Indian Dvisions in WWII
Iraq Mideast theater
Indian 2nd Infantry Division
The 2nd Infantry Division was a unit of the Indian Army created for deception purposes in order to control Line of Communications and Sub-area formations in Iraq during the Second World War.
It was created on 15 August 1942 from the HQ Iraq Area and converted to HQ Northern Iraq Area on 15 October 1944.
Orbat Not available
Burma Theater
Indian 3rd Infantry Division AkA:Chidits
Order of Battle of the Chindits an Allied special force which carried out two deep penetration raids behind Japanese line during the Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II
First Chindit Expedition 1943. Codenamed Operation Longcloth
Headquarters 77th Indian Infantry Brigade
Commander Brigadier Orde Wingate
Brigade Major Major R.B.G. Bromhead (succeeded by Major G.M. Anderson)
Staff Captain Captain H.J. Lord
Deception party
Officer Commanding (O.C.) Major Jeffries
No. 1 Group (Southern)
Officer Commanding (O.C.) Lt-Colonel Alexander (died during the operation)
1 Column (Major Dunlop)
2 Column (Major Burnett)
No. 2 Group (Northern)
O.C Lt-Colonel S.A. Cooke
3 Column (Major Michael Calvert)
4 Column (Major R.A. Conron)(replaced by Major R.B. Bromhead March 1, 1943)
5 Column (Major Bernard Fergusson)
7 Column (Major K. Gilkes)
8 Column (Major Walter Scott)
HQ Group (Burma Rifles)
O.C. Lt-Colonel L.G. Wheeler 2nd Burma Rifles (replaced by Captain P.C. Buchanan on the death of Lt-Colonel Wheeler)
Second Chindit Expedition 1944. Codenamed Operation Thursday
Headquarters 3rd Indian Infantry Division
Division Commander Major-General Orde.C. Wingate (succeeded by Major-General W.D.A. Lentaigne)
Deputy Commander Major-General G.W. Symes, (succeeded by Brigadier D. Tulloch)
Brigadier General Staff Brigadier D. Tulloch,( succeeded by Brigadier H.T. Alexander)
Locations of Headquarters
Rear HQ at Gwalior, Central India
Main HQ first at Imphal later at Sylhet, Assam
Launching HQ at Lalaghat
Tactical/Forward HQ, Shaduzup, Burma
Thunder 3rd West African Brigade
Officer Commanding (O.C.) Brigadier A.H. Gillmore, (succeeded by Brigadier A.H.G. Ricketts): 10 HQ column
6th Battalion Nigeria Regiment: 66 and 39 Columns
7th Battalion Nigeria Regiment: 29 and 35 Columns
12th Battalion Nigeria Regiment: 12 and 43 Columns
3rd West African Field Ambulance: Support
(From disbanded British 70th Infantry Division );
Javelin British 14th Infantry Brigade
O.C. Brigadier T. Brodie: 59 HQ column
2nd Battalion TheBlack Watch: 42 and 73 Columns - Lt.Col.G.C.Green
1st Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment: 16 and 61 Columns
2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment: 65 and 84 Columns
7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment: 47 and 74 Columns
54th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment:support
Enterprise British 16th Infantry Brigade
O.C. Brigadier B.E. Fergusson: 99 HQ column
2nd Battalion The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey); 21 and 22 Columns
2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment ; 17 and 71 Columns
51/69 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 51 and 69 Columns (infantry columns made up of R.A. personnel)
45th Reconnaissance Regiment ; 45 and 54 Columns (infantry columns made up recce units)
2nd Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: support
Emphasis 77th Indian Infantry Brigade
O.C. Brigadier Mike Calvert: 25 HQ column
3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles: 36 and 63 Columns
1st Battalion The King's Regiment (Liverpool): 81 and 82 Columns
1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers: 20 and 50 Columns
1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment: 38 and 80 Columns
3rd Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles: 57 and 93 Columns
142 Company, Hong Kong Volunteers & Medical and veterinary detachments: support
Profound 111th Indian Infantry Brigade
O.C. Brigadier W.D.A. Lentaigne, (succeeded first by Major John Masters and then by Brigadier Morris): 48 HQ Column
1st Battalion The Cameronians: 26 and 90 Columns
2nd Battalion The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster): 41 and 46 Columns
3rd Battalion (part) 4th Gurkha Rifles: 30 Column
Mixed Field Company Royal Engineers/Royal Indian Engineers & Medical and veterinary detachments: support
Morris Force
O.C. Lt-Colonel (later promoted Brigadier) J.R. Morris
4th Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles: 49 and 94 Columns
3rd Battalion (part) 4th Gurkha Rifles: 40 Column
Dah Force
O.C. Lieut-Colonel D.C. Herring
Bladet (Blain's Detachment)
O.C. Major Blain
Royal Artillery Supporting non-mobile units designed to defend Chindit Jungle Fortresses.
R, S and U Troops 160th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (All 25 pounders)
W,X,Y, and Z Troops 69th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment (40mm Bofors / 12.5 mm Hisoano guns)
Support Units
NO 1 Air Commando USAAF – strike and casualty evacuation (until 1/5/1944 only)
Eastern Air Command – supply
U. S.Army 900th Field Unit (engineers)
Divisional Support Troops
2nd Battalion Burma Rifles – one section assigned per column except for columns in the 3rd West African Brigade
145th Brigade Company R.A.S.C.
219th Field Park Company Royal Engineers
61st Air Supply Company R.A.S.C.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galahad 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) US Army
1st Battalion; Red and White Combat Teams
2nd Battalion; Blue and Green Combat Teams
3rd Battalion; Khaki Orange Combat Teams
Also known as Merrill's Marauders and after being trained were transferred to General Joseph Stilwell's Northern Combat Area Command and operated independently of the Chindits.
23rd British Infantry Brigade
O.C Brigadier Lance E.C.M. Perowne CBE: 32 HQ column
1st Battalion Essex Regiment:Columns 44, 56
2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding): Columns 33, 76
4th Battalion Border Regiment:Columns 34, 55
60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: Columns 60, 68 (fighting as infantry)
12th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: Support
This Brigade trained as a Chindit Brigade, but was diverted to the main front for use against the Japanese.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Battle_of_the_Chindits"
List of Indian Divisions in World War II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia