Indian 7th Infantry Division
Encyclopedia
The 7th Indian Infantry Division was a war-formed infantry division, part of the Indian Army during World War II .
. Its formation sign was an arrow, pointing bottom left to top right, in yellow on a black background. The division was sometimes known as the "Golden Arrow" division from this sign. When first formed, the division consisted of the 13th
, 14th
and 16th Indian Infantry Brigades, but within eighteen months, both the 13th Brigade and 16th Brigade were removed and were dispatched to Burma, where both fought during the Japanese conquest of Burma. The 14th Brigade was renumbered the 114th Brigade and remained with the division.
During 1942, the 33rd
and 89th
Brigades were added to the division. The division trained for operations in the deserts in the Middle East but by the end of the year, the North African Campaign
was clearly at an end. In early 1943, the division was reassigned to the Burma Campaign
. Major General Frank Messervy
was appointed to command.
After extensive retraining and preparation, 7th Division took part in an offensive in Arakan
, the coastal province of Burma. Starting in December 1943, the division advanced down the Kalapanzin River valley as part of XV Corps
. In February 1944, Japanese troops infiltrated through the division's front and overran the divisional HQ. Units of the division took part in the subsequent Battle of the Admin Box
, in which the Japanese failed to capture positions supplied by parachute drops and were forced to retreat.
During March, the Japanese launched a major offensive (codenamed Operation U-Go
) into Manipur
. Having been withdrawn from the Arakan battles, the division proceeded by road and rail to Dimapur
, where it came under command of XXXIII Corps
and took part in the Battle of Kohima
. 161st Indian Brigade
, part of the 5th Indian Division came under command, while 89th Brigade was flown to Imphal, to replace 161st Brigade in 5th Division. During early May, 33rd Brigade completed the recapture of Kohima Ridge, while the main body of the division recaptured Naga Village to the north of the ridge. During the later part of the month and early June, the division advanced through heavy monsoon
rains along rough tracks to the east of the main road from Kohima to Imphal, and cleared Japanese stragglers from Ukhrul
.
From July to October, the division regrouped near Kohima, and 89th Brigade rejoined. Late in 1944, Major General Messervy was promoted to command IV Corps and was replaced in command of the division by Major General Geoffrey Charles Evans
. Now commanded by IV Corps, the division advanced down the Gangaw Valley west of the Chindwin River
, with the 28th East Africa Brigade under command, screened until Pauk
was reached by the lightly equipped Lushai Brigade
. During late February 1945, the division captured vital bridgeheads across the Irrawaddy River near Pakokku
. During March, as part of the decisive Battle of Central Burma, the division was involved in several battles at Myingyan
and Yenangyaung
.
During April, the division once again came under command of XXXIII Corps and advanced down the west bank of the Irrawaddy. After Rangoon
, the capital, was captured in early May, the division was directly commanded by the new headquarters of Twelfth Army and resisted Japanese diversionary attacks across the Sittang River
during the monsoon.
After the war ended, the division moved to Thailand
, where it disarmed the Japanese occupying army, and liberated and repatriated Allied prisoners of war.
Following the Partition of India
in 1947 the Division became the 7th Infantry Division
of the Pakistan Army
.
History
The division was created on 1 October 1940 at AttockAttock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
. Its formation sign was an arrow, pointing bottom left to top right, in yellow on a black background. The division was sometimes known as the "Golden Arrow" division from this sign. When first formed, the division consisted of the 13th
13th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 13th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in October 1940, at Campbellpore and assigned to the 7th Indian Infantry Division. It was transferred to the 1st Burma Division in July 1941, and after the withdrawal to India...
, 14th
14th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 14th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed at Attock in October 1940, and assigned to the 7th Indian Infantry Division. In April 1942, the brigade was renumbered the 114th Indian Infantry Brigade...
and 16th Indian Infantry Brigades, but within eighteen months, both the 13th Brigade and 16th Brigade were removed and were dispatched to Burma, where both fought during the Japanese conquest of Burma. The 14th Brigade was renumbered the 114th Brigade and remained with the division.
During 1942, the 33rd
33rd Indian Infantry Brigade
The 33rd Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October 1941, at Campbellpore in India. The brigade was assigned to the 7th Indian Infantry Division until July 1942, when it was attached to the North Western Army. It returned to...
and 89th
89th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 89th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October 1942, at Bhiar Kund in India. The brigade was assigned to the 7th Indian Infantry Division and fought in the Burma Campaign...
Brigades were added to the division. The division trained for operations in the deserts in the Middle East but by the end of the year, the North African Campaign
North African campaign
During the Second World War, the North African Campaign took place in North Africa from 10 June 1940 to 13 May 1943. It included campaigns fought in the Libyan and Egyptian deserts and in Morocco and Algeria and Tunisia .The campaign was fought between the Allies and Axis powers, many of whom had...
was clearly at an end. In early 1943, the division was reassigned to the Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
. Major General Frank Messervy
Frank Messervy
General Sir Frank Walter Messervy, KCSI, KBE, CB, DSO & Bar, , was a British Indian Army officer in both the First and Second World Wars...
was appointed to command.
After extensive retraining and preparation, 7th Division took part in an offensive in Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
, the coastal province of Burma. Starting in December 1943, the division advanced down the Kalapanzin River valley as part of XV Corps
XV Corps (British India)
The XV Corps was a formation of the British Indian Army, which was formed in India during World War II. It took part in the Burma Campaign and was disbanded after the end of the war.-World War II:...
. In February 1944, Japanese troops infiltrated through the division's front and overran the divisional HQ. Units of the division took part in the subsequent Battle of the Admin Box
Battle of the Admin Box
The Battle of the Admin Box took place on the Southern Front of the Burma Campaign from 5 February to 23 February 1944, in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II...
, in which the Japanese failed to capture positions supplied by parachute drops and were forced to retreat.
During March, the Japanese launched a major offensive (codenamed Operation U-Go
Operation U-Go
The U Go offensive, or Operation C , was the Japanese offensive launched in March 1944 against forces of the British Empire in the North-East Indian region of Manipur...
) into Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
. Having been withdrawn from the Arakan battles, the division proceeded by road and rail to Dimapur
Dimapur
Dimapur in Nagaland is bounded by Kohima district on the south and east, Karbi Anglong district of Assam on the West, the Karbi Anglong and stretch of Golaghat District of Assam, in the west and the north...
, where it came under command of XXXIII Corps
XXXIII Corps (British India)
The British Indian XXXIII Corps was a formation of the British Indian Army during World War II. It was disbanded and the headquarters was recreated as an Army headquarters in 1945.-Formation:...
and took part in the Battle of Kohima
Battle of Kohima
The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".The battle took place in...
. 161st Indian Brigade
161st Indian Infantry Brigade
The 161st Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the Indian Army. It was formed in November 1941 and assigned to the 5th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade were then sent to Cyprus as a garrison in case of a German invasion...
, part of the 5th Indian Division came under command, while 89th Brigade was flown to Imphal, to replace 161st Brigade in 5th Division. During early May, 33rd Brigade completed the recapture of Kohima Ridge, while the main body of the division recaptured Naga Village to the north of the ridge. During the later part of the month and early June, the division advanced through heavy monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
rains along rough tracks to the east of the main road from Kohima to Imphal, and cleared Japanese stragglers from Ukhrul
Ukhrul
Ukhrul is a town in Ukhrul district in the state of Manipur, India. It is the administrative headquarter of the Ukhrul district. There are also four Sub-Divisions in the district for administering the villages in and around it. The villages however are govern by the 'Church' and the 'Village...
.
From July to October, the division regrouped near Kohima, and 89th Brigade rejoined. Late in 1944, Major General Messervy was promoted to command IV Corps and was replaced in command of the division by Major General Geoffrey Charles Evans
Geoffrey Charles Evans
Lieutenant-General Sir Geoffrey Charles Evans KBE, CB, DSO & Two Bars was an officer in the British Army during World War II and the post-war era...
. Now commanded by IV Corps, the division advanced down the Gangaw Valley west of the Chindwin River
Chindwin River
The Chindwin River is a river in Burma , and the largest tributary of the country's chief river the Ayeyarwady . It flows entirely within Burma and is known as Ning-thi to the Manipuris.-Source:...
, with the 28th East Africa Brigade under command, screened until Pauk
Pauk
Pauk is a town in Pauk Township, Pakokku District, Magway Division, in northwest Burma . It is the administrative center for Pauk Township. Pauk is located on the western bank of the Kyaw River just above its intersection with the Yaw River....
was reached by the lightly equipped Lushai Brigade
Lushai Brigade
The Lushai Brigade was an improvised fighting formation of the British Indian Army which was formed during World War II. It participated in the Battle of Imphal and the Burma Campaign.-History:In March 1944, the Imperial Japanese Army invaded India...
. During late February 1945, the division captured vital bridgeheads across the Irrawaddy River near Pakokku
Pakokku
Pakokku or Pa Kok Ku is a town in the Magway Division in Myanmar. It is situated about 30 km northwest of Bagan on the Ayeyarwady River. It is the second most important education center for Sangha after Mandalay. It is the administration seat of Pakokku Township and Pakokku District.The town...
. During March, as part of the decisive Battle of Central Burma, the division was involved in several battles at Myingyan
Myingyan
Myingyan is a city and district in the Mandalay Division of central Myanmar, previously, it was a district in the Meiktila Division of Upper Burma. It is currently the capital of Myingyan Township and lies along the National Highway 2. , the city had a population of 123,700 and the district had...
and Yenangyaung
Yenangyaung
Yenangyaung is a city in Magway Division, Myanmar, on the Irrawaddy River.-History:For centuries, the dominant industry in the area has been petroleum. It began as an indigenous oil industry, with hand-dug wells, and from 1755 onwards, early British soldier-diplomats began to note its existence...
.
During April, the division once again came under command of XXXIII Corps and advanced down the west bank of the Irrawaddy. After Rangoon
Yangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
, the capital, was captured in early May, the division was directly commanded by the new headquarters of Twelfth Army and resisted Japanese diversionary attacks across the Sittang River
Sittang River
The Sittaung is a river in south central Myanmar in Bago Division. The Pegu Range separates its basin from that of the Irrawaddy. The river originates at the edge of the Shan Plateau southeast of Mandalay, and flows southward to the Gulf of Martaban...
during the monsoon.
After the war ended, the division moved to Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, where it disarmed the Japanese occupying army, and liberated and repatriated Allied prisoners of war.
Following the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
in 1947 the Division became the 7th Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division (Pakistan)
The 7th Infantry Division, also known as the Golden Arrow and Peshawar Division, is the Pakistan Army's oldest and most battle-hardened division...
of the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
.
Component Units (1 March 1944)
- 33rd Indian Infantry Brigade33rd Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 33rd Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October 1941, at Campbellpore in India. The brigade was assigned to the 7th Indian Infantry Division until July 1942, when it was attached to the North Western Army. It returned to...
- 1st Bn. Queen's Royal Regiment
- 4th Bn. 15th Punjab Regiment15th Punjab RegimentThe 15th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 14th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956 to form the Punjab Regiment....
- 4th Bn. 1st Gurkha Rifles
- 89th Indian Infantry Brigade89th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 89th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October 1942, at Bhiar Kund in India. The brigade was assigned to the 7th Indian Infantry Division and fought in the Burma Campaign...
- 2nd Bn. King's Own Scottish BorderersKing's Own Scottish BorderersThe King's Own Scottish Borderers was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Scottish Division.-History:It was raised on 18 March 1689 by the Earl of Leven to defend Edinburgh against the Jacobite forces of James II. It is said that 800 men were recruited within the space of two hours...
- 4th Bn. 8th Gurkha Rifles
- 7th Bn. 2nd Punjab Regiment2nd Punjab RegimentThe 2nd Punjab Regiment was a British Indian Army regiment from 1922 to the partition of India in 1947.The regiment was formed by the amalgamation of other regiments:*1st Battalion, from the 67th Punjabis, formerly the 7th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry...
- 2nd Bn. King's Own Scottish Borderers
- 114th Indian Infantry Brigade
- 1st Bn. Somerset Light Infantry
- 4th Bn. 14th Punjab Regiment14th Punjab RegimentThe 14th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to the Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 15th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956, to form the Punjab Regiment....
- 4th Bn. 5th Gurkha Rifles
Support Units
- 1st Bn. 11th Sikh Regiment11th Sikh RegimentThe 11th Sikh Regiment were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. They could trace their origins to 1922, when after World War I the Indian government reformed the army moving from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments....
- 136th (1st West Lancashire) Field Regt. Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
(RA) - 139th (4th London) Field Regt. RA
- 25th Mountain Regt. Indian ArtilleryRoyal Indian ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Indian Artillery, generally known as the Royal Indian Artillery , was an administrative corps of the British Indian Army...
(IA) - 24th Light Anti-Aircraft / Anti-Tank Regt. RA
- 62nd Field Company Royal Indian Engineers (IE)
- 77th Field Company IE
- 421st Field Company IE
- 303rd Field Park Company IE
Commanders
- Maj. Gen. A.V.T. Wakely
- Maj. Gen. R. Richardson
- Maj. Gen. Thomas CorbettThomas Corbett (Indian Army officer)Lieutenant-General Thomas William Corbett MC was an Indian Army officer who commanded IV Corps during World War II.-Military career:...
- Maj. Gen. Frank MesservyFrank MesservyGeneral Sir Frank Walter Messervy, KCSI, KBE, CB, DSO & Bar, , was a British Indian Army officer in both the First and Second World Wars...
- Maj. Gen. Geoffrey EvansGeoffrey Charles EvansLieutenant-General Sir Geoffrey Charles Evans KBE, CB, DSO & Two Bars was an officer in the British Army during World War II and the post-war era...
Assigned brigades
All theses brigades were assigned or attached to the division at some time during World War II.- 55th Indian Infantry Brigade55th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 55th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in April 1942, in India. and assigned to the 7th Indian Infantry Division. In July to September 1942, it was attached to the North Western Army. Afterwards the brigade was assigned to...
- 9th Indian Infantry Brigade9th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 9th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in India and converted to the 5th Indian Infantry Brigade and a new 9th Brigade was then formed all in September 1939. The brigade was assigned to the 5th Indian Infantry Division in June...
- 28th (East African) Infantry Brigade
- 268th Indian Infantry Brigade268th Indian Infantry BrigadeThe 268th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in October 1942, by the re designation of 268th Indian Armoured Brigade. It was assigned to the 43rd Indian Armoured Division until March 1943. Then the 44th Indian Armoured Division...
- 22nd (East African) Infantry Brigade
Further reading
- Jon Latimer, Burma: The Forgotten War, London: John Murray, 2004 ISBN 0-7195-6576-6