Order of Battle - 1st Chindit Expedition 1943
77th Indian Infantry Brigade
Commander
Brigadier Orde Wingate DSO (Royal Artillery)
Brigade Major
Major R.B.G. Bromhead (Royal Berkshire)
then
Major G.M. Anderson (Highland Light Infantry)
Staff Captain
Captain H.J. Lord (Border)
13th Battalion King's Regiment (Liverpool)
Column 5 Major B.E. Fergusson (Black Watch)
Column 7 Major K.D. Gilkes
Column 8 Major W.P. Scott
3rd Battalion 2nd Gurkha Rifles
Column 1 Major G. Dunlop MC (Royal Scots)
Column 2 Major A. Emmett
Column 3 Major J.M. Calvert (Royal Engineers)
Column 4 Major Conron then Major R.B.G. Bromhead (Royal Berkshire)
142 (Commando) Company
Commander: Major J.B. Jeffries
2nd Battalion Burma Rifles
Commander: Lt Col L.G. Wheeler
Adjutant: Captain P.C. Buchanan
Independent Mission: Capt D.C. Herring (Royal Tank att'd Burma Rifles)
Support
Brigade Signal Section
Mule Transport Company
Eight RAF sections each commanded by
Flight Lieutenants of recent fighting experience
The Brigade was divided into two groups -
Southern (No. 1) Group
Group HQ
Commander: Lt Col Alexander (Gurkha Rifles)
Adjutant: Captain Birtwhistle (Gurkha Rifles)
Columns 1 and 2 (Gurkha Rifles)
Northern (No. 2) Group
Brigade HQ
Group HQ
Commander: Lt-Col S.A. Cooke (Lincolnshire att'd King's)
Adjutant: Captain Birtwhistle (King's)
Columns 3 and 4 (Gurkha Rifles)
Columns 5, 7 and 8 (King's)
Note - No. 6 Column was broken up to provide replacements for casualties during training.
Order of Battle - 2nd Chindit Expedition 1944
Special Force, 3rd Indian Infantry Division
Commander
Major General O.C. Wingate DSO
succeeded by
Major General W.D.A. Lentaigne
Deputy Commander
Major General G.W. Symes
succeeded by
Brigadier D. Tulloch
Brigadier General Staff
Brigadier D. Tulloch
succeeded by
Brigadier H.T. Alexander
Headquarters
Rear HQ at Gwalior, Central India
Main HQ first at Imphal and then at Sylhet, Assam
Launching HQ at Lalaghat
Tactical/Forward HQ Shaduzup, Burma
Air Support
1st Air Commandos
Colonel P. Cochran
Colonel J.R. Alison
United States Army Air Force
3rd West African Brigade
Commander
Brigadier A.H. Gillmore
succeeded by
Colonel A.H.G. Ricketts DSO
Brigade HQ Column
Column 10 - Signals Section, Defence Platoons,
7th West African Field Company: Major E.R. Gilbert
then Major F.H. Maw
6th Battalion Nigeria Regiment
Column 39 Major M.V. Liakhovsky then Major A.D. Mackenzie
Column 66 Lt Col P.G. Day then Lt Col G.F. Upjohn
7th Battalion Nigeria Regiment
Column 29 Major C.C.A. Crafrae MC
Column 35 Lt Col C.P. Vaughn DSO
12th Battalion Nigeria Regiment
Column 12 Major R.M.S. Curry then Major Tayler
Column 43 Lt Col P.M. Hughes
Support
3rd West African Field Ambulance:
Lt Col T. Holme
14th British Infantry Brigade
Commander
Brigadier T. Brodie
Brigade Major
Major M.T.N. Jennings (Queen's)
D/Quartering
Major Tucker (Welch)
Rear Brig. H.Q.
Col J.B. Jefferies (Royal Irish Fusiliers)
Brigade HQ Column
Column 59 - Signals Section, Defence Platoons
2nd Battalion The Black Watch
Column 42 Major D.McN.C. Rose DSO
Column 73 Lt Col G.G. Green
1st Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
Column 16 Major T.J. Barrow
Column 61 Lt Col J.P. Eason MBE
2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment
Column 65 Major P.S. Downward
Column 84 Lt Col P.H. Graves-Morris MC
7th Battalion Royal Leicestershire Regiment
Column 47 Lt Col F.R. Wilfred
Column 74 Major J.G. Lockett MC
Support
54th Field Company Royal Engineers
Detachement 2nd Bn Burma Rifles
Medical Detachment
16th British Infantry Brigade
Commander
Brigadier B.E. Fergusson DSO
Brigade Major
Major J.H. Marriott MC (Leicesters)
Brigade HQ Column
Column 99 - Signals Section, Defence Platoons
2nd Battalion Queens Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
Column 21 Lt Col J.K.F. Metcalf (evaculated wounded) then
Major E.B. Clowes
Column 22 Major T.V. Close
2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment
Column 17 Lt Col C.J. Wilkinson (evacuated wounded) then
Major D. Dalgliesh MC
Column 71 Major H.N. Daniell
51/69 Field Regiments, Royal Artillery[Note 1.] (fighting as infantry)
Column 51 Major A.C.S. Dickie (Burma Rifles)
Column 69 Lt Col R.C. Sutcliffe
45th Reconnaissance Regiment (fighting as infantry)
Column 45 Lt Col C.R.T. Cumberlege (evacuated sick) then
Major G. Astell, Burma Rifles
Column 54 Major R.A.G. Varcoe (evacuated sick) then
Major E. Hennings (killed in action)
Support
Detachment 2nd Bn Burma Rifles
2nd Field Company Royal Engineers
Medical Detachment
23rd Indian Infantry Brigade [Note 2.]
Commander
Brigadier Lance E.C.M. Perowne CBE
Brigade HQ Column
Column 32 - Signals Section, Defence Platoons
1st Battalion Essex Regiment
Columns 44, 56
2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment
Columns 33, 76
4th Battalion Border Regiment
Columns 34, 55
60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (fighting as infantry)
Columns 60, 68
Support
Detachement 2nd Bn Burma Rifles
12th Field Company Royal Engineers
Medical Detachment
77th Indian Infantry Brigade
Commander
Brigadier J.M. Calvert DSO
Brigade HQ Column
Column 25 - HQ Coy Royal Engineers,
Signals Section, Defence Platoons
3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles
Column 36 Major Shaw
Column 63 Lt Col Skone
1st Battalion King's Regiment (Liverpool)
(to 111 Brigade in May 1944)
Column 81 Lt Col Scott
Column 82 Major Gaitley
1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
Column 20 Major Shuttleworth
Column 50 Lt Col Christie
1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment
Column 38 Lt Col Richards
Column 80 Major Degg
3rd Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles
(to 111 Brigade in May 1944)
Column 57
Column 93
Support
Detachement 2nd Bn Burma Rifles
Hong Kong Volunteers Company
Mixed Field Company Royal Engineers/
Royal Indian Engineers
Medical and veterinary detachments
111th Indian Infantry Brigade
Commander
Brigadier W.D.A. Lentaigne
succeeded first by
Major J. Masters
and then by
Brigadier Morris CBE DSO
Brigade HQ Column
Column 48 - HQ Coy Royal Engineers,
Signal Section, Defence Platoons
1st Battalion Cameronians
Column 26 Major B.J. Brennan
Column 90 Lt Col W.M. Henning
2nd Battalion Kings Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)
Column 41 Lt Col A.H. Thompson MC
Column 46 Major L. Heap
3rd Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles
Column 30 Major K.M. Dibben
(replacing Lt Col Ovans (sick))
Column 40 Major D.I. Monteath
(Column 40 joined Morris Force[Note 3.])
Support
Detachement 2nd Bn Burma Rifles
Mixed Field Company Royal Engineers/
Royal Indian Engineers
Medical and veterinary detachments
Morris Force
Commander
Brigadier J.R. Morris
4th Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles
Column 49 Major E.H. Russel
Column 94 Major P.G. Cane
3rd Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles
Column 40 Major D.I. Monteath
(from 111 Brigade[Note 3.])
Dah Force
Kachin Levies, Lt Col D.C. Herring (Burma Rifles)
Supporting Units
2nd Battalion Burma Rifles
69th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery
W, X, Y and Z troops
160th Field Regiment Royal Artillery
R,S,and U troops
219th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers
145th Brigade Company, R.A.S.C.
61st Air Supply Company, R.A.S.C.
2nd Indian Air Supply Company, R.I.A.S.C.
Notes
1. 51/69 Field Regts. consisted of artillery personnel of 51 Field Regiment and 69 Anti-Tank Regiment made surplus in the reorganisation of 70 Division for Special Force.[1]
2. 23rd Brigade was withdrawn from Chindit operations in March 1944 and allotted to 14tn Army to assist with countering the Japanese offensive towards Imphal.[2]
3. Unable to cross Irrawaddy River safely before expected enemy action, Column 40 of 3/4 Gurkha Rifles was ordered to joined Morris Force.[2][3]
References and Sources
1. The National Archives(TNA); CAB 44/184, Second Wingate Expedition Vol.III
2. Kirby et al, The War Against Japan, Volume III
3. TNA: CAB 106-203, 77th. Indian Infantry Brigade Operations in Burma 1944
4. Kirby et al, The War Against Japan, Volume II
5. TNA: CAB 44/182, First Wingate Expedition 1943
6. TNA: CAB 44/183, Second Wingate Expedition Vol.I
7. TNA: WO 203/1833, 77 Indian Infantry Brigade: Operational Research Report
8. TNA: WO 203/1829, 77 Indian Infantry Brigade: Operations in Burma
9. J. Hamilton, War Bush, 81 (West African) Division in Burma 1943-1945
10. S. Bidwell, The Chindit War, The Campaign in Burma 1944
11. P. Chinnery, March or Die, The Story of WIngate's Chindits