SOUTH-EAST ASIA COMMAND

Deputy Chief of Staff (Information and Civil Affairs): AM Sir Philip Joubert de la Ferte

Principal Administrative Officer: Lt-Gen R.A. Wheeler [US]; also Deputy SAC from 12 Nov 44

[i] For the period Sep 1944 to May 1945, Fourteenth Army controlled 4 and 33 Corps and 2^nd Infantry, 5^th Indian, 7^th Indian, 17^th Indian, 19^th Indian, 20^th Indian, and 11^th East African Divisions; 268^th Indian, 28^th East African, and Lushai Brigades. 36^th Infantry Division was under command but directed by Northern Combat Area Command. 15 Corps came directly under 11^th Army Group/ALFSEA and controlled 25^th Indian, 26^th Indian, 81^st West African and 82^nd West African Divisions. Fourteenth Army was replaced in Burma by Twelfth Army 28 May 1945, and returned to India to plan future operations outside Burma.

[ii] 34 Corps was charged with the projected invasion of Malaya, Operation Zipper, and would have controlled 5^th, 23^rd, 25^th and 26^th Indian Divisions. Twelfth Army handled the final operations in Burma, and controlled 5^th and 20^th Indian Divisions, 82^nd West African Division, and 4 Corps. 4 Corps controlled 7^th, 17^th and 19^th Indian Divisions.

[iii] During the summer of 1945 British units (especially infantry battalions) were generally pulled out of Indian divisions. This was the result of dwindling replacements and the return to the UK of men with long overseas length of service, leaving many of these units no longer fit for active duty. When the overseas period was cut to three years and four months that summer, the result was to render 36^th Infantry Division no longer operational and made it difficult even to assemble artillery regiments for 34 Corps.

36^th LAA Regt RA [equipped with SP 40mm AA guns] back to India Jun 45, to UK Aug 45

8^th Mahratta AT Regt IA [to 7^th Indian Division May 45, possibly only attached to 33 Corps]

Engineers (236^th Field Coy RE; 30^th, 58^th Field Coys IE; 324^th Field Park Coy IE; 10^th and 12^th Bridging Platoons IE; 15^th Engineer Bn IE)

5^th Indian Division[16]: Maj-Gen G.C. Evans; Maj-Gen D.F.W. Warren 23 Sep 44 (KIA 9 Feb 45); Maj-Gen E.C.R. Mansergh 22 Feb 45

161^st Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig E.G.C. Poole; Brig E.H.W. Grimshawe 3 mar 45

7^th Indian Division[17]: Maj-Gen F.W. Messervy; Maj-Gen G.C. Evans 29 Dec 44

33^rd Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig R.G. Collingswood; Brig L.H.O. Pugh 28 mar 45; Brig J.S. Vickers by Aug 45

17^th Indian Division[18]: Maj-Gen D.T. Cowan; Maj-Gen W.A. Crowther by Aug 45

48^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig R.C.O. Hedley; Brig J.A.R. Robertson by Aug 45

Artillery: Brig Baron de Robeck; Brig H.K. Dimoline 25 Oct 44; Brig F.StD.B. Lejeune by Aug 45

Engineers (60^th, 70^th Field Coys IE; Tehri Garhwal Field Coy ISF; 414^th Field Park Coy IE)

62^nd Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig J.R. Morris; Brig G.H.B. Beyts 3 Apr 45; Brig J.H. Morris by Aug 45

4^th Field Regt RA [joined 10 Jun 45 from 5^th Indian Division; to 12^th Army by Aug 45]

32^nd Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig D.A.L. Mackenzie; Brig E.C.J. Woodford 25 Mar 45

53^rd Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig A.G.O’C. Scott; Brig B.C.H. Gerty 29 Dec 44

Engineers (63^rd, 93^rd, 425^th Field Coys IE; 325^th Field Park Coy IE; 16^th Bridging Section IE)

71^st Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig Brig R.C. Cottrell-Hill; Brig H.M. Chambers 1 Mar 45; Brig H.P.L. Hutchinson 22 Mar 45

Artillery: Brig C.J.G. Dalton; Brig Baron de Robeck 10 Oct 44; Brig T.E.D. Kelly 7 Apr 45

Engineers (28^th, 72^nd, 98^th Field Coys IE; 328^th Field Park Coy IE; 7^th Bridging Platoon IE)

26^th (East African) Infantry Brigade: Brig V.K.H. Channer; Brig A.P. Walsh 18 Nov 44

82^nd West African Division: Maj-Gen McI.I.S. Bruce; Maj-Gen H.C. Stockwell 9 Feb 45

2^nd (West African) Infantry Brigade: Brig E.W.D. Western; Brig A.T. Wilson-Brand 23 Mar 45; Brig G.W. Clowes by Aug 45

4^th (West African) Infantry Brigade: Brig A.H.G. Ricketts; Brig N.C. Stockwell 14 Aug 45

22^nd (West African) AT Regt [infantry Dec 44; converted as 22^nd (WA) Light Regt Apr 45]

28^th (East African) Infantry Brigade: Brig W.A. Dimoline; Brig T.H.S. Galletly 21 Feb 45

505 District: Maj-Gen A.H.J. Snelling [formed 9 Mar 45 at Shwebo; to Meiktila May 45]

208^th Field Regt RA (SP) (- one battery) [formed 1 Apr 1945 from 88^th Medium Regt RA]

AA units have been indicated with their normal army or corps assignment. These did not cover all of those engaged in the campaign. This section ignores those with home commands in India itself or stationed in Ceylon. A number of AA regiments (three HAA and four LAA) were broken up in India by Dec 1944 in order to provide reinforcements, especially for the infantry.

4 Corps: 67^th HAA Regt; 207^th Bty/69^th LAA Regt; 28^th LAA Regt in reserve in Ranchi

3^rd Indian, 6^th Indian, 11^th Indian LAA Regts; 25^th Bty/8^th Indian LAA Regt; 1^st West African LAA Bty

69^th LAA Regt (less two btys), 2^nd and 18^th Indian LAA Regts; 4^th Indian LAA Regt (less one bty)

4 Corps: 52^nd and 67^th HAA Regts; 28^th LAA Regt, 1^st Indian LAA Regt, 32^nd Bty/5^th Indian LAA Regt

By summer 1945 many of the British AA regiments were being withdrawn to India and reduced to non-operational status as personnel were sent home.

HQ 24^th AA Brigade deployed to Meiktila 6 May 1945, with 5^th Indian HAA and 2^nd Indian LAA Regts assigned, later gaining 52^nd HAA Regt in Rangoon. It was partially relieved in Jun 1945 by 3^rd Indian AA Brigade, which took over Toungoo, Mingaladon, Zayatkwin, and Rangoon; 3^rd Indian took over 52^nd HAA, 5^th Indian HAA, and 2^nd and 5^th Indian LAA Regts.

A British infantry battalion would have had 845 personnel (36 officers and 809 ORs), with 6x6-pdr AT guns, 36 LMG, 6x3" and 12 (26?) 2" mortars. In Europe, vehicle totals were 12 cars, 38 carriers (12 Lloyd, 19 Universal, 7 Universal fitted for 3” mortar), 28 15cwt trucks, 13 3-ton lorries, 27 motorcycles, 33 bicycles. Vehicle totals in Burma were probably reduced. The battalion had four rifle companies and a support company. Indian battalions were probably similar, although with reduced motor transport. A division HQ battalion was probably a normal battalion, detailed for HQ guard. A division support battalion may have been similar to a MG battalion.

A machine gun battalion in Europe had 697 personnel (35 officers and 662 ORs), with 36 MMG (three companies, 12 each), 16x4.2" mortars (one company).

The 2^nd Infantry Division’s recce regiment had a different organization than that found in Europe, where such units were light armoured. This had 3 recce squadrons (each 1 light recce car at HQ, an infantry troop (carrier section, 21 men and 8 carriers; 2 infantry sections) and an assault troop (3 sections). It had a fourth recce squadron, also with 1 light recce car at HQ and 3 assault troops (3 sections each). I am unsure how the infantry battalions tasked as recce units in the Indian divisions were organized.

A parachute battalion had some 613 personnel and 8x3” mortars for heavy weapons. It was organized in three rifle companies.

A commando had 461 personnel, organized into six troops (each roughly equivalent to two platoons) and a heavy troop with MMG and 3” mortar sections (probably 2 of each).

Armour

The basic organization of an armoured regiment in Nov 1943 was 55 cruiser tanks, 11 light tanks, 6 CS cruiser tanks, 8 AA tanks. It may be presumed that none of the latter were shipped to India. Sherman regiments had the recce troops with Stuarts, but would have had all conventional Shermans (75mm) without any CS Shermans (105mm). Some regiments remained equipped with Lees, and may have had the recce troops. Two regiments were still all-Stuart; these may or may not have had the additional 11 Stuarts from the recce troop.

An armoured car regiment in Europe had 15 Staghound and 45 Daimler armoured cars, 4 Humber AA armoured cars, 12 White APCs, 6 75mm SP guns, 12 Humber and 53 Daimler scout cars. Regiments in India almost certainly lacked the AA armoured cars and did not have the Staghounds, but might otherwise have been similar. If units in India followed the earlier (ca. 1942) organization, they would have 58 armoured cars and 45 scout cars, and lack the SP 75mm guns and White APCs with infantry.

Artillery

By Sep 1944 the artillery abandoned the complex of field regiments, assault field regiments, jungle field regiments, and light field regiments. The army had field regiments, some SP field regiments, and mountain regiments. The LAA/AT regiments were also gone, replaced by AT regiments.

AT Regiment: Four mixed batteries, with a total of 36x6pdr AT guns and 36x3” mortars. Most converted to this organization Aug-Sep 1944, some not until later. Since all gave up the LAA/AT configuration by Sep 1944, they might have been all-gun (48x6pdr) for a period.

WA LAA/AT Regiment: reorganized Dec 44 as AT regiments and renumbered. 22^nd AT Regt WAA handed in guns and transport Dec 1944 and operated as infantry recce regiment. In Apr 1945 it was reorganized as 22^nd Light Regt WAA with 16x3.7” mountain howitzers.

WA Light Regiment: each light battery was originally 8x3” mortars (carried), 4x3.7” mountain howitzers, towed by jeeps. The three batteries in 101^st Light Regt WAA reorganized late 1944 with 24x3.7” mountain howitzers, all towed by jeeps. 102^nd Light Regt WAA had an establishment of 24 3.7” mountain howitzers as well; owing to a shortage of jeeps, it was reduced to 18. In Apr 1945 it converted to 24x25pdrs.

WA Mortar Regiment: 24x3” mortars, formed from the mortars from the old light batteries.

Medium Regiment: 16x5.5” guns; 8^th Medium Regt RA also had 2x7.2” howitzers; 134^th Medium Regt RA [formed 1 Oct 44 by conversion of 134^th Field Regt RA] began with 6” howitzers (12?) and 4x25pdrs, but converted by Feb 45 to 16x6” howitzers. By May 45 it also had 4x3.7” mountain howitzers and 2x7.2” howitzers, and seems by then to have had 5.5” guns (which it handed over 2 Jul 45 to 14^th Indian HAA Regt).

[1] Leese, who tried to sack Slim at Fourteenth Army in Jul 1945, was himself dismissed and replaced by that officer.

[2] Slim was promoted general 1 Jul 1945 and then became CinC, ALFSEA, in place of Leese. He was replaced by Lt-Gen Sir Miles Dempsey, former commander of Second Army in northwest Europe.

[3] HQ closed 30 Sep 1945 and corps disbanded 31 Oct 1945.

[4] Aug 45: 52^nd HAA Regt RA, 44^th LAA Regt RA, 1^st Survey Rgt RA.

[5] In Sep 1944 67^th HAA Regt RA turned all equipment over to 1^st (WA) HAA Regt and became infantry. On 24 Nov 44 it received 2x7.2” howitzers, and later received 16x3.7” AA guns.

[6] Although not listed in the Official History, other sources show 400^th Independent Scorpion Sqn under 50^th Indian Tank Brigade from 21 Nov 43 until it was transferred to 254^th Indian Tank Brigade 1 Nov 44.

[7] The brigade also had 609^th G.P.T. Coy and 589^th Tank Transporter Coy [RASC].

[8] Per the [British] Official History. The entire unit is shown as under 254^th Indian Tank Brigade from 16 Nov 44 and disbanded later in other sources.

[9] Per the [British] Official History. The Indian Official History shows, for 1 Aug 1944, 1^st and 8^th Medium Regts RA, 67^th HAA and 69^th and 78^th LAA Regts RA, 43^rd and 44^th Btys of 2^nd Survey Regt RA, 1^st (WA) HAA Bty and 19^th Bty (-) of 7^th (Rajput) HAA Regt IA.

[10] Per the [British] Official History. The Indian Official History shows, for 1 Aug 1944, 24^th, 67^th, 80^th, 362^nd, and 429^th Field Coys IE and 332^nd Field Park Coy IE, plus 1^st and Suker Bridge Platoons.

[11] From the Indian Official History, for 1 Aug 1944. Support units were not shown in the British Official History.

[12] Support units included 8^th, 24^th and 29^th Inf Bde Coys RASC, 387^th Div Tps Coy RASC and 4^th, 5^th and 6^th Field Ambulances RAMC.

[13] 36^th Indian Division was redesignated 1 Sep 44 as 36^th Infantry Division.

[14] 26^th Indian Infantry Brigade redesignated 6 Apr 45 as 26^th Infantry Brigade. The brigade received the British battalions from 20^th Indian Division and sent its Indian battalions to that division.

[15] Had two batteries 25pdrs and two batteries 3.7” howitzers until Nov 44 when reorganized with three batteries 25pdrs.

[16] Support units included 238^th, 239^th and 249^th I.G.P.T. Coys, 60^th Mule Coy, 23^rd, 66^th, 74^th, and 92^nd A.T. Coys (M) RIASC and 10^th, 45^th and 75^th Indian Field Ambulances.

[17] Support units included 60^th and 130^th G.P.T. Coys, and 20^th, 57^th, 63^rd and 65^th A.T. Coys (M) [RIASC?] and 44^th, 54^th and 66^th Indian Field Ambulances.

[18] Support units [possibly while still organized as 17^th Indian Light Div] included 900^th, 901^st, 902^nd and 906^th Jeep Coys and 45^th, 47^th, 49^th and 52^nd Mule Coys [RIASC] and 23^rd and 37^th Indian Field Ambulances.

[19] Support units included 100^th and 102^nd G.P.T. Coys (15 cwt.) and 127^th G.P.T. Coy (3 ton) and 14^th, 30^th, 43^rd, 52^nd and 55^th Mule Coys [RIASC] and 42^nd, 55^th, and 59^th Indian Field Ambulances.

[20] Support units included 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd Inf Bde Coys and 11^th Div Tps Coy [S&T] and 2^nd, 6^th and 10^th Field Ambulances.

[21] 3^rd (West African) Infantry Brigade belonged to this division. It had been detached to Special Force in early 1944 and never rejoined.

[22] This brigade left the UK for India 19 Jul 45 and arrived in Bombay 17 days later, from whence it began a period of jungle training.

[23] 13^th AA Brigade extended its area into the Arakan by late 1944, and 14^th West African AA Brigade came under command and moved units forward initially to Dimapur and then in Aug 1944 to Imphal and Palel.