The Chin Rifles - Officers and Men
The photographs below all feature officers and men of the Chin Rifles dating from the post-independence period, from 1948 onwards.
Note that in the photographs, the men wear on each arm a cloth version of the metal regimental badge, much in the style of a British or Indian Army formation flash. The battalion is denoted by the wearing of a cloth shoulder badge with the number of the battalion and the word "Chin", for example "1.CHIN". Of note also is the metal badge of the 1st Chin Rifles.
I am grateful to Van Cung Lian for providing the photos and granting permission to publish them.
Rifleman Sai Hmung of the 1st Chin Rifles. Note the the regimental arm badge displayed on both arms.
Rifleman Kap Bik of the 1st Chin Rifles can be seen wearing the regimental arm badge and shoulder flash "1 CHIN" denoting he was serving with the 1st Chin Rifles.
Rifleman Tlang Sailova of the Chin Rifles. This soldier served with both the 1st and later the 3rd Chin Rifles. This photo is believed to have been taken when he was serving with the 1st Chin Rifles. He is seen pictured below when serving with the 3rd Chin Rifles, after the battle of Daik-U in August 1949.
The Commanding Officer of the 1st Chin Rifles - Lt. Colonel Hrang Thio.
Lt. Colonel Hrang Thio enlisted with the Burma Rifles in 1939 and served with the 2nd Burma Rifles during both Chindit operations in 1943 and 1944. He was commissioned in 1944 and went on to serve with the Western Chin Levies. He commanded the 1st Chin Rifles between 1947 and 1949. Sadly, he died on 6th August 1949 as a result of wounds received in action against the Karen insurgency.
Badge of the 1st Chin Rifles.
The Commanding Officers of the 1st and 2nd Chin Rifles - Lt. Colonel Hrang Thio (left) and Lt. Colonel Son Khaw Pau.
Lt. Colonel Son Khaw Pau was also a veteran of the First and Second Chindit operations, 1943 and 1944.
Rifleman Tlang Sailova again - this image was taken while serving with the 3rd Chin Rifles. Rifleman Tlang Sailova is seen posing with a Bren gun after the battle of Daik-U in August 1949. He had previously served with the 1st Chin Rifles.
Mortar platoon of The Chin Hills Battalion (3rd Chin Rifles) at Chauk, 20th August 1950.
The Chin Hills Battalion had been officially re-titled as the 3rd Chin Rifles at around the time of independence in January 1948. However, the battalion proudly held on to its original title, despite being ordered to adopt the new title. This photograph provides evidence that the battalion continued to refer to itself as The Chin Hills Battalion well into 1950. Note also that the men in the photograph are not wearing the Chin Rifles cloth arm badge.
14 August 2019