Myitkyina Battalion, Burma Frontier Force
The Myitkyina Battalion, Burma Frontier Force came into being following the separation of Burma from India in 1937. Prior to this there had been a battalion of the same title with the Burma Military Police from 1894. The Battalion Headquarters were at Myitkyina.[1]
In 1939 the Battalion was organised with a headquarters company, a training company, eight rifle companies and two mounted infantry troops. Companies consisted of three platoons and a Company Headquarters Platoon but automatic weapons were restricted to one Lewis gun per company and there were no mortars in the Force.[2] The sanctioned strength of the Battalion was 1,485 infantry and 70 mounted infantry. The vast majority of men were located with the Battalion Headquarters at Myitkyina and outposts were maintained at Waingmaw, Sadon, Laukhaung, Ntawgaw, Sumprabum, Putao, N’Pumbum and Sima.[3]
The Battalion Commandant in 1939 was Major T.I. Bowers[4] who commanded the Battalion until he left to take up the post of Commanding Officer of the newly raised 8th (Frontier Force) Battalion, The Burma Rifles on 1st November 1940. He was succeeded by Lt. Colonel H.G.P. Stubbs.[5]
In late 1940, the battalion provided a company of Gurkhas to the Burma Frontier Force mobile detachment F.F.1, to replace a company given up to help form F.F.2.[6]
North Burma - Myitkyina
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At the time of the outbreak of war with Japan, B.F.F. outposts had been reduced to a minimum and battalions were little more than Training Centres containing recruits, and long service men unfit for active duty. In March 1942 the conversion of the Myitkyina Battalion into a “Holding Battalion” for the whole Force was sanctioned. All recruits in the Force on joining the ranks and other trained men not required for any other purpose were to be drafted to the Holding Battalion from which all reinforcements to war units of the Force would be made.[7] According to the account of the Burma Frontier Force prepared by Brigadier J.F. Bowerman, the Myitkyina Battalion did in fact become the holding battalion for the Burma Frontier Force.[8]
By March the Battalion contained men from all battalions of the B.F.F. Shortly before the evacuation of Myitkyina it was joined by the Rangoon Battalion, Burma Military Police, which had fought for much of the 500 mile march to Meiktila before arriving in the town. Also present were nearly all the Indian families of men serving in the Burma Frontier Force, having been collected at Myitkyina, and totalling about 2,000 women, children and accompanying escorts. At the end of April it had been found almost impossible to evacuate them as there was no transport of any description available for them. At the beginning of May the families took matters into their own hands and began to leave, some to neighbouring Gurkha villages but the majority on foot to Assam.[9]
On 4th May, the Battalion was led by its Commandant, Lt. Colonel H.G.P. Stubbs and an Assistant Commandant. In addition there were three officers of the Rangoon Battalion, Burma Military Police in charge of their own men.[10] Also present was the Burma Frontier Force Signals Unit with its own British Officers.[11] A newly commissioned Assistant Commandant reported for duty on 2nd May.
The state of affairs in Myitkyina was chaotic, with large numbers of British civilians and hospital cases hoping to be evacuated by air. Stragglers of the Burma Frontier Force, the Burma Military Police, the Burma Auxiliary Force and most of the regular units in Burma were passing through the town. Numbers of relatively fit civilians en route to India by foot also continued to arrive.
The Myitkyina Battalion placed two detachments on the East bank of the Irrawaddy and had posts at Sadon, Sumprabum and Putao. In Myitkyina itself desertions were taking place amongst locally enlisted Gurkhas and others and these were impossible to stop. A collection post was established North of the town but did not function well. On 6th May heavy air raids took place on the aerodrome and part of the town. The following day the evacuation from the town began. The B.F.F. Signals Unit marched out under its own officers. The remnants of the Myitkyina Battalion, under the Commandant, Lt. Colonel Stubbs, acted as a covering force for the evacuees using the Sumprabum road. En route to Sumprabum, Stubbs broke a leg and had to be carried to Putao from where he was evacuated by plane. The detachment of Kachins at Sumprabum was placed under command of the Officer Commanding Levies, but the sight of masses of people moving to India proved too much for the men and they abandoned their posts for their homes. The post at Sadon made its own way to India and the detachment at Putao was flown out with the Battalion Commandant.[12]
On reaching India, the men were later sent on in drafts from the immediate border area to Hoshiarpur in the Punjab which had been nominated as the centre for the collection and reorganisation of the Burma Army. On arrival at Hoshiarpur, along with others of the B.F.F. and B.M.P., the men were registered, given advances of pay, replacement clothing and sent to their homes on war leave. On return from leave, the men were sorted out and medically graded. At this time, September 1942, the “Myitkyina” Battalion, BFF was listed as being located at Hoshiarpur. However all fit men were soon drafted to battalions of The Burma Regiment which was formed from B.F.F. and B.M.P. personnel on 1st October 1942. Initially six infantry battalions were raised, with a mounted infantry and a training battalion also planned, all organised into two administrative brigade.[13] Many of the Gurkhas of the Myitkyina Battalion later served with the 4th Battalion, The Burma Regiment.[14]
17 November 2017
[1] "The Lineages and Composition of Gurkha Regiments in British Service", J.L. Chapple, 1984
[2] “Burma Frontier Force … 1939-1942”, by Lt. Col H.M. Day, WO 203/5694
[3] “Burma Frontier Force”, WO 106/3673
[4] Thomas Ivan Bowers born, 1st October 1897. Commissioned to the Unattached List as 2nd Lt., 30th January 1917. Appointed to the Indian Army as 2nd Lt. (AI 153), attached to the 11th Rajputs, 4th February 1917. Served Mahsud, 2nd March 1917 to 10th August 1917. Promoted to Lieutenant, 30th January 1918. Served Afghanistan, N.W. Frontier, 1919. Officer of the 9th Bhopal Infantry, attached to the Chitral Scouts from 31st May 1919. As Lieutenant, Chitral Scouts, awarded Military Cross, for distinguished service in the Field in the Afghan War, 1919, gazetted, 3rd August 1920. Promoted to Captain, 30th January 1921. Served North West Frontier of India, 1930. Served Burma (Saya San Rebellion), 1930-32. Served as Assistant commandant, the Burma Military Police, 1933. Promoted to Major, 30th January 1935. As Captain, 10th Baluch Regiment, attached to the Burma Military Police, awarded a Bar to the Military Cross for gallant and distinguished service in respect of operations in the Wa States, Burma, January to July 1934, gazetted, 28th May 1935. Served North-West Frontier, 1936-37. Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished service rendered in Waziristan, North West Frontier of India, 25th November 1936 to 16th January 1937, gazetted, 18th February 1938. Commandant, the Myitkyina Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 1939 to 31st October 1940. Appointed Commanding Officer of the 8th (Frontier Force) Battalion, The Burma Rifles, 1st November 1940. Acting Lt. Colonel, 1st November 1940 to 31st January 1941. Temporary Lt. Colonel from 1st February 1941. First Commander, 1st Battalion, The Burma Regiment, September 1942. As acting Lt.-Colonel, Commanding Officer, 8th Burma Rifles, awarded DSO, gazetted, 28th October 1942, for which the citation reads as follows:
Unit: 8th Burma Rifles
Date of Recommendation: 30-31st January 1942, MOULMEIN
Action for which recommended :- During the action at MOULMEIN on 30-31 Jan this officer commanded his battalion with the greatest efficiency and displayed qualities of leadership of a high order. It was largely due to his outstanding example of courage and disregard for his personal safety that the Bn maintained its position throughout the day, and was finally withdrawn in good order on 31st January.
Recommended by: Commander 2 Inf Bde [2nd Burma Brigade]
Signed By: J.G. Smyth, Major-General, Commander 17 Indian Division; T.J. Hutton, Lieutenant General [GOC Army in Burma]
Promoted from Major (temporary Lt. Colonel) to Lt. Colonel, 30th January 1943. Retired but carried on the Special List (ex Indian Army) British Army while employed with the Pakistan Armed Forces, 1st January 1949. Ceased to be employed with the Pakistan Armed Forces and reverted to the retired list, 7th December 1954. As Lt. Colonel, C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C. (439632), Special List (ex Indian Army) (Retired), granted the honorary rank of Colonel, 7th December 1954. Died, 1980 (“War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941”, Savannah (2004); British Army List; FindMyPast; India Office List 1933; Indian Army List; Indian Army List 1921; London Gazette; War Diary 8th Burma Rifles, WO 172/980 (War diary 8th Burma Rifles, WO 373/30/155).
[5] Harvey Godwin Patterson Stubbs, born, 1893. Served Egypt, 1914. Mobilised, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, 1 year and 222 days, 25th August 1916 to 3rd April 1918. Served Iraq, 7th April 1917 to 4th October 1918. Attached to the 24th Punjabis, 1918 to 1st January 1922. Commissioned from Indian Army Reserve of Officers as 2nd Lt. and appointed to the Indian Army (589 AI), 4th April 1918, with seniority from 25th May 1917. Served as acting Captain, 25th May 1918 to 3rd October 1920. Promoted to Lieutenant, 25th May 1918. Served Salonica, 5th October 1918 to 30th April 1919. Served Black Sea, 1st May 1919 to 31st August 1920. Served Waziristan, 1921. Promoted to Captain, 10th May 1921. Attached to the 14th Punjab Regiment from formation, 1922. Mentioned in Despatches, gazetted 12th June 1923. Assistant Commandant, the Chin Hills Battalion, Burma Military Police, in September 1927. Served Burma (Saya San Rebellion), 1930-32. Assistant Commandant, Burma Military Police, 1933. Promoted to Major, 10th May 1935. Seconded to the Burma Defence Force, 4th February 1937. Assistant Commandant, Myitkyina Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 1938 to April 1938?. Assistant Commandant, Burma Military Police, July 1938. Assistant Commandant, Myitkyina Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, October 1938 to
January 1938?. Commandant, Bhamo Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 1939 to 1941. Commandant, Myitkyina Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 1942. Acting Lt. Colonel, 1st April 1942. Following the withdrawal from Myitkyina, while the Myitkyina Battalion, BFF was acting as a covering force to evacuees using the Sumprabum road, en route to Sumprabum, broke a leg and had to be carried to Putao from where he was evacuated by plane, May 1942. Promoted to Lt. Colonel, 10th May 1943. As Lt. Colonel, listed as under "Military Employ", Burma Army, April 1946. As Lt. Colonel, retired, 20th March 1947. Died after helping a mother and child away from their burning flat, Hampstead, London, 4th December 1957 ("War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941", Savannah (2004); British Army List; Indian Army List 1921; “History of the Chin Hills Battalion Military Police”, MSS Eur E250; India Office List 1933; Indian Army List; Indian Army List 1921; London Gazette; “Sir George Gillan (1958) In memoriam”, Journal of The Royal Central Asian Society, 45:2, 110-114, DOI: 10.1080/03068375808731631; WO 203/5692).
[6] “F.F.1’s Part in the Burma Campaign by Lt. Col. W.R.V. Russell M.C.”, WO 203/5699.
[7] WO 203/5694
[8] “Report on the B.F.F. 1939-1942”by Brig J.F. Bowerman, WO 203/5692
[9] WO 203/5692
[10] The Rangoon Battalion(s), Burma Military Police. According to an account written by Major Hereward Chappell, Commandant of the 2nd Rangoon Battalion, BMP, all officers and men of both Rangoon Battalions reached Myitkyina by 24th April 1942. The combined strength of the BMP at Myitkyina was then three British officers and 728 men. On 1st May the BMP at Myitkyina were transferred to the Myitkyina Battalion, Burma Frontier Force. Major Malcolm Douglas Hindle went to this battalion, Major A. Smith went to the Bhamo Battalion, BFF and Major Chappell to the BFF (“Report of the BMP” by Major H Chappell, 2nd Rangoon Battalion, BMP – WO 203/5693).
Hereward Chappell born, 21st April 1898. Educated Wyggeston School, Leicester. Enrolled as Cadet in the Saugor Military Academy, India, 1916. Commissioned as 2nd Lt. to the Unattached List, 18th April 1916. Appointed as 2nd Lt. (AI 847) to the Indian Army, 39th Royal Garhwal Rifles (18th Royal Garhwal Rifles from 1921), 27th April 1916. Served Iraq, 20th March 1917 to 28th September 1918. Served Salonika and Turkey, 25th October 1918 to 11th November 1918. Served Waziristan, 1919-21. Mentioned in Despatches, gazetted, 5th June 1919. Promoted to Captain, 18th April 1920. Inspector of Messes, Waziristan Force, 17th May 1922 to 2nd October 1922. Staff Captain, 5th December 1923 to 24th February 1924. Served North-West Frontier of India, 1930. Served Burma (Saya San Rebellion), 1930-32. Seconded to and served as Assistant Commandant with the Burma Military Police from 7th August 1931. Promoted to Major, 18th April 1934. Transferred to the Special Unemployed List, Indian Army, 1st November 1935. Officiating Commandant, Northern Shan States Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 1937. Commandant, 2nd Rangoon Battalion, Burma Military Police, 1938 to May 1942. Commanding Officer, the 4th Battalion, The Burma Regiment, early/mid-1943 to September 1943. Joined the 2nd Battalion, The Burma Regiment, 1943. Commanding Officer, the 2nd Battalion, The Burma Regiment, September 1943 to 22nd October 1946. Promoted from Major (temporary Lt. Colonel) to Lt. Colonel, 18th February 1946. Retired, 6th June 1948. As substantive Lt. Colonel, Officer Commanding the 2nd Battalion, The Burma Regiment, awarded O.B.E., 12th June 1947, gazetted, 20th August 1948. Died, 28th December 1978 ("War Services of British and Indian Officers of the Indian Army 1941", Savannah (2004); British Army List; Indian Army List; London Gazette; Private Papers of Lt. Col. I.C.G. Scott (IWM); WO 172/7802; WO 172/10320; WO 373/82/281).
Malcolm Douglas Hindle born, 7th September 1899. Commissioned to the Unattached List as 2nd Lieutenant from the Cadet College, Quetta, 31st August 1918. Appointed to the Indian Army as 2nd Lieutenant (IA 489). Attached to the 2nd Battalion, 35th Sikhs, 4th September 1918. Served World War I - The Black Sea, 1919-20. Served Waziristan, 1921-24. Attached to the 1st Battalion, 23rd Sikh Pioneers (from 1922 became the 1st Battalion, 3rd Sikh Pioneers), 1921 to 1922. Served with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Sikh Pioneers, 1922. Promoted to Captain, 31st August 1923. While serving with the 1st/3rd Sikh Pioneers, Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished service during the operations in Waziristan, 21st April 1923 to 31st March 1924, gazetted, 18th November 1924. Appointed to the 3rd Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 6th February 1933. Detached from the 20th Burma Rifles, serving with the Bengal Sappers and Miners, 1933 to 1935. Promoted to Major, 31st August 1936. Transferred to the Special Unemployed List, 1st April 1937. Served as Censor, Rangoon, 1940. Serving with the 7th Battalion, Burma Rifles, 1st October 1940. On the Special Unemployed List, attached to The Burma Rifles, seconded as Assistant Commandant, the 1st Rangoon Battalion, Burma Military Police from 22nd December 1940. As Major, Assistant Commandant, the 2nd Rangoon Battalion, Burma Military Police, 1941 to 1st May 1942. Transferred from the Burma Military Police to the Myitkyina Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 1st May 1942. Appointed Lt. Colonel, 2nd February 1947 ("War Services of British and Indian Officers of
the Indian Army 1941", Savannah (2004); ancestry.co.uk; Burma Army List January 1940; Burma Army List October 1940; Burma Defence Services List July 1941; Report of Burma Military Police” by Major H. Chappell, WO 203/5693; Indian Army List 1919; Indian Army List 1921; Indian Army List October 1935; Indian Army List January 1942; London Gazette).
Andrew Smith born, 6th February 1901. Commissioned as 2nd Lt. to the Unattached List, 24th December 1920. Served as Platoon Commander, attached to the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Irish Regiment, 4th April 1921 to 29th March 1922. Served as a Company Officer, the 79th Carnatic Infantry, 30th March 1922 to 11th November 1923. Appointed to the Indian Army (AI 983), attached to the 79th Carnatic Infantry (from 1923 the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Madras Regiment), 4th April 1922. Served as a Company Officer, attached to the 10th Battalion, 3rd Madras Regiment, 21st November 1923 to 20th January 1924. Served as Company Officer, the 1st Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 21st January 1924 to 14th March 1928. Served as Quartermaster, the 1st Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 15th March 1928 to 31st December 1930. Served as Quartermaster, the 1st Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, Taiping, 1st January 1931 to 13th June 1931. Served as Officiating Company Commander, the 10th Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 14th June 1931 to 2nd November 1931. Served as Officiating Quartermaster, the 10th Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 3rd November 1931 to 31st December 1931. Served as Company Commander, the 10th Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 1st January 1932 to 23rd January 1932. Served as Quartermaster, the 1st Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, Taiping, 24th January 1932 to 31st December 1932. Promoted to Captain, 25th October 1932. Served with the 1st Battalion, 20th Burma Rifles, 1st January 1933 to 31st October 1935. Transferred to the Special Unemployed List, with effect from 1st November 1935. Arrived from the United Kingdom at Shillong, India for duty with the Regimental Centre, 10th
Gurkha Rifles., 2nd October 1939. Captain, Special Unemployed List, attached The Burma Rifles, April 1940. Appointed to the Burma Defence Force, 1st November 1940. As Major, Assistant Commandant, the 2nd Rangoon Battalion, Burma Military Police, January 1941 to May 1942. Promoted to Major, 26th October 1941. As Major, the Bhamo Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, May 1942. Appointed as Second-in-Command to the Kokine Garrison Battalion, Burma Frontier Force, 19th September 1942. Major, Special Unemployed List, attached The Burma Rifles, 14th January 1943. Major, Military Employ, attached The Burma Rifles, 1943-44. Appointed Officiating Commandant, the 26th Garrison Battalion, Burma Regiment, and granted rank of acting Lt. Colonel, 8th March 1945. Appointed temporary Lt. Colonel with effect from 8th July 1945. Relinquished post of Officiating Commandant, the 26th Garrison Battalion, Burma Regiment, 2nd August 1945. Reassumed appointment of Officiating Commandant, the 26th Garrison Battalion, Burma Regiment, and granted rank of temporary Lt. Colonel, 6th September 1945. Proceeded on leave to the United Kingdom, 16th November 1945. Reassumed appointment of Officiating Commandant, the 26th Garrison Battalion, Burma Regiment, 11th February 1946. Commander No.5 H & E Centre, 18th May 1946 to 31st January 1946. Major (acting Lt. Colonel), Military Employ, Special Unemployed List, 1946. Posted to the Burma Regimental Centre, 1st February 1947. Posted as Records Officer, Burma Regimental Centre, 1st February 1947. Appointed as Records Officer, Burma Regimental Centre, 30th April 1947.
As Major (AI 983) granted the honorary rank of Lt. Colonel on reverting to the Special Unemployed List, 5th April 1948 (Burma Army List; Burma Defence Services List July 1941; Indian Army List; Indian Army List 1921; Indian Army List April 1940; Indian Army List April 1943; Indian Army List October 1943; Indian Army List April 1944; Indian Army List October 1944; Indian Army List October 1946; IOR/L/MIL/14/2729; London Gazette; War Diary of the Kokine Garrison Battalion, WO 172/691; “Report of Burma Military Police” by Major H. Chappell, WO 203/5693).
[11] The Commanding Officer of the Burma Frontier Force Wireless Group (Signals Unit) was Major M.C. Bennett.
Maurice Chesterton Bennett, born, 5th January 1896. Served France & Belgium (wounded), 9th March 1915 to 22nd September 1916. Served in ranks, Mobilised Territorial Force, 2 years, 270 days, to 29th May 1917. Mobilised Territorial Force, The London Regiment, 274 days, to 27th February 1918. Transferred to the Indian Army as 2nd Lt., 28th February 1918. Promoted to Lieutenant, 28th February 1919. Mentioned in Despatches, gazetted, 5th June 1919. Attached to the 66th Punjabis, 1921. Promoted to Captain, 13th February 1923. Served as Captain in the Hereford Regiment, Territorial Army, from the Active List, 9th May 1923. Served with the Royal Signals, 23rd October 1926 to 25th January 1929. Transferred to the Royal Signals, 26th January 1929, with seniority from 13th February 1923. On the Special Employed List, seconded to the Burma Defence Force, served as Inspector of Wireless, Burma Military Police, from 12th February 1936. Assistant Commandant and Inspector of Wireless, Reserve Battalion, Burma Frontier Force at Pyawbwe, 1938 to 1942. Promoted to Major, 1st August 1938. Awarded C.B.E., gazetted, 1st January 1941. As Major (40482) placed on the half pay list on account of disability, granted honorary rank of Lt. Colonel, 9th February 1945 (British Army List; Indian Army List; Indian Army List 1921; London Gazette).
[12] WO 203/5692
[13] IOR L/WS/1/1313
[14] Private Papers of Lt. Col. I.C.G. Scott (IWM)