Hi everyone. I have just joined the Forum because, sadly my dad has just passed away at a fabulous age of 94 years. He served in WW2 as a Captain in the 17th Indian Division black cat. He served in Burma 42, 44, '45 commanding the troops of the 48th Field Battery (1st Indian Field Regiment). At the end of the war in 1946 he was tasked with commanding the 1st Indian Field Regiment to return the guns on loan back to the Raj. A photograph depicting the partition of India was wanted and the Commander-in-Chief of the Indian army at the time, Claude Aukinlech, inspected my father's troops and this was noted in dispatches in the London Gazette. Dad's name is John Reginald Mitchell. I am trying to piece information together as I am so proud of my dad. Any help would be appreciate. Thank you.
Here is a brief summary of 1st Field Regiment, Indian Artillery: ‘A’ Field Regiment, IA RHQ Bangalore Batteries 1st (Madras), 2nd (Cis-Beas/PM), 3rd (Rajputs), 4th (Ranghars) Field Batteries -39-41 1st, 2nd Field Batteries - 1941-43 1st, 2nd, Scindia - 1944-45 Title Changes 1st Indian Field Regiment, IA - 2 April 1941 Honour Title Capture of Meiktila 1st Battery was formed from Madrassis, mostly from ‘A’ Company of the disbanding Madras Pioneers. 2nd Battery had Cis-Beas and Punjabi Mohammedans. 3rd Battery had Rajputana Rajputs and 4th Battery had Ranghars. After the outbreak of war the regiment moved to Deolali. It was reorganized with 1st & 2nd Batteries forming a new 1st Field Battery and 3rd & 4th Batteries forming a new 2nd Field Battery. It was mechanized on 1 May 1941. The regiment was sent to Burma on 25 February 1942 from Calcutta. It had 1st and 2nd Field Batteries under command in Burma in 1942. It served under command of 17th Indian Infantry Division during the retreat from February to June 1942. After Burma the regiment was part of the General Reserve refitting until assigned to the Peshawar Brigade in August 1942. It was still under the brigade in February 1943. It again served under the division in Burma from September 1944 until the end of the war. Note: I am not sure where 48th Battery fits in since it was not part of 1st Field Regiment, IA. The only 48th Battery in the Indian Artillery was 48th (Madrassi) Light Anti-Aircraft Battery of the 15th Light AA Regiment, IA , which served in Assam, and the Arakan under 13th AA Brigade. There was no British 48th Battery that served in India-Burma during the war,
Hi Winifred and welcome to the forum. Probably the best place to start would be the regiment war diaries at TNA. If you can't visit it in person there are members here on the forum that can do that for you. What I can tell you is that regiment arrived in Burma early in March 1942. They sailed from Calcutta together with 63rd Indian Brigade and were among last reinforcements that arrived in Rangoon before it falls to Japanese. They were equipped with 25 pounders and there were only one other unit that used them during the First Burma Campaign, 414th Battery RHA from 7th Armoured Brigade. All other artillery used by Allied troops there were mostly mountain artillery and 1st FR IA was most powerful artillery unit in Burma. I think that unit at that time was two battery strong, each battery with 8 or 12 guns, I not sure. They did a good job during 1942 supporting various units until they destroyed their guns before retreat to India. Not sure about their part in latter operations in Burma and India. War diaries should give you more details about their role during that period. From AP images: A 25 pounder manned by Indians in the Taungdwingyi in Burma May 7, 1942
Wow Dryan 67 thank you so much for your detailed answer. There is a lot to digest here and I am looking forward to doing that after my father's funeral next week. It is very important to me and my sons to retrace his steps in the war as he often told us stories but it was difficult to get him to be exact regarding his specific involvement. So your information will be extremely helpful. Once again many thanks. Regards
Good morning all, Reading all the threads make me so proud. First let me introduce myself Am Yodhvir Singh Lehl, presently Commanding First Field Regiment here in India. Would like to inform all that we intend to celebrate Platinum Jubilee MEIKTILA DAY, our battle honour on 28 Feb 2020. Please connect with me for the full programme. Thank you and Regards to all.
Could you share any more historical data about the 1st Field Regiment, IA. Sources on the Indian Artillery are rare.
