The Indian 17th Infantry Division was a formation of the British Indian Army raised during World War II. It had the distinction of being continually in combat during the three-year long Burma Campaign (except for brief periods of refit). The Indian Army is the largest branch of the Armed Forces of India and has the primary responsibility of conducting land-based military operations. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I. Infantry are soldiers who fight primarily on foot with small arms in organized military units, though they may be transported to the battlefield by horses, ships, automobiles, skis, or other means. ... A battle honour is a military tradition practiced in the Commonwealth countries of the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand and is an official acknowledgement rewarded to military units for their achievements in specific wars or operations of a military campaign. ... A group of native Indian muslim soldiers posing for volley firing orders. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Burma Campaign was a campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II. It was fought primarily between Commonwealth, Chinese and American forces against the Empire of Japan. ...

History

Formation

It was first formed in 1941 in Ahmednagar in India. It consisted then of the Indian 44th, 45th and 46th Brigades, and was intended to garrison Iraq. At the end of the year, war with Imperial Japan broke out and the division was split; 44th and 45th Brigades were despatched to Malaya where they were lost in the Battle of Singapore; 46th Brigade and the division HQ went to Burma, where they were reinforced by Indian 16th Infantry Brigade. For the movie, see 1941 (film). ... Ahmednagar (अहमदनगर in Marathi) is the district headquarter city of Ahmednagar District in the state of Maharashtra, India, on the left bank of the Sina River, about 120 km northeast of Pune and 120 km from Aurangabad. ... The ensign of Imperial Japanese Navy was a prominent symbol of Imperial Japan. ... Map of Peninsular Malaysia Peninsular Malaysia (Malay: Semenanjung Malaysia) is the part of Malaysia which lies on the Malay Peninsula, and shares a land border with Thailand in the north. ... Combatants Allied forces: Indian Army; British Army; Australian Army; Malayan forces; Straits Settlements forces Imperial Japanese Army Commanders Arthur Percival Tomoyuki Yamashita Strength 85,000 36,000 Casualties about 5,000 killed; about 80,000 POWs 1,715 dead, 3,500 wounded The Battle of Singapore was a battle fought...

1942

The Japanese attacked Burma on January 22, 1942. It was soon apparent that the British and Indian troops in Burma were too few in number, wrongly equipped and inadequately trained for the terrain and conditions. After failing to hold the Kawkareik Pass and Moulmein, the division fell back to the Bilin River, where it was joined by Indian 48th Infantry Brigade. January 22 is the 22nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1942 (MCMXLII) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1942 calendar). ...

The Bilin was not a proper defensive position, and the division tried to retreat over the Sittang River. Air attacks, poor organization and vehicle breakdowns delayed the division, and Japanese parties infiltrated around them to threaten the vital bridge over the Sittang. The division's commander, Major General "Jackie" Smyth VC , was forced to order the bridge to be destroyed, with most of the division cut off on the far side of the river. Only a few thousand men without equipment succeeded in crossing the river. Smyth was dismissed and replaced by Major General Cowan. The Sittang is a river in Myanmar. ... John George Smyth (VC, MC) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. ... David Tennent Cowan (1896 - 1983), also known as Punch Cowan, was an officer in the British Indian Army, who was distinguished for leading the Indian 17th Infantry Division during almost the entire Burma Campaign. ...

The division was reinforced with Indian 63rd Infantry Brigade, and narrowly escaped being trapped in Rangoon. After trying to hold a front in the Irrawaddy River valley, it subsequently retreated north into Assam just before the monsoon broke, fighting off a Japanese attempt to trap it at Kalewa. Yangôn, formerly Rangoon, population 4,504,000 (2001), is the capital of Myanmar. ... The Irrawaddy (newer spelling Ayeyarwaddy) is a river that flows through the centre of Myanmar (formerly Burma). It is Myanmars most important commercial waterway. ... Assam   (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a north eastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a part of Guwahati. ...

1943

For the campaigning season of 1943, the division was reorganised as a "Light" formation, with two brigades only (48th and 63rd), supported by mountain artillery, and with mules and jeeps only for transport. It disputed the mountainous and jungle-covered region around Tiddim, with mixed success. The division was at the end of a long and precarious supply line, and the "light" establishment was found to be inadequate in some respects. Some heavier equipment and transport was restored. 1943 (MCMXLIII) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1943 calendar). ...

1944

In 1944, the Japanese launched a major invasion of India. During the long Battle of Imphal, 17th Division first successfully fought its way out of encirclement at Tiddim, and then disputed the vital Bishenpur sector south of Imphal (with Indian 32nd Infantry Brigade temporarily under command). In July, the Japanese were broken by heavy casualties and starvation, and retreated. Some units of 17th Division had suffered nearly 100% casualties. Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Battle of Imphal took place in Manipur district of North East India from April until June 1944. ...

During the late monsoon season, the division was temporarily withdrawn to India and reorganised once again. 48th and 63rd Brigades were fully equipped with vehicles to become Motorized infantry. Indian 99th Infantry Brigade was added to the division, equipped to be transported by Douglas DC-3 aircraft. Motorised infantry is an infantry unit which is transported by trucks or other fast motor vehicles. ... The Douglas DC-3 is a fixed-wing, propeller-driven aircraft, which revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s and is generally regarded as one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made (also see Boeing 707 and Boeing 747). ...

1945

In late February. 1945, the motor elements of the division, with the bulk of Indian 255th Armoured Brigade under command, crossed the Irrawaddy River and advanced on the vital Japanese communications centre of Meiktila. Joined by 99th Brigade which was flown into the captured airfield at Thabutkon, they captured Meiktila in only four days. Reinforced by Indian 9th Infantry Brigade which was flown into the airfields around Meiktila, they subsequently withstood a Japanese siege. This Battle of Meiktila largely destroyed the Japanese armies in Central Burma. Year 1945 (MCMXLV) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1945 calendar). ... The Irrawaddy (newer spelling Ayeyarwaddy) is a river that flows through the centre of Myanmar (formerly Burma). It is Myanmars most important commercial waterway. ... MEIKTILA is in Mandalay division of Myanmar; population (1901) 252,305, and is located at 20°53N, 95°53 E. It is situated on the banks of magnificent Lake Meiktila, an ancient irrigation and drinking water reservoir, and at the junction of the Bagan-Taunggyi and Yangon-Mandalay roads. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Battle of Meiktila. ...

The division now broke the last Japanese defensive position at Pyawbwe, and advanced south on Rangoon. At Pegu, it pushed Japanese rearguards aside, but was still short of its objective when the monsoon broke. Rangoon fell to an assault from the sea, Operation Dracula. Yangôn, formerly Rangoon, population 4,504,000 (2001), is the capital of Myanmar. ... Categories: Stub ... Monsoon in the Vindhya mountain range, central India A monsoon is a wind pattern that changes direction depending on the specific season. ... During World War II, Operation Dracula was the name given to an airborne and amphibious attack on Rangoon by British and Indian forces, part of the Burma Campaign. ...

In the last months of the campaign, the division participated in the mopping up of Japanese stragglers in Burma. After the war ended, elements of it formed part of the Commonwealth Occupation force in Japan (under Cowan).

1946

The division was disembodied in India

1960

The division was re-raised at Ambala (India) on November 15, 1960. It was under the command of Major General K.S. Katoch, MC.

1961

Under the command of Major General Candeth, the division participated in the Goa military operations of that year. Goa   (Konkani: गोंय goṃya; Marathi: गोवा govā; Portuguese: Goa) is Indias smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population (after Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh). ...

1963

On November 15, 1963, the division relocated to Sikkim and took on the role of guarding a portion of the Tibet-India border.

Notes

The division had two different formation signs. The first was a lightening bolt (white) on a blue background. This was used until the middle of 1942. Afterward, the formation sign was changed to a black cat on a yellow/orange background.

The division was sometimes called, "The Black Cat Division" based on its second formation sign.

Order of Battle, as of May 1, 1944

General Officer Commanding - Major General David Tennent Cowan

Commander, Royal Artillery - Brigadier the Baron de Robeck

17 Division HQ and Signals

Indian 48th Infantry Brigade - (Brigadier Ronald Thomas Cameron)

9th Bn. Border Regiment

2nd Bn. 5th Gurkha Rifles

1st Bn. 7th Gurkha Rifles

Indian 63rd Infantry Brigade - (Brigadier Arthur Edward Cumming )

1st Bn. 3rd Gurkha Rifles

1st Bn. 4th Gurkha Rifles

1st Bn. 10th Gurkha Rifles

Divisional Units

1st Bn. West Yorkshire Regiment (attached)

4th Bn. 12th Frontier Force Regiment (Divisional reconnaissance unit)

7th Bn. 10th Baluch Regiment (Divisional defence / machine gun unit)

129 Field Regiment RA

21 Mountain Regiment IA

29 Mountain Regiment IA

82 Light Anti-aircraft / Anti-tank Regiment RA

60 Field Company IE

70 Field Company IE

Tehri Garhwal Field Company

414 Field Park Company IE

May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... Year 1944 (MCMXLIV) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ... David Tennent Cowan (1896 - 1983), also known as Punch Cowan, was an officer in the British Indian Army, who was distinguished for leading the Indian 17th Infantry Division during almost the entire Burma Campaign. ... The 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. ... The 7th Duke of Edinburghs Own Gurkha Rifles started as a regiment of the British Indian Army, before being transferred to the British Army following Indias independence. ... Arthur Edward Cumming (VC, OBE, MC) was a recipient of the British and Commonwealth forces. ... The 3rd Queen Alexandras Own Gurkha Rifles, first raised in 1815, was a regiment of the British Indian Army. ... The 4th Prince of Waless Own Gurkha Rifles was originally a Gurkha regiment of the British Indian Army. ... (Redirected from 10th Gurkha Rifles) The 10th Princess Marys Own Gurkha Rifles was a regiment of the Indian and then the British Army upon their transfer in 1948 in the aftermath of Indian Independence. ... The West Yorkshire Regiment (Prince of Waless Own) (the 14th of Foot) amalgamated with the East Yorkshire Regiment (the 15th of Foot) in 1958 to form The Prince of Waless Own Regiment of Yorkshire. ... RGA redirects here. ...

External links

• 17 Infantry Division at Orders of Battle.com^?

Further Reading

• Jon Latimer, Burma: The Forgotten War, London: John Murray, 2004 ISBN 0-7195-6576-6