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The 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 edit
Headquarters 77th Indian Infantry Brigade[1]
- 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.) Lieutenant Colonel Leigh Alexander (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)
- 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 edit
Headquarters 3rd Indian Infantry Division[2]
- 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)
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 70th British Infantry Division );
Javelin British 14th Infantry Brigade
- O.C. Brigadier Thomas Brodie: 59 HQ column
- 2nd Battalion, Black 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 - Lt Col F.R.(Wilf) Wilford; Maj (later Lt Col) F.H.J.Wileman & Maj J.G.Lockett MC (att from Seaforth H.). Maj F.H.J.Wileman later detached to help train Merrill's Marauders in Jungle Warfare.
- 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
- 51st/69th 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
- 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, 6th Gurkha Rifles: 36 and 63 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
- Kachin Levies
Bladet (Blain's Detachment)
- O.C. Major Blain
- Gliderborne commando engineers
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)
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.
- 2nd Indian Air Supply Company, R.I.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 and Orange Combat Teams
- Also known as Merrill's Marauders. After being trained, the force was transferred to General Joseph Stilwell's Northern Combat Area Command and operated independently of the Chindits.
- O.C. Brigadier Lancelot Perowne: 32 HQ Column
- 1st Battalion Essex Regiment: 44 and 56 Columns
- 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding): 33 and 76 Columns
- 4th Battalion Border Regiment: 34 and 55 Columns
- 60th (North Midland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: 60 and 68 Columns (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 Assam and took part in the Battle of Kohima.
Notes edit
References edit
- Maj-Gen S. Woodburn Kirby, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War Against Japan Vol II, India's Most Dangerous Hour, London: HM Stationery Office, 1958/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-61-0.
- Maj-Gen S. Woodburn Kirby, History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War Against Japan Vol III, The Decisive Battles, London: HM Stationery Office, 1961/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-62-9.