17th Indian Infantry Division 1941-1942
The Division was raised as a War Office Reserve Division in Ahmednagar in July 1941. It was intended to send the Division to Iraq in 1941 for training and equipment for desert warfare as a fully mechanised division. However with the likelihood of war with Japan, this plan was dropped and in November 1941, the Division moved to Dhond for training. Although the Division was formally mobilised for war on 1st December 1941, it was incomplete and unfit for active operations.
The Division began arriving at Rangoon on 12th January 1942 and was not complete in theatre until the arrival of the 63rd Indian Infantry Brigade and remaining divisional troops on 3rd March 1942, by which time the Division had suffered heavy losses and undergone major reorganisation. Details of the arrival of the Division are listed here: Reinforcements for Burma, December 1941 - March 1942.
The 17th Indian Infantry Division fought against the Japanese for longer than any other British or Indian formation and took part in the re-conquest of Burma in 1945.
Divisional sign until June 1942
Division Commanders 1941-1942
|
July 1941 |
Major-General H.V. Lewis |
|
November 1941 |
Major-General J.G. Smyth, V.C. |
|
March 1942 |
Major-General D.T. Cowan. |
17th Indian Division Orders of Battle
The Division was underwent almost continuous re-organisation during the 1942 campaign. Orders of battle for selected actions are presented below.
17th Indian Infantry Division – Moulmein, 18th January 1942
|
Divisional Troops |
|
|
Artillery |
|
|
5th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery |
(Moulmein) |
|
Engineers |
|
|
Field Companies |
|
|
60th Field Company, Madras Sappers and Miners |
(Moulmein) |
|
16th Indian Infantry Brigade |
(Kawkareik) |
|
1st Battalion, 9th The Jat Regiment |
|
|
1st Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles |
|
|
4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Kawkareik, attached from 2nd Burma Brigade Group) |
|
4th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment |
(Moulmein, detached to 2nd Burma Brigade Group from 9th January 1942) |
|
46th Indian Infantry Brigade |
(Bilin area, from Rangoon where just arrived from India) |
|
3rd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles |
(Bilin area) |
|
7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment |
(Bilin area) |
|
5th Battalion, 17th Dogra Regiment |
(Rangoon) |
|
2nd Burma Infantry Brigade Group |
(Moulmein, under command 17th Indian Division from 1st Burma Division) |
|
2nd Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Mergui, awaiting evacuation to Rangoon) |
|
3rd Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Moulmein, less two companies the remnants of which retreating to Moulmein from Tavoy) |
|
4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Kawkareik, detached to 16th Indian Brigade) |
|
6th Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Remnants retreating from Tavoy) |
|
8th (Frontier Force) Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Moulmein) |
|
4th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment |
(Moulmein, attached from 16th Indian Infantry Brigade from 9th January 1942) |
|
F.F.2, Burma Frontier Force |
(attached, at Mergui, awaiting evacuation to Rangoon) |
|
Kokine Battalion, Burma Frontier Force |
(attached detachments at Moulmein, Mergui and Tavoy) |
|
Tenasserim Battalion, Burma Auxiliary Force |
(attached - Moulmein, less one company at Tavoy) |
|
12th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery |
(attached - Moulmein) |
|
1st Burma Field Company, Burma Sappers and Miners |
(one section attached - Moulmein) |
|
3rd Indian Light Antiaircraft Battery |
(Moulmein, 'C' Troop only attached) |
|
|
|
17th Indian Division at the Bilin River – 15th February 1942
|
Divisional Troops |
|
|
Artillery |
|
|
2nd Indian Anti-Tank Regiment |
(In Rangoon during the Bilin River action) |
|
28th Mountain Regiment, Indian Artillery |
(Headquarters) |
|
15th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery |
(Rangoon, not able to come forward until around 20th February 1942, due to need to improvise truck transport) |
|
28th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery |
(as for 15th Battery above) |
|
Engineers |
|
|
Field Companies |
|
|
24th Field Company, Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners |
|
|
60th Field Company, Madras Sappers and Miners |
|
|
Infantry |
|
|
1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment |
|
|
2nd Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(attached, at Papun) |
|
4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Shwegyin, attached, one company) |
|
7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment |
(250 strong, reforming at Kyaikto) |
|
8th (Frontier Force) Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Kamamaung, one company attached) |
|
F.F.2, Burma Frontier Force |
(attached. No. 1 Column on the coast, No.2 Column to the north based on Melan) |
|
16th Indian Infantry Brigade |
(defending the Bilin River Line) |
|
1st Battalion, 9th The Jat Regiment |
(between Shwehle and Bilin) |
|
1st Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles |
(Brigade reserve, area west of Bilin village) |
|
2nd Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry |
(attached, Danyingon, Paya and Yinon, north of Bilin) |
|
5th Battalion, 17th Dogra Regiment |
(Bilin-Thaton road, 3-4 miles south-east of Bilin village, attached from 46 Indian Infantry Brigade) |
|
8th (Frontier Force) Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Bilin village, less one company detached to 17th Indian Infantry Division) |
|
1st Armoured Car Company, Burma Auxiliary Force |
(attached, one section, 3 X cars) |
|
5th Field Battery, Rangoon Field Brigade, Burma Auxiliary Force |
(attached, 2 X 18pdr field guns in the anti-tank role) |
|
5th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery |
(attached) |
|
12th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery |
(attached) |
|
46th Indian Infantry Brigade |
(defending the Kyaikto area) |
|
3rd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles |
(reorganising and resting) |
|
4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(attached, reorganising and resting, less one company with 17th Indian Division) |
|
4th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment |
(attached, Kyaikto, with one company at Kyaikkatha, but without heavy weapons and stores) |
|
48th Indian Infantry Brigade |
(Divisional reserve, holding position from Taungzun and Thebyuchaung and patrolling the Kyaikto-Bilin road) |
|
1st Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles |
|
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1st Battalion, 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles |
|
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2nd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) |
|
|
2nd Burma Infantry Brigade Group |
(attached from 1st Burma Division, to Nyaunglebin on 16th February 1942) |
|
3rd Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(Mokpalin) |
|
7th (Burma Police) Battalion The Burma Rifles |
|
|
|
|
17th Indian Division following the Sittang Bridge disaster – 25th February 1942
|
Divisional Troops |
|
|
Artillery |
|
|
2nd Indian Anti-Tank Regiment |
(In Rangoon) |
|
28th Mountain Regiment, Indian Artillery |
(Headquarters to Army Command) |
|
5th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery |
(detached, re-equipping in Mandalay) |
|
12th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery |
(less one section re-equipping in Mandalay) |
|
28th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery |
(detached, re-equipping in Mandalay) |
|
5th Field Battery, Rangoon Field Brigade, Burma Auxiliary Force |
(all guns lost east of the Sittang River) |
|
8th Indian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery, Indian Artillery |
(in support from Army Command) |
|
3rd Indian Light Anti-Aircraft Battery, Indian Artillery |
(in support from Army Command) |
|
Engineers |
|
|
Field Companies |
|
|
24th Field Company, Royal Bombay Sappers and Miners |
|
|
60th Field Company, Madras Sappers and Miners |
|
|
Infantry |
|
|
1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment |
(to Pegu Force on/after 18th February 1942 |
|
2nd Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
(attached) |
|
16th Indian Infantry Brigade |
|
|
'A' Battalion, "The King's Own Dukes" |
|
|
2nd Battalion, The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment |
(temporarily amalgamated with 2nd Battalion KOYLI to form 'A' Battalion - the "King's Own Dukes") |
|
2nd Battalion, King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry |
|
|
1st Battalion, 9th The Jat Regiment |
(‘B’ Battalion) |
|
‘C’ Battalion |
(a composite battalion formed after the Sittang Bridge disaster - formed from survivors of the following battalions :-) |
|
7th Battalion, 10th Baluch Regiment |
|
|
4th Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment |
|
|
5th Battalion, 17th Dogra Regiment |
|
|
3rd Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
|
|
4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
|
|
8th (Frontier Force) Battalion, The Burma Rifles |
|
|
46th Indian Infantry Brigade |
(broken up, 25th February 1942) |
|
48th Indian Infantry Brigade |
|
|
1st Battalion, 4th Prince of Wales's Own Gurkha Rifles |
|
|
“5th Battalion, 3rd Gurkha Rifles (Composite Battalion)” |
|
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1st Battalion, 3rd Queen Alexandra's Own Gurkha Rifles |
|
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2nd Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles (Frontier Force) |
|
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“7th Gurkha Rifles (Composite Battalion)” |
|
|
1st Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles |
|
|
3rd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles |
|
|
7th Armoured Brigade |
(attached) |
|
2nd Royal Tank Regiment |
|
|
7th Queen’s Own Hussars |
|
|
1st Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) |
(attached) |
|
414th Battery, Royal Horse Artillery |
|
|
‘A’ Battery, 95th Anti-Tank Regiment, R.A. |
|
|
‘Pegu Force’ |
(under command, formed 18th February 1942) |
|
1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment |
|
|
F.F.6, Burma Frontier Force |
|
|
Burma Military Police |
(detachments) |
|
|
|
1 December 2017