Gambia Armed Forces defence and security in The Gambia was the responsibility of the Field Force. The Field Force was a paramilitary unit of the police, consisting of roughly 140 men at independence and rising to around 500 in 1980. It has been formed in 1958 following the disbandment of the Gambia Regiment, part of the British Army. There was little concern about security in The Gambia due to its small size and the safety provided by being totally surrounded by Senegal, with which it had signed a mutual defence pact in 1965. This lax attitude to defence changed following the 1981 coup
Gambia Regiment entrenched positions at Wumbiagas, Lieutenant K. Markham-Rose of the Gambia Company was killed. Company Sergeant Major Ebrima Jalu won the African Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his actions during the battle. During fighting around the village of Ngog later in the campaign, The Gambia Company's Lieutenant A. E. Coombs was wounded and later Mentioned in Dispatches (MiD). During later stages of fighting, two other Gambian soldiers, Private Saljen Sidibi and Sergeant Sambah Bah were awarded the DCM. They were also mentioned in dispatches, as was Captain Thurston.In December 1916, the Gambia Company formed part of the Nigerian Brigade that was