The African Auxiliary Pioneer Corps (AAPC) was a unit of the British Army consisting of High Commission Territories (HCT) natives. The AAPC was established in July 1941, after the paramount chiefs of the HCT managed to convince the colonial authorities to create an independent force consisting of their subjects. During its service it provided crucial logistical support to the Allied war effort during the North African, Dodecanese and Italian campaigns. Initially a labor unit, AAPC's duties were gradually expanded to include anti-aircraft artillery operation and other combat duties. It was commanded by Colonel H. G. L. Prynne and numbered 36,000 men, 1,216 of whom died in the war. The last AAPC soldiers were repatriated in spring 1946 and the unit was disbanded in 1949.