User:Andrew Gray/Burma

The Burma Army, or Burma Command, was a short-lived organisation which oversaw the defence of colonial Burma. It was created in 1937, when Burma gained a degree of self-government from British India, and assumed responsibility for the country from India Command. It was significantly expanded in 1939, on the outbreak of the Second World War, but was quickly forced to retreat into India after the Japanese invasion of Burma in 1942, where it was dissolved.

Wartime development

At the beginning of the Second World War, the force was divided operationally into two brigades, one at Rangoon and one at Mandalay. The Rangoon brigade had one British battalion, the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment, two battalions of the Burma Rifles and two battalions of the Burma Auxiliary Force, along with two battalions of the Burma Military Police. The Mandalay brigade had one British battalion, the 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, along with four battalions of the Burma Rifles, one battalion of the Burma Auxiliary Force, six battalions of the Burma Frontier Force, and a battalion of the Burma Military Police. Othe regular forces present included the 2nd Indian Mountain Battery, and a field company of the Madras Sappers and Miners.

Withdrawal from Burma

At the outbreak of hostilities in the Far East, the command was of roughly corps strength. 1st Burma Division had been formed in July 1941 from the domestic forces and the newly arrived 13th Indian Brigade, and a second Indian brigade, the 16th, had arrived in November.

• 1st Burma Division (Maj.Gen. J.B. Scott)
  • 1st Burma Brigade (G. A. L Farwell)
    • 2nd King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
    • 1st Burma Rifles
    • 5th Burma Rifles
  • 2nd Burma Brigade (A. J. Bourke)
    • 2nd Burma Rifles
    • 4th Burma Rifles
    • 6th Burma Rifles
    • 8th Burma Rifles
  • 13th Indian Brigade (C. Curtis)
    • 5th/1st Punjab Regiment
    • 2nd/7th Rajput Regiment
    • 1st/18th Royal Garwhal Rifles
• 16th Indian Brigade (J. K. Jones)
  • 1st/9th Jat Regiment
  • 4th/12th Frontier Force Rifles
  • 1st/7th Gurkha Rifles (forming)

In addition, the Rangoon garrison contained one regular British battalion, the 1st Gloucestershire Regiment, and two battalions of the Burma Rifles. The overall force held another battalion of the Burma Rifles, with two more forming, and three battalions of the Burma Auxiliary Force. Finally, there were seven battalions of the Burma Frontier Force.

References

• Burma Army 1937-1941
• Reinforcements for Burma, December 41 - March 42
• Order of Battle, Burma Command - 8 December 1941. World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations.
• Order of Battle, Burma - 3 September 1939. World War II Armed Forces – Orders of Battle and Organizations.
• Strategic Planning for Coalition Warfare, 1941-1942, Chapter 6