The Burma Campaign

1st Burma Infantry Division

The division was formed on 1st July 1941, with divisional headquarters at Toungoo.

After the retreat from Burma, the division was redesignated the 39th Indian Infantry Division in India on 20th June 1942.  The division subsequently became a training formation.

The divisional order of battle changed during the campaign.  Orders of battle for selected dates are presented below.

1st Burma Infantry Division - 1 July 1941

     Divisional Troops
          Artillery
              2nd Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery
              5th Field Battery, Royal Artillery, Burma Auxiliary Force (Rangoon Field Brigade)
              23rd Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery
     Engineers
          Field Companies
              56th Field Company, Madras Sappers and Miners
     1st Burma Infantry Brigade Group (The Maymyo Infantry Brigade)
          2nd Battalion, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI)
          1st Battalion, The Burma Rifles
          3rd Battalion, The Burma Rifles
          5th Battalion, The Burma Rifles
     2nd Burma Infantry Brigade Group
          2nd Battalion, The Burma Rifles
          4th Battalion, The Burma Rifles
          6th Battalion, The Burma Rifles
          8th (Frontier Force) Battalion, The Burma Rifles
     13th Indian Infantry Brigade
          5th Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment
          2nd Battalion 7th Rajput Regiment
          1st Battalion, 18th Royal Garwhal Rifles
              12th Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery

1st Burma Infantry Division - 11 March 1942

     Divisional Troops
          Artillery
              27th Mountain Regiment, Indian Artillery (Headquarters)
                   2nd Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery
                   23rd Mountain Battery, Indian Artillery         
     Engineers
          Field Companies
              56th Field Company, Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners            less two sections                          
          Field Park Companies
              50th Field Park Company, Queen Victoria's Own Madras Sappers and Miners
     Infantry
          F.F.1, Burma Frontier Force                                  attached
          F.F.5, Burma Frontier Force                                  attached
      1st Burma Infantry Brigade Group
          2nd Battalion, 7th Rajput Regiment (2/7th Rajput)
          1st Battalion, The Burma Rifles    
          5th Battalion, The Burma Rifles    
          2nd Battalion, The Burma Rifles                            attached
     2nd Burma Infantry Brigade Group

          5th Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment (5/1st Punjab)
          7th (Burma Police) Battalion, The Burma Rifles     
          F.F.3, Burma Frontier Force
     13th Indian Infantry Brigade
          1st Battalion, 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles (1/18th R Garh Rif)

29 November 2017