Allied Formations

1st Burma Division

1st Burma Division

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Unknown

Branch

Army

Allied Formations

Also known as the 39th Indian Division

Overall in Command was Lieut/Gen W Slim (CBE KCB DSO MC) later to become Field Marshall Sir W Slim.

The Badge of this unit was an Indian tulvar in white in a clenched brown hand on a dark green circle. (Originally designated the 1st Burma Infantry Division, it was composed of the 1st & 2nd Burma Brigades plus an Indian Brigade).  This formation was known as ""Burdiv"" and took part in the withdrawal from Burma in 1942.  On it's return to India it was re-designated the 39th Indian Division, in 1943 it became a Training Division.

The Division consisted of:

Headquarters Brigade

Divisional Artillery 17th Mountain Regt (Indian Artillery) 8th Anti/Tank Regt (Indian Artillery) 1st Burma Brigade Commanded by   Brig. GAL Farwell (MC) 1st Btn Burma Rifles 5th Btn Burma Rifles 1st Btn Cameronians(Scottish Rifles) 1st Btn 4th Gurkha Rifles 2nd Btn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry 2nd Btn Rajput Regt 2nd Burma Brigade Commanded by  Brig. AJW Bourke 2nd Btn Burma Rifles 4th Btn Burma Rifles 6th Btn Burma Rifles 8th Btn Burma Rifles 2nd Btn Frontier Force Rifles       13th Indian Infantry Brigade Commanded by     Brig. AC Curtis 2nd Btn 7th Rajput Regt 5th Btn 1st Punjab Regt 1st Btn 18th Royal Garhwal Regt 16th Indian Infantry Brigade 1st Btn Royal Jat Regt 1st Btn 7th Gurkha  Rifles 4th Btn Frontier Force Regt         Royal Indian Army Service Corps 28th Animal Transport Coy (Mule) 35th Supply Issue Unit Burma Army Service Corps 2nd Animal Transport Coy (Mule) 5th Motor Transport Unit 1st 2nd 3rd Supply Issue Units Medical Services 27th Indian Field Ambulance 2nd Burma Field Ambulance Other Branches I.M.S. R.A.M.C. I.M.D. I.H.C. I.A.M.C. 1st Division Provost Unit 1st Division Signals Unit Indian Army Ordnance Corps 7th Mobile Works 1st Burma Recovery Coy Indian Engineers Sappers & Miners Divisional Commander   Maj/Gen.  JB Scott 50th Field Park Coy (KGO Bengal Lancers) 56th Field Coy (QVO Madras) Malerkotla Field Coy (State Forces)        

During the withdrawal from Burma (Feb-May 1942) the following British Indian Burmese Regiments served with this Division:

1st Btn The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 1st Btn The Gloucestershire Regt 1st Btn  The Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers 1st Btn The West Yorkshire Regt 2nd Btn The Duke of Wellington Regt 2nd Royal Marine Commando

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