At the outbreak of the World War II, Batswana chiefs pledged their allegiance to the King of England and placed themselves and their people at his disposal. Despite the fact that at this time 15,000 to 20,000 thousand men from Bechuanaland were working in various enterprises in the South African Union. In six months15 companies of some 5,500 men were recruited for the African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps.
Age regiments (mephato) were called up by chiefs and sent to congregate at the newly built (1941) Bechuanaland Depot of the Pioneer Corps. There they were formed into companies according to their localities and undertook drill and other initial military training. By September the Pioneers were on their way to Durban for embarkation overseas. These first companies were formed from the Bangwaketse, Bangwato, Bakwena and others from the Kweneng areas. Later companies were formed from contingents of these ethnic groups but including such others as the Batawana, Barolong, Bakgatla, Balete,Batlokwa and the Tati companies of the Bakalaka, Bakhurutse and Barolong. The second group of these recruits was enlisted in August and September, 1942 to make up the number of Pioneers to over 10,000. Arriving in Durban the first companies embarked on ships and were off to war.
