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Nevertheless, it must be pointed out that the term "Hausa", like "Sepuy" in India was sometimes used, not in an absolutely accurate ethnic context, but as a generic term for "soldier."

On January 1st, 1914, consequent upon the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Nigeria, The Southern Nigeria Regiment was merged with The Northern Nigeria Regiment to form The Nigeria Regiment, West African Frontier Force. From this point on, the various colonial battalions (initially comprised of eight companies each) took on new designations, with specific numbers, which they have retained to this day, with minor modification.

The 1st Battalion of 1914 was the former 1st Bn Northern Nigeria Regiment. The 2nd Battalion of 1914 was the former 2nd Bn Northern Nigeria Regiment. The 3rd Battalion of 1914 was the former 3rd Bn Northern Nigeria Regiment. The 4th Battalion of 1914 (which is the subject of this paper), was the former 2nd Bn, Southern Nigeria Regiment (and thus the former Lagos Battalion, former Lagos Constabulary, former Hausa Constabulary, former Hausa Militia (or Guard) and original "Glover’s Hausas.") On the other hand, the 5th Battalion of 1914 was the former 1st Battalion, Southern Nigeria Regiment.

Various re-designations have occurred since then. The 4th battalion, however, retained its number, as part of The Nigeria Regiment, although, along with other Nigerian battalions it was rotated from time to time from one part of the country to another. During World War 1, when the number of battalions was expanded to nine (9), it was known as the 4th regiment, West African Frontier Force, attached to the Kings Own Lancaster Regiment. In 1920, after the war, the number of battalions were reduced to four but then expanded back to five, several years later. The West African Frontier Force itself later became the Royal West African Frontier Force in 1928. Just prior to WW2, the unit was known as the 4 Bn, Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force. During World War 2, it was known as the 4th Battalion Nigerian Rifles. The Nigeria Regiment became The Queen's Own Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force in 1956, Royal Nigerian Army in 1960 and The Nigerian Army in 1963 (when Nigeria became a republic).

The last colors of the RWAFF used by the unit were reportedly presented to it in 1952 by Sir John Stuart Macpherson, GCMS, then the Governor General of Nigeria. The colors were retired in 1960 when Nigeria became independent and remain to this day preserved in the Battalion Officers Mess.

To the best of my knowledge, the descriptor phrase "4th" was re-simplified to the number "4" in late 1956. The unit was based in Kaduna in the early fifties, and thus responsible for the honor guard parade when Queen Elizabeth visited the Kaduna Race Course in February 1956. However, as of October 1st, 1960, when Nigeria became independent, the old 4th battalion (then known as the 4 Queens Own Nigeria Regiment (4QONR)) was back again at Ibadan, capital of then Western Region, it’s original location just prior to the Second World War. On June 1st, 1963 it celebrated its centennial anniversary and was presented with the Freedom of the city of Ibadan (West African Pilot, June 10 1963). This was symbolized by a key presented by the late Sir Isaac Akinyele, then Olubadan of Ibadan, to then Lt Col. Kur Mohammed, the first indigenous Commanding Officer of the battalion, who was later murdered in cold blood during the January 1966 coup by Major Christian Anuforo.

After Nigeria became a republic the unit became known as "4NA" or "4 Battalion." Subsequent minor alterations in nomenclature (while still retaining the number "4") have been driven by changes in its role and responsibilities, as will be apparent as we delve deeper into its history. Indeed, it is the only battalion in the Nigerian Army that has served as Infantry on foot, motorized Infantry, Airborne and most recently as a Guards Battalion.

Over the years (since Independence) it has served under the 2nd Brigade, 1st Brigade, 1 Division, 3 Marine Commando Division, 3 Armoured Division, 82 Division (in the Bakassi Peninsula) and most recently under command of the Guards Brigade, Nigerian Army. Following a complete breakdown in discipline, the battalion was redeployed from Ibadan to Kaduna in September 1966, and then repositioned at the border of then Benue-Plateau and East Central States in June 1967, just prior to the civil war. It operated along the Oturkpo – Umuahia axis under the 1st Division during the war. Its last major battle in that unfortunate conflict was the capture of Ovim. At the end of the civil war it was located at Nkwere (in present day Imo State) until 1974 before it redeployed to Owerri (present Imo State). It later moved to Ogoja (Cross-River State) in 1981. It moved from Ogoja to Takum (in Taraba State) in 1992. The unit moved from Takum to Archibong Town in the Bakassi peninsula in April 1995 before being redeployed to its present location in Abuja in 2000. The unit mascot is the Lion, symbolic of strength.

To place its evolution over time in better perspective, however, let us return to the colonial era.

During the colonial era, usually bare-footed troops were outfitted in shirts and shorts as were other units of the WAFF (later RWAFF). This later transitioned to trousers with boots. As might be expected, the progenitor "Lagos Battalion (ie "Hausa Constabulary") took part in many colonial battles and wars of occupation and colonial enforcement, for which its officers and men received the African General Service Medal and Clasp. The last of these was the Egba uprising of 1916. (I have not yet been able to establish whether the battalion was the one that opened fire during the suppression of the so-called "Aba Women’s riots" of 1929-30). Externally, in addition to its earlier role during the 2nd Ashanti war of 1873, "honors" were conferred for its role during the 3rd Ashanti war of 1900. Internally, there were 43 "punitive expeditions" between 1900 and 1914. Soldiers of the Lagos Battalion received British "honors" for their role in the Aro campaign from 1901-02.

As the 4th regiment, they were drafted in late 1914 to take part in the British invasion of German Kamerun, which ended in 1916 after which they were later deployed as part of the campaign against Von Lettow in East Africa until 1918. On the home front, in 1916, Lugard deployed troops in an internal security role to crush an Egba uprising, killing 500 - 1000 Egbas over two months.

Between the world wars, like other Nigerian units, the 4 Battalion, Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force, occasionally helped to enforce tax collection. That aside, first in 1926, and then in 1932, the battalion won the now defunct "Machine Gun Trophy". In June 1936, the unit conducted the "Trooping of the Colour" ceremony on His Majesty King George V's birthday. In early 1943, it won the Enugu Garrison Athletic Championship shield - permanently.

Although some official Nigerian sources claim it did, there is some controversy over whether or not the 4th battalion actually took part in the Ethiopian campaign (against the Italians) to restore Emperor Haile Selassie to power. There is evidence that the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd battalions of the Nigeria Regiment fought in the Ethiopian campaign as part of the 23rd (Nigeria) Infantry Brigade based at Mitubiri. Small detachments of Nigerian troops also reportedly served with British forces in Palestine, Morocco, and Sicily. But I have not been able to pin down their parent units. Perhaps a detachment of the 4th battalion (rather then the entire unit) played a role in Ethiopia as well but this requires additional research.

Nevertheless, it is not debatable that the 4th battalion took an active part in the campaign in Burma.

Along with other elements of the 6th (West Africa) Infantry Brigade (initially under Brigadier J. W. A. Hayes, DSO ) of the 81st West African Division, the 4Bn arrived in Bombay, India, on August 14th, 1943, after a sea voyage from Nigeria. After training and refitting, the Brigade deployed to Burma on December 8th 1943 and took part in the Arakan campaign. Along with its parent division, the 4Bn finally left Burma for India on March 18th, 1945.

The 6th Brigade consisted of the 4th Battalion, The Nigeria Regiment, the 1st Battalion, The Sierra Leone Regiment and the 1st Battalion, The Gambia Regiment. The 4th Battalion, The Nigeria Regiment was then under the command of T/Lt. Col. Charles Walwyn. It played a key role during the advance down the Kaladan valley.

According to eye-witnesses, the advance began on January 18th 1944 with the 6th (West Africa) Brigade leading along the east bank of the river. Troops got their baptism of fire on January 24th near a town called Paletwa. By mid-February the 6th (West Africa) Brigade had occupied the village of Kaladan. On February 25th, during an assault river crossing of Pi Chaung river, the 4th Battalion, Nigeria Regiment, seized Kyauktaw and Apaukwa.

Later on, following a lull during the campaign, the 4th Battalion, Nigeria Regiment, supported by the Royal Air Force, unsuccessfully attacked a 2940 feet high and very steep jungle mountain, Mowdok Taung, on October 11th. A few days later, on October 14th, supported by another ground attack sortie, the battalion finally seized the feature when the Japanese slipped away to avoid complete encirclement. At this point the battalion, nursing many casualties, was tasked, along with the 22nd Anti-Tank Regiment, to protect the rear of the advance in that area of operations.

In a letter of commiseration dated October 13th, 1944, written by the Commanding Officer (CO) of the 4th Battalion (Lieut. Colonel C. E. D. Walwyn ) to the wife (Mrs. Reeve) of a wounded NCO, Sgt. James A Reeve of "A" company, (and shared by the now late NCO’s son, Stewart Reeve) the CO remarked,

"Their discipline and smartness were impressive, and they were more obviously at home in the jungle than any other troops I had yet seen. They had neither animals nor vehicles with their fighting units, but were organized on a man-pack basis..........I was at once struck by two things. First, by the horde of unarmed porters who were needed to carry supplies, ammunition, baggage, and the heavier weapons; second, by the large number of white men in a unit, fifty to sixty to a battalion. Accustomed as I was to Indian battalions in the field with usually only seven or eight europeans, it struck me as an unnecessarily generous supply. I never changed that view and later experience confirmed it.......I was constantly told that, far from being too many, with the rapidly expended African forces, more British officers and NCOs were needed. But these large British establishments in African units had great drawbacks. The only way to fill them was to draft officers and NCOs willy-nilly to them, and this did not always give the right kind. The European who serves with native troops should be not only much above average in efficiency and character, as he must accept greater responsibility, but he should serve with them because he wants to, because he likes them. Another effect of so many British was to stifle the initiative of the Africans. All commanders, even down to seconds-in-command of platoons, were British; the African NCO thus had, at least during training, a white man always at his elbow to whom he could turn for orders. Naturally he did so, and when in battle the Britisher became a casualty or for some other reason the African was left on his own, he was lost...."