after the armistice of villa incisa, and the end of legentilhomme's pro-british prevarication, brigadier [[arthur reginald chater]] rm, the british military commander, was ordered to plan an evacuation if the colony became untenable. by august, the garrison consisted of the 1st battalion [[northern rhodesia regiment]] (1st nrr), the 2nd ([[nyasaland]]) battalion kar, the 1st east african light battery (four [[qf 3.7-inch mountain howitzer|3.7-inch mountain guns]]) from kenya, the 1st battalion [[2nd punjab regiment]] and the 3rd battalion [[15th punjab regiment]] from the [[colony of aden]] and the scc, including 37 officer and nco reinforcements from the southern rhodesia regiment; on 8 august, the 2nd battalion, black watch arrived. the troops were a motley collection, with different customs and culinary arrangements, no proper base or headquarters, short of artillery, transport and signalling equipment. aircraft had to fly from aden, while also busy with convoy patrols and air defence; only two [[qf 3-inch 20 cwt|3-inch]] anti-aircraft guns of the 23rd battery, hong kong and singapore brigade ra could be spared from aden.