10th (Training) Battalion, The Burma Rifles
The Battalion was raised by Major (acting Lt. Colonel) L.E. Lintott at Maymyo on 1st July 1941 to replace the original 10/20th Burma Rifles training battalion, which had formed in 1923 before being redesignated the 4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles in April 1937.[1]
Formation of the Battalion was sanctioned in a letter dated 12th June 1941, to take effect retrospectively from 1st July 1941. The purpose of the 10th (Training) Battalion was to train recruits for the 1st-7th Battalions, The Burma Rifles and to do the Depot work of the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 8th Battalions.
The personnel required to raise the Battalion were found by additional personnel and by absorbing existing units and personnel:
- The then existing combined depots and training companies of the 1st, 2nd and 4th Battalions - the established, regular battalions of the regiment
- The training company of the recently formed 6th Battalion
- The clerks and three riflemen from the depot personnel of the 8th Battalion
- Certain personnel from the 3rd, 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions, required for the Headquarters Wing
- The two Duty Platoons recently raised to help protect and support the 1st Burma Infantry Division Headquarters.
The Battalion was located at Vere Fane Lines and Steadman Lines at Maymyo. It was organised with a headquarters and four training companies, less one half company. The establishment was ten British Officers, 134 G.C.O.s, N.C.O.s and Other Ranks and 1,019 riflemen and recruits - a total of around 2,090 officers and men plus assorted followers. In wartime it was expected the Battalion would expand to five full training companies, a total of 2,884 officers and men and 128 followers. The Battalion would train recruits for service with the 1st-7th Battalions and pass these to the 9th (Reserve) Battalion for additional military training, holding and drafting to units. Reinforcements for the 8th (Frontier Force) Battalion were found from and trained by the Burma Frontier Force and were to be placed with the 9th (Reserve) Battalion for additional military training.[2]
After the Japanese invasion, the Battalion also collected stragglers who had become separated from their unit and also men released from hospital. These were either returned to their original units or forwarded to the 9th Battalion, where many of them were included in drafts of reinforcements.
Between 29th January and 16th February 1942, a small number of men from the 6th Battalion, The Burma Rifles reported to the 10th Battalion. The 6th Battalion had largely disintegrated at Tavoy between 13th and 19th January 1942. Larger numbers of men from the 3rd and 4th Burma Rifles reported to the 10th Battalion following the Sittang Bridge disaster on 23rd February and these may have been in parties organised by their respective battalions, made up of men without arms or equipment, and sent back for re-equipping.
The Battalion was still active during April 1942. The war diary of the 4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles notes that at the end of March/early April, “The battalion was now filled up to about 500, all unarmed, or some in mufti clothing. They were either recruits from the 10th [Training] Bn. or deserters from other units who had arrived at Meiktila and were sent on from the 9th [Reserve] Bn".[3] Lt. Colonel Lintott appears to have be made the Officer Commanding, Bhamo station and later made his way to India via the Hukawng Valley route.[4]
At Nantha on 5th May, Major C.S. Sullivan and Captain H.C. Butcher of the 10th Battalion were encountered by the party of the Mandalay Battalion, Burma Military Police led by Lt.Colonel A.W.S. Learmond and making its way to India.[5] [6] Major Sullivan reached India and at Thoubal on 23rd May he and “17 other officers of 10th and other Burif units” met up with Lt. Colonel Learmond’s party again and spent the night [7]
On 3rd June 1942, after arrival in India, all ranks remaining in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 9th and 10th Burma Rifles battalions were formed into a composite Burma Rifles battalion, with a total strength of 20 G.C.O.s and 308 Other Ranks, and an unknown number of British Officers. The Composite Burma Rifles Battalion was commanded by Lt. Colonel C.H.D. O'Callaghan, former commander of the 2nd Burma Rifles. This unit left for Ranchi on 8th June, arriving there five days later.[8]
[All but the January and February 1942 entries of the war diary were destroyed during the retreat. The file is available at the National Archives at Kew as WO 172/982. A transcription of the file, together with extensive footnotes gleaned from other sources, can be read or downloaded here.]
[1] Leslie Edward Lintott born, 1st November 1897. Served in the ranks - Lance corporal (351015), 2nd/7th Battalion, The London Regiment, 1st November 1915 to 27th November 1917. Served France, 1916-17. As Cadet, commissioned as temporary 2nd Lt. for service with the Indian Army Reserve of Officers, 28th November 1917. Served Palestine, 1918. Commissioned to the General List as 2nd Lt., 1st February 1918, with seniority from 28th November 1917. Promoted to Lieutenant, IARO, 28th November 1918. Appointed to the Indian Army as 2nd Lt., 22nd May 1919, with seniority from 28th August 1918. Served with the 2nd Battalion, 91st Punjabis, 1919 to 1921. Promoted to Lieutenant, 28th August 1919. Served Waziristan, 1920-21. Served with the 2nd Battalion, 50th Kumaon Rifles, 1922? Promoted to Captain (provisional), 23rd August 1923. As Captain, served as Company Officer with the 2nd Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 8th August 1925 to 1934. Confirmed as Captain, 4th December 1925. Served Burma (Saya San Rebellion), 1930-32. Attached to the 10th Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 1934 to 22nd August 1936. Served as Company Officer with the 4th Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 13th January 1935 to 1st April 1937. Promoted to Major, 23rd August 1936. Seconded to the Burma Defence Forces, 1st April 1937. Served as Company Commander with the 4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 1st April 1937 to 1940. Served with the 5th Battalion, The Burma Rifles, October 1940 to June 1941. Raised the 10th (Training) Battalion, The Burma Rifles at Maymyo on, 1st July 1941. Acting Lt. Colonel with effect from 1st July 1941. Commanding Officer of the 10th (Training) Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 1st July 1941 to May 1942. Officer Commanding Bhamo?, May 1942. Reached India by way of the Hukawng Valley, May 1942. Temporary Lt. Colonel, 1st January 1943. As Major, temporary Lt. Colonel, promoted to Lt. Colonel, 23rd August 1944. As Lt. Colonel (AI 996), Special List (Ex-Indian Army), retired, 10th August 1948 ("War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941", Savannah (2004); “Burma Invaded 1942”, Enriquez C.M. (2013); British Army List; Burma Army List January 1940; Burma Army List October 1940; Burma Defence Services List July 1941; Burma Army List 1943; Indian Army List 1921; Indian Army List October 1935; London Gazette; WWI Medal Rolls (ancestry.co.uk)).
[2] IOR/M/3/1213
[3] WO 172/977
[4] “Burma Invaded 1942”, Enriquez C.M.
[5] Cecil Stevens Sullivan born, 18th October 1898. Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, 15th January 1918. Served The War of, 1914-21. Appointed to the 4th Battalion, 70th Burma Rifles, 12th June 1918. Appointed to the Indian Army as 2nd Lieutenant, 7th August 1919, with seniority from 15th January 1918. Promoted to Lieutenant, 7th October 1919. Served Iraq, 1920. Served with the 3rd Battalion, 70th Burma Rifles from 20th July 1920. Served with the 5th Battalion, 70th Burma Rifles from 1st April 1922. Served with the 20th Burma Rifles from 3rd September 1922. Promoted to Captain, 1st October 1924. Appointed Company Officer of the 4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 16th June 1936. Promoted to Major, 1st October 1936. Served as Officiating Officer-in-Charge, The Burma Rifles Regimental and Recruiting Centre, Maymyo, 1939 to 1940. Served as Senior Staff Officer, Mandalay, late 1940. Served as Second-in-Command of the 10th (Training) Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 1941 to May 1942. Acting Lieutenant Lt. Colonel, 1943. As Major, temporary Lt. Colonel, promoted to Lt. Colonel, 1st October 1944 ("War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941", Savannah (2004); British Army List; Burma Army List January 1938; Burma Army List January 1940; Burma Army List October 1940; Burma Defence Services List July 1941; Burma Army List 1943; Indian Army List January 1919; Indian Army List 1921; Indian Army List April 1943; London Gazette; Private papers of Lt. Colonel A.W.S. Learmond).
[6] Harold Cecil Butcher born Pakokku, Burma, 18th November 1903. As Gentleman Cadet from the Royal Military College commissioned from as 2nd Lieutenant to the Unattached List, 27th August 1924. Appointed to the Indian Army, attached to the 4th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment, 10th October 1925, with seniority from 27th August 1924. Promoted to Lieutenant, 27th November 1926. Served North-West Frontier of India, 1930. Served Burma (Saya San Rebellion), 1930-32. On Special Duty at Pegu with the Burma Military Police from 9th August 1931. Assistant Commandant with the Chin Hills Battalion, Burma Military Police, 6th November 1932 to 20th February 1935. Promoted to Captain, 27th August 1933. Served North-West Frontier, 1936-37. Assistant Commandant with the Chin Hills Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 30th October 1939 to 1939?. As Captain, acting Major, served with the 8th Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 1st November 1940 to 1942. Served as acting Major, 1st November 1940 to 31st January 1941. Served as temporary Major, 1st February 1941 to 26th August 1941. As Captain, served with the 2nd Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 1941. Promoted to Major, 21st August 1941. As Captain, served with the 10th (Training) Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 1942?. Died in Delhi, India, 3rd June 1950? ("History of the Chin Hills Battalion", Mss Eur E250; "War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941", Savannah (2004); ancestry.co.uk; British Army List; Burma Defence Services List July 1941; Indian Army List 1932; Indian Army List January 1942; London Gazette; Burma Defence Services List July 1941; FindMyPast; Private papers of Lt. Colonel A.W.S. Learmond).
[7] The private papers of Lt. Colonel A.W.S. Learmond.
[8] WO 172/975.