African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps

African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps
A mixed group of Lebanese laborers, Australian and AAPC servicemen in Lebanon, 1942
Active	July 1941–1946
Disbanded	1949
Country	Swaziland, Basutoland and Bechuanaland
Allegiance	British Empire
Branch	Army
Type	Military labor and anti-aircraft artillery
Role	Support
Size	36,000
Engagements	World War II North African Campaign Allied invasion of Sicily Dodecanese campaign Battle of Anzio Operation Avalanche Battle of Monte Cassino Spring 1945 offensive in Italy Palestine Emergency

The African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps (AAPC) was a unit of the British Colonial Auxiliary Forces recruited among Africans from the High Commission Territories (HCT). It was established in July 1941, after the paramount chiefs of the HCT managed to convince the colonial authorities to create an independent force consisting of their subjects. During its service it provided crucial logistical support to the Allied war effort during the North African, Dodecanese and Italian campaigns. Initially a labor unit, AAPC's duties were gradually expanded to include anti-aircraft artillery operation and other combat duties. It was commanded by Colonel H. G. L. Prynne and numbered 36,000 men, 1,216 of whom died in the war. The last AAPC soldiers were repatriated in spring 1946 and the unit was disbanded in 1949.