Flag Officers, West Africa

Post holders included:^[2]

	Rank	Name	Term
Flag Officer, West Africa
1	Vice-Admiral	Frank Pegram	August, 1942 - May,1943 ^[2]
2	Vice-Admiral	Bernard Rawlings	May - November, 1943 ^[2]
3	Vice-Admiral	Arthur Peters	November, 1943 - 1945 ^[2]

Components

Distribution of units attached to station included:^[1]

	Unit	Date	Notes
1	18th Destroyer Flotilla	July 1941 – January 1942	2 sloops, 18 corvettes ^[1]
2	18th Destroyer Flotilla	January–August 1942	2 sloops, 24 corvettes ^[1]
3	18th Destroyer Flotilla	August 1942 – July 1943	2 sloops, 23 corvettes ^[1]
4	18th Destroyer Flotilla	July 1943 – February 1944	15 destroyers, 2 sloops, 15 corvettes ^[1]
5	18th Destroyer Flotilla	February–September 1944	6 destroyers, 7 sloops & frigates, 7 corvettes ^[1]
6	55th Escort Group	September 1944 – May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
7	56th Escort Group	September 1944 – May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
8	57th Escort Group	September 1944 – May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
9	58th Escort Group	September 1944 – May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers, 15 corvettes ^[1]
10	59th Escort Group	September 1944 – May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]
11	60th Escort Group	September 1944 – May 1945	4/5 escort destroyers ^[1]

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Watson, Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945:West Africa Command". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
1 2 3 4 Mackie, Colin. "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie, p.84. February 2018. Retrieved 16 February 2018.

External links

Mackie, Colin. (2018) "Royal Navy Senior Appointments from 1865" (PDF). gulabin.com. Colin Mackie. Scotland, UK.
Watson, Dr Graham. "Royal Navy Organisation in World War 2, 1939-1945:West Africa Command". www.naval-history.net. Gordon Smith, 19 September 2015.

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