I just acquired an officially impressed Indian Burma Star named to 21929 L/HAV KHEM CHAND 26 BN KUMAON REGT. This would have been 26/19th Hyderabad Regiment during the war. It was raised in 1942, served as a garrison battalion throughout the war, and was disbanded in 1951. I thought most garrison battalions were stationed well away from the front lines. Does anyone know where exactly this battalion served in order to qualify for a Burma Star? Grateful for any guidance the community can offer, W.
Here is a brief summary of the service of the 26th (Garrison) Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment: 26th (Garrison) Battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment Delhi Independent Brigade Area – 1 March 1942 to July 1942 The battalion was raised at Agra on March 1st, 1942 and consisted of 50% Jats, 25% Kumaonis, and 25% Ahirs. Deccan District – August 1942 to February 1943 One company escorted Japanese internees to Egypt in August 1942. The rest of the battalion went to Kamptee for railway protection in August 1942. In October 1942 it moved to Jhansi and trained with the Chindits. 202nd Line of Communications Area – February 1943 to 31 August 1945 In February 1943 it went to Dum Dum as aerodrome guards and the moved to Porbatipur in February 1944 until the end of the war. It disbanded on March 25th, 1951.
Medals: campaigns, descriptions and eligibility - GOV.UK The Burma Star is awarded for operational service in Burma between 11 December 1941 and 2 September 1945. Those serving in Bengal and Assam in India and China, Hong Kong, Malaya or Sumatra between other specified dates may also qualify. To apply for the Burma Star, you must have: 1 day of operational service in the army 1 day of operational service as ground crew in the RAF 1 operational sortie as aircrew in the RAF 1 day afloat in operational areas in the Royal Navy and already qualified for the 1939 to 1945 Star The colours of the ribbon represent the sun, British and Commonwealth forces. If you also qualify for the Pacific Star, you will only be awarded the first star earned. You will then receive a clasp with the title of the second star earned which is worn on the ribbon of the first. TD
Thanks dryan67 and TD, that's much appreciated. Given that the Burma Star criteria allow for awards for service in Bengal from Dec. 11 1941 - Dec. 31 1943, I guess I have my answer. dryan67, may I ask what your source was for that very detailed information? If this is from a publication that is commercially available, I need to get myself a copy. Most impressive. Cheers, and thanks again, W.
The format is my own. I have summaries for all British-Commonwealth HQs, cavalry, infantry, artillery and engineer units. The actual source for the information in this case is: Praval, K.C. Valour Triumphs: A History of the Kumaon Regiment. Faridabad: Thomson Press (India), 1976. (NYPL)(Cornell)(D.Ryan) I own a copy of the above book and copies also exist in the New York Public Library and Cornell University library. Also helpful is the following series: Kempton, Chris. Loyalty and Honour: The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947: Part I Divisions. Milton Keynes: Military Press, 2003. (D.Ryan) Kempton, Chris. Loyalty and Honour: The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947: Part II Brigades. Milton Keynes: Military Press, 2003. (D.Ryan) Kempton, Chris. Loyalty and Honour: The Indian Army September 1939 – August 1947: Part III. Milton Keynes: Military Press, 2003. (D.Ryan) I have copies of these in my library as well.
Thanks for that. I have a copy of Vol. II of Loyalty and Honour, but sadly these have become rather hard to find and completing the set is proving tough. I will also keep an eye open for Valour Triumphs, which I also noticed referenced in Gaylor's Sons of John Company. I quite like these Kumaon Regiment Burma Stars, so it should prove useful. Cheers, W.
I really ought to take my own advice sometime, but until then: Indian Military History Books - Military Press
It is interesting that Kempton's series came out at around the same time that our three volumes on the Indian Army were published under the British Armies in World War Two: An Organisational History. His appeared first and I had to strongly resist using his books in completing our series, not that his weren't good, but I didn't want to plagiarize.
