Order of Battle of the Chindits
Encyclopedia
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
Deception party
No. 1 Group (Southern)
No. 2 Group (Northern)
HQ Group (Burma Rifles
)
Thunder 3rd West African Brigade
(From disbanded British 70th Infantry Division
);
Javelin British 14th Infantry Brigade
Enterprise British 16th Infantry Brigade
Emphasis 77th Indian Infantry Brigade
Profound 111th Indian Infantry Brigade
Morris Force
Dah Force
Bladet (Blain's Detachment)
Royal Artillery
Supporting non-mobile units designed to defend Chindit Jungle Fortresses.
Support Units
Divisional Support Troops
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Galahad 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) US Army
23rd British Infantry Brigade
Chindits
The Chindits were a British India "Special Force" that served in Burma and India in 1943 and 1944 during the Burma Campaign in World War II. They were formed into long range penetration groups trained to operate deep behind Japanese lines...
an Allied special force which carried out two deep penetration raids behind Japanese line during 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...
in the South-East Asian Theatre
South-East Asian theatre of World War II
The South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was the name given to the campaigns of the Pacific War in Burma , Ceylon, India, Thailand, Indochina, Malaya and Singapore. Conflict in the theatre began when the Empire of Japan invaded Thailand and Malaya from bases located in Indochina on December 8,...
of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
First Chindit Expedition 1943. Codenamed Operation Longcloth
Headquarters 77th Indian Infantry Brigade77th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 77th Indian Infantry Brigade was a infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in India June 1942. The brigade was assigned to the Chindits and organised into eight columns for operations behind enemy lines in Burma...
- Commander Brigadier Orde Wingate
- Brigade MajorBrigade MajorIn the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
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.) Lieutenant Colonel Leigh AlexanderLeigh AlexanderLieutenant-Colonel Leigh Arbuthnot Alexander was a career soldier and battalion commander. He also played first-class cricket in three matches in the 1920s...
(died during the operation)- 1 Column (Major Dunlop)
- 2 Column (Major Burnett)
No. 2 Group (Northern)
- O.C Lieutenant-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
Burma Rifles
The Burma Rifles were a regiment of the British Indian Army created in 1917. The regiment re-used the name of an unrelated earlier unit, the 10th Regiment Madras Infantry, which evolved into the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha 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. LentaigneWalter David Alexander LentaigneLieutenant General Walter David Alexander Lentaigne, CB, CBE, DSO, British Indian Army. Sometimes called "Joe" Lentaigne.Walter Lentaigne was an officer in the British Indian Army. He fought in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919. During World War II he commanded a battalion during the 1942 Burma...
) - 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 ImphalImphalImphal is the capital of the Indian state of Manipur.In the heart of the town and surrounded by a moat, are ruins of the old Palace of Kangla. Kangla Fort used to be the home of the Assam Rifles, a paramilitary force and on November 2004 it was handed over to state of Manipur by Prime minister Dr....
later at SylhetSylhetSylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
, AssamAssamAssam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country... - Launching HQ at Lalaghat
- Tactical/Forward HQ, Shaduzup, Burma
- Locations of Headquarters
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 RegimentNigeria RegimentThe Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force, was formed by the amalgamation of the Northern Nigeria Regiment and the Southern Nigeria Regiment on January 1 1914...
: 66 and 39 Columns - 7th Battalion Nigeria RegimentNigeria RegimentThe Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force, was formed by the amalgamation of the Northern Nigeria Regiment and the Southern Nigeria Regiment on January 1 1914...
: 29 and 35 Columns - 12th Battalion Nigeria RegimentNigeria RegimentThe Nigeria Regiment, Royal West African Frontier Force, was formed by the amalgamation of the Northern Nigeria Regiment and the Southern Nigeria Regiment on January 1 1914...
: 12 and 43 Columns - 3rd West African Field Ambulance: Support
(From disbanded British 70th Infantry Division
British 70th Infantry Division
- History :This formation had a brief history during the Second World War. It was formed originally in the Middle East from units stationed in Egypt, Palestine, Cyprus and in Crete, as the regular British 6th Infantry Division. It was then redesignated as the 70th Division on 10 October 1941. -...
);
Javelin British 14th Infantry Brigade
British 14th Infantry Brigade
The British 14th Infantry Brigade was a British Army formation during both the First World War and the Second World War.- World War I :In 1914 this brigade was part of the 5th Division and moved over to France...
- O.C. Brigadier Thomas BrodieThomas Brodie-External links:*...
: 59 HQ column - 2nd Battalion2nd Battalion, Black WatchThe 2nd Battalion, Black Watch was formed in 1881 when the 42nd Regiment of Foot and the 73rd Regiment of Foot were amalgamated to form the Black Watch ....
The Black WatchBlack WatchThe Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The unit's traditional colours were retired in 2011 in a ceremony led by Queen Elizabeth II....
: 42 and 73 Columns - Lt.Col.G.C.Green - 1st Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire RegimentBedfordshire and Hertfordshire RegimentThe Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment was the final title of an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army originally formed in 1688...
: 16 and 61 Columns - 2nd Battalion2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster RegimentThe 2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment was formed by the redesignation of the 84th Regiment of Foot in 1881.-History:...
York and Lancaster RegimentYork and Lancaster Regiment-History:It was formed in 1881 through the amalgamation of two other regiments:*65th Regiment*84th RegimentThe title of the regiment was derived not from the cities of York and Lancaster, or from the counties...
: 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
British 16th Infantry Brigade
The British 16th Infantry Brigade was a British Army formation based in Palestine at the beginning of the Second World War as part of the British 8th Infantry Division. It was later part of the British 6th Infantry Division which was redesignated as the British 70th Infantry Division on 10 October...
- 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 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:...
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
77th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 77th Indian Infantry Brigade was a infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in India June 1942. The brigade was assigned to the Chindits and organised into eight columns for operations behind enemy lines in Burma...
- O.C. Brigadier Mike Calvert: 25 HQ column
- 3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles: 36 and 63 Columns
- 1st Battalion The King's Regiment (Liverpool)The King's Regiment (Liverpool)The King's Regiment was one of the oldest infantry regiments of the British Army, having been formed in 1685 and numbered as the 8th Regiment of Foot in 1751...
: 81 and 82 Columns - 1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers: 20 and 50 Columns
- 1st Battalion South Staffordshire RegimentSouth Staffordshire RegimentThe South Staffordshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 38th Regiment of Foot and the 80th Regiment of Foot. In 1959 the regiment was amlagamated with the North Staffordshire Regiment to form the 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
111th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 111th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. The brigade was formed in March 1943, in India as a Long Range Penetration Brigade attached to the Chindits 3rd Indian Infantry Division...
- O.C. Brigadier W.D.A. Lentaigne, (succeeded first by Major John MastersJohn MastersLieutenant Colonel John Masters, DSO was an English officer in the British Indian Army and novelist. His works are noted for their treatment of the British Empire in India.-Life:...
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
- Kachin Levies
Bladet (Blain's Detachment)
- O.C. Major Blain
- Gliderborne commando engineers
Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The 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:...
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 BoforsBoforsThe name Bofors has been associated with the iron industry for more than 350 years.Located in Karlskoga, Sweden, the company originates from the hammer mill "Boofors" founded 1646. The modern corporate structure was created in 1873 with the foundation of Aktiebolaget Bofors-Gullspång...
)
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 RiflesBurma RiflesThe Burma Rifles were a regiment of the British Indian Army created in 1917. The regiment re-used the name of an unrelated earlier unit, the 10th Regiment Madras Infantry, which evolved into the 10th Princess Mary's Own Gurkha 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 EngineersRoyal EngineersThe Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
- 61st Air Supply Company R.A.S.C.
- 2nd Indian Air Supply Company, R.I.A.S.C.
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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 MaraudersMerrill's MaraudersMerrill’s Marauders or Unit Galahad, officially named the 5307th Composite Unit , was a United States Army long range penetration special operations unit in the South-East Asian Theater of World War II which fought in the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, or CBI...
and after being trained were transferred to General Joseph StilwellJoseph StilwellGeneral Joseph Warren Stilwell was a United States Army four-star General known for service in the China Burma India Theater. His caustic personality was reflected in the nickname "Vinegar Joe"...
's Northern Combat Area CommandNorthern Combat Area CommandThe Northern Combat Area Command or NCAC was a mainly Sino-American formation that held the northern end of the Allied front in Burma during World War II. For much of its existence it was commanded by the acerbic General Joseph "Vinegar Joe" Stilwell, and controlled by his staff...
and operated independently of the Chindits.
23rd British Infantry Brigade
- O.C Brigadier Lancelot PerowneLancelot PerowneMajor-General Lancelot Edgar Connop Mervyn Perowne CBE was a British Army officer who commanded 17th Gurkha Division.-Military career:...
: 32 HQ column - 1st Battalion Essex RegimentEssex RegimentThe Essex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that saw active service from 1881 to 1958. Members of the regiment were recruited from across Essex county. Its lineage is continued by the Royal Anglian Regiment.-Origins:...
:Columns 44, 56 - 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)The Duke of Wellington's RegimentThe Duke of Wellington's Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, forming part of the King's Division.In 1702 Colonel George Hastings, 8th Earl of Huntingdon, was authorised to raise a new regiment, which he did in and around the city of Gloucester. As was the custom in those days...
: Columns 33, 76 - 4th Battalion Border RegimentBorder RegimentThe Border Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 34th Regiment of Foot and the 55th Regiment of Foot....
: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 in AssamAssamAssam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
and took part in the Battle of KohimaBattle of KohimaThe 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...
.