FORMATIONS, SOUTH-EAST ASIA COMMAND

British Southeast Asia Command, January-June, 1944
v.1.0 March 3, 2002

Richard A. Rrinaldi & Graham Watson

15 Corps: Lt-Gen A.F.P. Christison

Armoured Group: Col S.H. Perse

25^th Dragoons [Lee tanks]

company 3^rd/4^th Bombay Grenadiers

81^st (West African) Reconnaissance Regiment

3^rd Gwalior Lancers ISF (less horsed wing)

troop, 401^st Field Sqn IE

detachment, 254^th Bridging Trp IE

Corps Artillery: Brig L. Harris

6^th Medium Regt RA

8^th (Belfast) HAA Regt RA

36^th Light AA Regt RA

5^th Mahratta AT Regt IA

Corps Engineers: Brig L.I. Jacques

73^rd, 483^rd, Malerkotla Field Coys IE

408^th Field Park Coy IE

853^rd Bridging Coy IE

11^th Bridging Section IE

23^rd, 24^th Bns IE

Corps Infantry

12^th Frontier Force Regt MG Bn

79^th Indian Inf Coy

404^th Line of Communications Area: Brig T.R. Henry

13^th AA Brigade [Mar 1944]

70^th HAA Regt RA, 6^th and 7^th Indian HAA Regts; 35^th Bty/12^th Indian HAA Regt

77^th LAA AA Regt RA; 3^rd, 6^th and 8^th Indian LAA Regts; 10^th Indian LAA Bty

Infantry

1^st Bihar Regt

7^th/16^th Punjab Regt [attached 81^st Division Dec 43-Jun 44]

2^nd Baroda Regt ISF

1^st Tripura Rifles ISF

Assigned Formations

5^th Indian Division (less 161^st Brigade) to 4 Corps 19 Mar 44

7^th Indian Division to 33 Corps 15 May 44

25^th Indian Division replaced 5^th Indian Division Mar 1944

26^th Indian Division replaced 7^th Indian Division Mar (May?) 1944

36^th Indian Division

81^st West African Division

3^rd Special Service Brigade

4 Corps: Lt-Gen G.A.P. Scoones

254^th Indian Tank Brigade: Brig R.L. Scoones

3^rd Carabiniers [Lee tanks]

7^th [Indian] Cavalry [Stuart tanks]

‘C’ Sqn, 150^th Regt RAC [Lee tanks]

3^rd/4^th Bombay Grenadiers (less one coy)

401^st Field Sqn IE (less one troop)

Corps Artillery: Brig P.S. Myburgh

8^th Medium Regt RA

67^th HAA Regt RA

28^th LAA Regt RA

78^th LAA Regt RA

15^th Punjab AT Regt IA

battery, 2^nd Survey Regt RA

Corps Engineers: Brig H. Williams

75^th, 424^th, Field Coys IE

94^th (Faridkot) Field Coy ISF

3^rd West African Field Coy

305^th Field Park Coy IE

854^th Bridging Coy IE

16^th Bn IE

336^th Forestry Coy IE

Corps Infantry

9^th Jat Regt MG Bn

15^th/11^th Sikh Regt

Chin Hills Bn, Burma Army

3^rd Assam Rifles

4^th Assam Rifles

Kalibahadur Regt [Nepalese]

company, Gwalior Infantry ISF

Assigned Formations

17^th Indian Light Division

20^th Indian Division

23^rd Indian Division

5^th Indian Division (- 161^st Brigade) from 19 Mar 44 on

89^th Brigade, 7^th Indian Division from 7 May 44 on

50^th Indian Parachute Brigade from 22 May 44 on

33 Corps: Lt-Gen M.G.N. Stopford

initially in reserve

Armour

149^th Regt RAC [Lee tanks] (less ‘C’ Sqn)

detachment, 150^th Regt RAC [Lee tanks]

11^th [Indian] Cavalry [armoured cars]

45^th [Indian] Cavalry [Stuart tanks]

Corps Artillery: Brig D.J. Stevens

1^st Medium Regt RA

50^th LAA/AT Regt IA

24^th Mountain Regt IA (from 5^th Indian Division)

Corps Engineers: Brig J.F.D. Steedman

429^th Field Coy IE

44^th Field Park Coy IE

10^th Bn IE

Corps Infantry

1^st Burma Regt, Burma Army

1^st Chamar Regt

1^st Assam Regt

Shere Regt [Nepalese]

Mahindra Dal Regt [Nepalese]

202 Line of Communications Area: Maj-Gen R.P.L. Ranking

[no combat units, two infantry bns became part of Lushai Brigade]

Formations Assigned

2^nd Infantry Division

268^th Indian Brigade

Lushai Brigade

7^th Indian Division (-89^th Brigade, + 161^st Brigade) from May 44 on

Special Force (3^rd Indian Division): Maj-Gen O.C. Wingate (KIA); Maj-Gen W.D.A. Lentaigne 27 Mar 44

14^th Infantry Brigade (HQ: 59 Column): Brig T. Brodie

1^st Bn Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regt: 16 and 61 Columns

7^th Bn Leicestershire Regt: 47 and 74 Columns

2^nd Bn Black Watch: 73 and 42 Columns

2^nd Bn York and Lancaster Regt: 84 and 65 Columns

54^th Field Coy RE

16^th Infantry Brigade (HQ: 99 Column): Brig B.E. Fergusson

2^nd Bn Queen’s Royal Regt: 21 and 22 Columns

2^nd Bn Leicestershire Regt: 17 and 71 Columns

45^th Recce Regt [infantry]: 45 and 54 Columns

51^st/69^th Field Regt RA [infantry]: 51 and 69 Columns

2^nd Field Coy RE

23^rd Infantry Brigade (HQ: 32 Column): Brig L.E.C.M. Perowne

2^nd Bn Duke of Wellington’s Regt: 33 and 76 Columns

4^th Bn Border Regt: 34 and 55 Columns

1^st Bn Essex Regt: 44 and 56 Columns

60^th Field Regt RA [infantry]: 60 and 88 Columns

12^th Field Coy RE

77^th Indian Infantry Brigade (HQ: 25 Column): Brig J.M. Calbert

1^st Bn King’s Regt: 81 and 82 Columns

1^st Bn Lancashire Fusiliers: 20 and 50 Columns

1^st Bn South Staffordshire Regt: 38 and 80 Columns

3^rd/6^th Gurkha Rifles: 36 and 63 Columns

mixed field coy IE/RE

111^th Indian Infantry Brigade (HQ: 48 Column): Brig W.D.A. Lentaigne; Lt-Col J.R. Morris 27 Mar 44

2^nd Bn King’s Own Royal Regt: 41 and 46 Columns

1^st Bn Cameronians: 26 and 90 Columns

3^rd/4^th Gurkha Rifles: 40 and 40 Columns

4^th/9^th Gurkha Rifles: 49 and 94 Columns

mixed field coy IE/RE

3^rd West African Brigade (HQ: 10 Column): Brig A.H. Gillmore

6^th Bn Nigeria Regt: 39 and 66 Columns

7^th Bn Nigeria Regt: 29 and 35 Columns

12^th Bn Nigeria Regt: 12 and 43 Columns

7^th West African Field Coy

3^rd West African Field Ambulance

Division Troops

3^rd/9^th Gurkha Rifles: 57 and 93 Columns

four troops 160^th Field Regt RA [R, S, T, U: each 4x25pdrs]

four troops 69^th LAA Regt RA [W, X, Y, Z: each 6x40mm AA guns]

219^th Field Park Coy RE

detachment 2^nd Burma Rifles

145^th Brigade Coy RASC

61^st Air Supply Coy RASC

2^nd Indian Air Supply Coy IASC

Divisions in Theater

2^nd Infantry Division: Maj-Gen J.M.L. Grover; Maj-Gen C.G.G. Nicholson 5 Jul 44

4^th Infantry Brigade: Brig W.G. Goschen; Brig J.A. Theobalds 7 May 44

1^st Bn Royal Scots

2^nd Bn Royal Norfolk Regt

1^st/8^th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers

5^th Infantry Brigade: Brig V.F.S. Hawkins; Brig M.M. Alston-Roberts-West 16 May 44

7^th Bn Worcestershire Regt

2^nd Bn Dorsetshire Regt

1^st Bn QO Cameron Highlanders

6^th Infantry Brigade: Brig J.D. Shapland; Brig W.G. Smith 30 May 44

1^st Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers

1^st Bn Royal Berkshire Regt

2^nd Bn Durham Light Infantry

2^nd Recce Regt RAC

2^nd Bn Manchester Regt (MG) (less one coy)

143^rd Special Service Coy

Artillery: Brig H.S.J. Bourke

10^th Assault Field Regt RA

16^th Assault Field Regt RA

99^th Assault Field Regt RA

100^th LAA/AT Regt RA

Engineers (5^th, 208^th, 506^th Field Coys RE; 21^st Field Park Coy RE)

Medical (4^th, 5^th, 6^th Field Ambulances)

5^th Indian Division: Maj-Gen H.R. Briggs; Maj-Gen G.C. Evans 1 Jul 44

9^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig G.C. Evans; Brig J.A. Salomons 25 Feb 44

2^nd Bn West Yorkshire Regt

3^rd/9^th Jat Regt

3^rd/14^th Punjab Regt

123^rd Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig T.J. Winterton; Brig G.C. Evans 25 Feb 44; Brig E.J. Denholm-Young 1 Jul 44

2^nd Bn Suffolk Regt

2^nd/1^st Punjab Regt

1^st/17^th Dogra Regt

161^st Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig D.F.W. Warren

4^th Bn Queen’s Own Royal West Kent Regt

1^st/1^st Punjab Regt

4^th/7^th Rajput Regt

Artillery: Brig E.C.R. Mansergh

4^th Field Regt RA

28^th Jungle Field Regt RA

24^th Mountain Regt IA

56^th LAA/AT Regt RA

Engineers (2^nd, 20^th, 74^th Field Coys IE; 44^th Field Park Coy IE; 1^st Bridging Section IE)

Medical (10^th, 45^th, 75^th Indian Field Ambulances)

7^th Indian Division: Maj-Gen F.W. Messervy

33^rd Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig F.J. Loftus-Tottenham

1^st Bn Queen’s Royal Regt

4^th/15^th Punjab Regt

4^th/1^st Gurkha Rifles

89^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig W.A. Crowther

2^nd Bn King’s Own Scottish Borderers

7^th/2^nd Punjab Regt, replaced at some point by 1^st/11^th Sikh Regt

4^th/8^th Gurkha Rifles

114^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig M.R. Roberts; Brig H.W. Dinwiddie 23 Jun 44

1^st Bn Somerset Light Infantry

4^th/14^th Punjab Regt

4^th/5^th Royal Gurkha Rifles

1^st/11^th Sikh Regt [div HQ bn], switched roles with 7^th/2^nd Punjab Regt of 89^th Brigade

Artillery: Brig A.F. Hely

136^th Field Regt RA

139^th Jungle Field Regt RA

25^th Mountain Regt IA

24^th LAA/AT Regt RA

Engineers (62^nd, 77^th, 421^st Field Coys IE; 303^rd Field Park Coy IE; 17^th Bridging Section IE)

Medical (44^th, 54^th, 66^th Indian Field Ambulances)

17^th Indian Light Division: Maj-Gen D.T. Cowan

48^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig R.T. Cameron; Brig R.C.O. Hedley 31 May 44

9^th Bn The Border Regt

2^nd/5^th Royal Gurkha Rifles

1^st/7^th Gurkha Rifles

63^rd Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig A.E. Cumming, VC; Brig G.W.S. Burton 13 Jan 44

1^st/3^rd Gurkha Rifles

1^st/4^th Gurkha Rifles

1^st/10^th Gurkha Rifles

1^st Bn West Yorkshire Regt [div support bn]

4^th/12^th Frontier Force Regt [div HQ bn]

7^th/10^th Baluch Regt [div recce bn]

Artillery: Brig The Baron de Robeck

129^th Light Field Regt RA

21^st Mountain Regt IA

29^th Mountain Regt IA

82^nd LAA/AT Regt RA

Engineers (60^th, 70^th Field Coys IE; 414^th Field Park Coy IE)

Medical (23^rd, 37^th Indian Field Ambulances)

20^th Indian Division: Maj-Gen D.D. Gracey

32^nd Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig D.A.L. Mackenzie

1^st Bn Northamptonshire Regt

9^th/14^th Punjab Regt

3^rd/8^th Gurkha Rifles

80^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig S. Greeves

1^st Bn Devonshire Regt

9^th/12^th Frontier Force Regt

3^rd/1^st Gurkha Rifles

100^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig W.A.L. James

2^nd Bn The Border Regt

14^th/13^th Frontier Force Rifles

4^th/10^th Gurkha Rifles

4^th/3^rd Madras Regt [div HQ bn]

Artillery: Brig J.A.E. Hirst

9^th Field Regt RA

114^th Jungle Field Regt RA

23^rd Mountain Regt IA

55^th LAA/AT Regt RA

Engineers (92^nd, 422^nd, 481^st Field Coys IE; 309^th Field Park Coy IE; 9^th Bridging Section IE)

Medical (35^th, 42^nd, 59^th Indian Field Ambulances)

23^rd Indian Division: Maj-Gen O.L. Roberts

1^st Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig R.C. McCay; Brig R.C.N. King 25 Feb 44

1^st Bn Seaforth Highlanders

1^st/16^th Punjab Regt

1^st Patiala Infantry ISF

37^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig H.V. Collingridge; Brig J.F. Marindin 15 Jun 44

3^rd/3^rd Gurkha Rifles

3^rd/5^th Royal Gurkha Rifles

3^rd/10^th Gurkha Rifles

49^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig F.A. Esse

4^th/5^th Mahratta Light Infantry

6^th/5^th Mahratta Light Infantry

5^th/6^th Rajputana Rifles

2^nd/19^th Hyderabad Regt [div HQ bn]

Artillery: Brig R.W. Andrews

3^rd Field Regt IA

158^th Jungle Field Regt RA

28^th Mountain Regt IA

2^nd LAA/AT Regt IA

Engineers (68^th, 71^st, 91^st Field Coys IE; 323^rd Field Park Coy IE; 10^th Bridging Section IE)

Medical (24^th, 47^th, 49^th Indian Field Ambulances)

25^th Indian Division: Maj-Gen H.L. Davies

51^st Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig T.H. Angus

8^th Bn York and Lancaster Regt

17^th/5^th Mahratta Light Infantry

16^th/10^th Baluch Regt

53^rd Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig G.A.P. Coldstream

9^th Bn York and Lancaster Regt

2^nd/2^nd Punjab Regt

4^th/18^th Royal Garhwal Rifles

74^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig J.E. Hirst

6^th Bn Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry

14^th/10^th Baluch Regt

3^rd/2^nd Gurkha Rifles

8^th/19^th Hyderabad Regt [div HQ bn]

Artillery: Brig R. O’Carrol-Scott

8^th Field Regt RA

27^th Jungle Field Regt RA

5^th Field Regt IA

7^th LAA/AT Regt IA

Engineers (63^rd, 93^rd, 425^th Field Coys IE; 16^th Bridging Section IE)

Medical (55^th, 58^th, 61^st Indian Field Ambulances)

26^th Indian Division: Maj-Gen C.E.N. Lomax

4^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig A.W. Lowther

1^st Bn Wiltshire Regt

2^nd/13^th Frontier Force Rifles

2^nd/7^th Rajput Regt

36^th Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig L.G. Thomas

8^th/13^th Frontier Force Rifles

5^th/6^th Punjab Regt

1^st/8^th Gurkha Rifles

71^st Indian Infantry Brigade: Brig G.G.C. Bull; Brig R.C. Cotterell-Hill 28 Jan 44

1^st Bn Lincolnshire Regt

5^th/1^st Punjab Regt

1^st/18^th Royal Garhwal Rifles

5^th/9^th Jat Regt [div HQ bn]

Artillery: Brig C.J.G. Dalton

160^th Jungle Field Regt RA

7^th Field Regt IA

30^th Mountain Regt IA

1^st LAA/AT Regt IA

Engineers (28^th, 72^nd, 98^th Field Coys IE; 7^th Bridging Section IE)

Medical (1sat, 46^th, 48^th Indian Field Ambulances)

36^th Indian Division: Maj-Gen F.W. Festing

29^th Infantry Brigade Group: Brig H.C. Stockwell

1^st Bn Royal Scots Fusiliers

2^nd Bn Royal Welch Fusiliers

2^nd Bn East Lancashire Regt

2^nd Bn South Lancashire Regt

236^th Field Coy RE

154^th Field Ambulance

72^nd [Indian] Infantry Brigade Group[1]: Brig A.R. Aslett

6^th Bn South Wales Borderers

10^th Bn Gloucestershire Regt

9^th Bn Royal Sussex Regt

30^th Field Coy IE

69^th Indian Field Ambulance

‘C’ Sqn, 149^th Regt RAC [Lee tanks]

company, 2^nd Bn Manchester Regt [MG]

Artillery: Brig C.E. Barrington

130^th Assault Field Regt RA

178^th Assault Field Regt RA

122^nd LAA/AT Regt RA

Engineers (section 99^th Field Coy IE; 324^th Field Park Coy IE; 12^th Bridging Section IE; two coys 15^th Bn IE)

Medical (22^nd Casualty Clearing Section)

81^st West African Division: Maj-Gen C.G. Woolner

5^th West African Brigade: Brig N.H. Collins

5^th Bn Gold Coast Regt

7^th Bn Gold Coast Regt

8^th Bn Gold Coast Regt

6^th West African Brigade: Brig J.W.A. Hayes; Brig R.N. Cartwright 26 Mar 44

4^th Bn Nigeria Regt

1^st Bn Gambia Regt

1^st Bn Sierra Leone Regt

11^th (EA) Divisional Scout Bn

Artillery: Brig T.A.H. Coltan

1^st (WA) LAA/AT Regt

3^rd Independent (WA) Light Bty

4^th Independent (WA) Light Bty

6^th Independent (WA) Light Bty

Engineers (5^th, 6^th WA Field Coys; 8^th WA Field Park Coy)

Medical (5^th, 6^th WA Field Ambulances)

1^st, 3^rd, 4^th (WA) Auxiliary Groups [porters]

Brigades in Theater

3^rd Special Service Brigade: Brig W.L. Nonweiler, RM

No 5 Commando

No 44 (RM) Commando

50^th Indian Parachute Brigade: Brig M.R.J. Hope-Thompson; Brig E.G. Woods 22 May 44

152^nd Indian Parachute Bn

153^rd Gurkha Parachute Bn

50^th Indian Parachute MG Coy

411^th Parachute Field Sqn IE

80^th Indian Field Ambulance

268^th Indian Brigade[2]: Brig G.M. Dyer

2^nd/4^th Bombay Grenadiers

5^th/4^th Bombay Grenadiers

17^th/7^th Rajput Regt

Lushai Brigade: Brig P.C. Marindin

1^st/9^th Jat Regt from 202 LOC Area

8^th/13^th Frontier Force Rifles

7^th/14^th Punjab Regt from 202 LOC Area

1^st Bihar Regt ISF

company, 77^th Indian Field Ambulance

[1] 72^nd Indian Infantry Brigade redesignated 28 Apr 44 as 72^nd Infantry Brigade.
Organizational Notes

Infantry

A British infantry battalion would have had 845 personnel (36 officers and 809 ORs), with 6x6-pdr AT guns, 36 LMG, 6x3" and 12 (26?) 2" mortars. In Europe, vehicle totals were 12 cars, 38 carriers (12 Lloyd, 19 Universal, 7 Universal fitted for 3” mortar), 28 15cwt trucks, 13 3-ton lorries, 27 motorcycles, 33 bicycles. Vehicle totals in Burma were probably reduced. The battalion had four rifle companies and a support company. Indian battalions were probably similar, although with reduced motor transport. A division HQ battalion was probably a normal battalion, detailed for HQ guard. A division support battalion may have been similar to a MG battalion.

A machine gun battalion in Europe had 697 personnel (35 officers and 662 ORs), with 36 MMG (three companies, 12 each), 16x4.2" mortars (one company). Those in India might have been pure machine gun units.

The 2^nd Infantry Division’s recce regiment had a different organization than that found in Europe, where such units were light armoured. This had 3 recce squadrons (each 1 light recce car at HQ, an infantry troop (carrier section, 21 men and 8 carriers; 2 infantry sections) and an assault troop (3 sections). It had a fourth recce squadron, also with 1 light recce car at HQ and 3 assault troops (3 sections each). The recce battalion in 17^th Indian Division may have been similar.

A parachute battalion had some 613 personnel and 8x3” mortars for heavy weapons. It was organized in three rifle companies.

A commando had 461 personnel, organized into six troops (each roughly equivalent to two platoons) and a heavy troop with MMG and 3” mortar sections (2 of each?).

Chindits

The infantry battalions in Special Force were all reorganized into two columns each. A column had a strong infantry company (four platoons, a heavy weapons platoon, a commando platoon, and a recce platoon strengthened with Burma Rifles). Each column had 2 MMG and 2x3” mortars, but was otherwise armed with rifles and a few PIATs. Heavy weapons and radios were carried on mules, but otherwise the force moved strictly on foot. Support came from the USAAF’s No. 1 Air Commando, with 30 P-51A fighters, 20 B-25H bombers, 20 C-47 and 12 UC-64 transports, 100 gliders, and 100 light aircraft (L-5 and L-1). No. 1 Air Commando was specially formed for support of the 1944 Chindit raids.

Armour

The basic organization of an armoured regiment in Nov 1943 was 55 cruiser tanks, 11 light tanks, 6 CS cruiser tanks, 8 AA tanks. It may be presumed that none of the latter were shipped to India, and the regiments in early 1944 had either the Lee medium or Stuart light (61 tanks?). The recon element with light tanks might not have existed.

An armoured car regiment in Europe had 15 Staghound and 45 Daimler armoured cars, 4 Humber AA armoured cars, 12 White APCs, 6 75mm SP guns, 12 Humber and 53 Daimler scout cars. Regiments in India almost certainly lacked the AA armoured cars and probably did not have the Staghounds, but might otherwise have been similar. If units in India followed the earlier (ca. 1942) organization, they would have 58 armoured cars and 45 scout cars, and lack the SP 75mm guns and White APCs with infantry.

Artillery

Field Regiment: 24x25pdrs, wheeled towing vehicles

Assault Field Regiment: 8x25pdrs, 8x105mm Priest SP 105mm howitzers, 6x3.7” mountain howitzers[3]

Jungle Field Regiment: 16x3.7” mountain howitzers (towed by jeeps), 16x3” mortars (carried)

Light Field Regiment: 24x25pdrs “jury axle” (reduced axle, platform removed); had only jeeps and animals for transport

Mountain Regiment: 16x3.7” mountain howitzers (mule pack)

LAA/AT Regiment: 24x40mm AA guns, 24x6pdr AT guns

WA Light Battery: 8x3” mortars (carried), 4x3.7” mountain howitzers, towed by jeeps

Medium Regiment: 16x5.5” guns

Heavy AA Regiment: 24x3.7” AA guns

Light AA Regiment: 54x40mm AA guns

[2] This had been the lorried brigade in 44^th Indian Armoured Division, and is still sometimes referred to as a lorried infantry brigade. However, it was most likely a conventional infantry brigade at this time.

[3] However, all of the assault field regiments gave up their SP weapons before actual service, and thus entered combat with 16x25pdrs and 6x3.7” mountain howitzers.