Hi all, I am interested in the data provided by the Rothy in the documents IMG_0669 | WW2Talk IMG_0670 | WW2Talk I would like to get the list of British infantry battalions in India and South East Asia as Feb 1945 if it available to Rothy or any member in the forum. Thank you all.
Not an exact match for the dates, that aside try Post 8 & 12 in: Which British units were left in India before and at the time of Partition? In February 1945 there were no British units in South East Asia (which commonly excludes Burma) and their presence came after V-J Day in August 1945.
Not sure of the significance of the date, February 1945. Infantry units were regularly rotated out of the fighting in Burma, either as they were exhausted, were "time served" units with many 'regular' soldiers awaiting the war's end, training for the invasion of Malaya and more. Somewhere there must be (my assumption) a list of the units assigned to the 14th Army, perhaps on VJ-Day? You would then have to work backwards to February 1945. India is I expect harder, as there were so many roles: an internal security garrison, ceremonial guards at HQ, resting, training, transit and more. Formed brigades and garrisons - a legacy of The Mutiny / Uprising - appear to always have British battalions brigaded with Indian battalions and they often moved around. Before VJ-Day the UK expected to remain in India, with units on 'active service', notably on the North-West Frontier, so it is possible, especially after VE-Day (May 1945), more units were sent. Another thread worth looking at is, especially as it refers in Post 9 to a reference book (x3 volumes): The British Armies in World War Two: An Organisational History, Volumes 8, 9 & 10: The Indian Army. See: Where did brigades go? Vanished? Why and Who disbanded? Alas it appears only one UK library has a copy, all the others are in the USA: https://www.worldcat.org/title/59524462 DRyan69 is the man whose help you need, though my memory says his focus is on the Indian Army.
davidbfpo, Many thanks for your interesting replies and help. Indeed, this date, February 1945, has no special significance, except it is the date of aforementioned documents in post#1. I found the attached document about TRAINING ESTABLISHMENTS IN INDIA COMMAND . Thank you again. Regards
Actually, my user name is DRyan67. I will PM you regarding the British infantry battalions in SE Asia command in February 1945.
