DRyan67 - can you please help me with this battalion in 1943? Kempton has it as follows in his book: 106th Indian Brigade - November 1942 to April 1943 116th Indian Brigade - April to November 1943 36th Indian Brigade - November 1943 onwards I have notes that it was on permanent loan to 116th Indian Brigade from November 1942 to February 1943, then 106th Indian Brigade from February to June 1943 and 36th Indian Brigade from December 1943 Can you tell me the correct battalion movements under whose command? Ever grateful RobG64
RobG64, here is what I have on the 1st Battalion 8th Gurkha Rifles: 1st Battalion, 8th Gurkha Rifles Razmak Brigade – 3 September 1939 to June 1940 The battalion formed part of the Razmak Brigade at the start of the war with a detachment at Shillong. It was in action in the Razmak area against the tribesmen on November 14th, 1939 and March 11th, 1940. It was ordered to Bengal to replace a British battalion in June 1940, but instead moved to Dehra Dun to train. Dehra Dun Area – Meerut District – June 1940 to October 1940 The battalion trained at Dehra Dun until it returned to the North-West Frontier in October 1940. Thal Brigade – October 1940 to June 1942 The battalion moved to Thal in Kurram. During 1941 and up to June 1942, it trained and did brigade columns. 55th Indian Infantry Brigade – June 1942 to September 1942 In June 1942, the battalion moved to the Abbottabad hills and joined the 55th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 7th Indian Infantry Division for war training. It remained there until September 1942 and then moved to Rawalpindi to be organized as part of a Light Division in Eastern Army. After a few weeks there, it moved eastward. 106th Indian Infantry Brigade – 28 September 1942 to 7 November 1942 On arrival in the east the battalion concentrated at Happy Valley, Shillong under the 106th Indian Infantry Brigade of the 39th Indian Light Division. For the next six weeks of October and November 1942, it trained in jungle warfare and sent parties on internal security duties at Gauhati. It left the brigade on November 7th, 1942. 116th Indian Infantry Brigade – 13 November 1942 to 4 November 1943 It joined the 116th Indian Infantry Brigade at Ledo on November 13th. For the next twelve months, it trained and did guard duties under the brigade. The battalion embarked at Calcutta on November 4th, 1943. 36th Indian Infantry Brigade – 7 November 1943 to 31 August 1945 The 1st Battalion arrived at Chittagong on November 7th, 1943 to join the 36th Indian Infantry Brigade for the rest of the war. Later in November, the battalion moved out to stop enemy infiltration down the Kharnaphili River in the Chittagong area. After a stay at Rangamatti, it moved back to Chittagong, where the division continued to rest and train. In November 1943, thirty-three NCOs and ORs left to join the 154th Gurkha Parachute Battalion. The division reentered the Arakan battle on February 8th, 1944, when it relieved the 7th Indian Division. The battalion moved to Bawli on the same date and was based at the foot of the Mayu Range. Attacks and ambushes took place in the battalion area from Feburary 20th-26th, 1944. It then moved to the foot of Goppe Pass for six days on March 1st. It was placed temporarily under the command of the 89th Indian Infantry Brigade at Goppe Bazaar on March 7th and was then in contact in the Mont Blanc area from March 8th-15th. It then took over from the 4th/8th Gurkha Rifles at Buthidaung on March 15th and returned to the 36th Brigade. For the next five weeks, the battalion was in constant action. It moved to Ngakyedauk Pass on April 22nd after being relieved by the 1st/18th Royal Garhwal Rifles. From April 27th to May 11th, 1944, the battalion was detached to the 4th Indian Infantry Brigade in order to clear Point 551. The division was withdrawn from the front on May 30th to Bawli and then to Cox’s Bazaar. It remained at Cox’s Bazaar until October 10th, 1944, patrolling and training during the monsoon. On October 11th, 1944, the 36th Brigade at Cox’s Bazaar exchanged locations with the 71st Brigade at Bawli. The brigade then patrolled from Bawli during October and November. It was withdraw to ‘Colabar’ on the seacoast near Bawli to rest and retrain on November 14th. It then embarked at Chittagong on January 25th, 1945 and landed at Ramree Island the same day. It remained on Ramree until April 28th and then embarked for the landing at Rangoon. The battalion landed on the Rangoon River on May 2nd and then landed at Rangoon on May 4th. It did guard duties in the city for seventeen days before leaving Rangoon on May 21st for Bangalore, where leave was given. It left Bangalore on November 25th and embarked for Java.
As always many thanks for your prompt and very accurate reply!! I do like a great piece of OB work (and one that corrects my mistakes). Excellent Best regards Rob
Hi rob very interesting, all these names have been mentioned by my father .ne was in the 1st lincs He’s 98 now
