Gambia Regiment (Hansard, 19 December 1957)

§ Mr. Profumo

The decision had my right hon. Friend's approval. He did not see the actual text of the Governor's announcement. The following is the Governor's announcementThis morning the Governor addressed a special parade of the Gambia Regiment at Cape St. Mary. He was accompanied by Brigadier Orr, the Commander of the Combined Sierra Leone and Gambia District. At 96W that parade His Excellency informed the troops that with great regret this Government had decided that it could not continue to maintain the existing company of the Gambia Regiment. The Governor explained' that changes in the policy of Her Majesty's Government had made it necessary for all the Governments of territories in the Commonwealth to assume direct responsibility for the local security forces. In the case of Gambia and after considering advice from the military adviser to the West African Governments, it was regretfully decided that the costs of maintaining a small independent army formation were too high for the limited resources of the Gambian Government. The serving personnel of the Regiment would therefore be discharged during the early part of next year, after payment of their full pension or gratuity entitlements. In its place, a special auxiliary police force would be raised, trained in a manner similar to that of the Gambia Regiment. It was hoped that many of those now serving with the Gambia Regiment would carry over its tradition's and reputation by enlisting in the new auxiliary police force. The Regiment itself would not be formally disbanded, but would be placed in suspended animation. His Excellency closed his address to the Regiment by reading to them a special message of good wishes sent personally by the Secretary of State for the Colonies.