The West African Frontier Force first saw action during the occupation of the German Kamerun (present day Cameroon). The experience gained during in this campaign during 1914-16, in difficult terrain against stubborn resistance, made the WAFF a valuable reinforcement to the British Empire forces operating against the German Schutztruppe (colonial troops) in East Africa led by General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck. A single battalion of the Gold Coast Regiment arrived in German East Africa in 1916, and was soon joined by four battalions of the Nigerian Regiment. All remained active in this theatre of war until 1918.