Chindits

The Chindits (Officially in 1942 77th Indian Infantry Brigade and in 1943 Indian 3rd Infantry Division) were a British jungle Special Forces unit that served in Burma from 1943 until 1945 as part of the Fourteenth Army during the Burma Campaign in World War II. They were formed into long range penetration groups trained to operate from bases deep behind Japanese lines.

Order of Battle – 1st Chindit Expedition 1943

Headquarters 77th Indian Infantry Brigade

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:Commander Brigadier Orde Wingate

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:Brigade Major Major R.B.G. Bromhead (succeeded by Major G.M. Anderson)

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:Staff Captain Captain H.J. Lord

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No. 1 Group (Southern)

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:Officer Commanding (O.C.) Lt-Colonel Alexander

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:: 1 Column 9m

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:: 2 Column (Major Burnett)

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No. 2 Group (Northern)

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:O.C Lt-Colonel S.A. Cooke

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:: 3 Column (Major Michael Calvert)

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:: 4 Column (Major R.B. Bromhead)

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:: 5 Column (Major Bernard Fergusson)

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:: 7 Column (Major K. Gilkes)

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:: 8 Column (Major Walter Scott)

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2nd Battalion, The Burma Rifles

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:O.C. Lt-Colonel L.G. Wheeler Burma Rifles

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Order of Battle – 2nd Chindit Expedition 1944

Headquarters 3rd Indian Infantry Division

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:Division Commander Major-General Orde.C. Wingate (succeeded by Major-General W.D.A. Lentaigne)

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:Deputy Commander Major-General G.W. Symes, (succeeded by Brigadier D. Tulloch)

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:Brigadier General Staff Brigadier D. Tulloch,( succeeded by Brigadier H.T. Alexander)

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::Locations of Headquarters

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:::Rear HQ at Gwalior, Central India

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:::Main HQ first at Imphal later at Sylhet, Assam

Related Topics:
Imphal - Sylhet - Assam

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:::Launching HQ at Lalaghat

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:::Tactical/Forward HQ, Shaduzup, Burma

Related Topics:
Shaduzup - Burma

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Thunder 3rd West African Brigade

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:Officer Commanding (O.C.) Brigadier A.H. Gillmore, (succeeded by Brigadier A.H.G. Ricketts): 10 HQ column

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:6th Battalion Nigeria Regiment: 66 and 39 Columns

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:7th Battalion Nigeria Regiment: 29 and 35 Columns

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:12th Battalion Nigeria Regiment: 12 and 43 Columns

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:3rd West African Field Ambulance: Support

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Javelin 14th British Infantry Brigade

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:O.C. Brigadier T. Brodie: 59 HQ column

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:2nd Battalion The Black Watch: 42 and 73 Columns

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:1st Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment: 16 and 61 Columns

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:2nd Battalion 65 and 84 Columns

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:7th Battalion Royal Leicestershire Regiment: 47 and 74 Columns

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:54th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment:support

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Enterprise 16th British Infantry Brigade

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:O.C. Brigadier B.E. Fergusson: 99 HQ column

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:2nd Battalion The Queen's Royal Regiment(West Surrey); 21 and 22 Columns

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:2nd Battalion Royal Leicestershire Regiment ; 17 and 71 Columns

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:51/69 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 51 and 69 Columns (infantry columns made up of R.A. personnel)

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:45th Reconnaissance Regiment ; 45 and 54 Columns (infantry columns made up recce units)

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:2nd Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: support

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Emphasis 77th Indian Infantry Brigade

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:O.C. Brigadier J.M. Calvert: 25 HQ column

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:3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles: 36 and 63 Columns

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:1st Battalion The King's Regiment (Liverpool): 81 and 82 Columns

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:1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers: 20 and 50 Columns

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:1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment: 38 and 80 Columns

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:3rd Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles: 57 and 93 Columns

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:142 Company Hong Kong Volunteers & Medical and veterinary detachments: support

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Profound 111th Indian Infantry Brigade

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:O.C. Brigadier W.D.A. Lentaigne, (succeeded first by Major J. Masters and then by Brigadier Morris): 48 HQ Column

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:1st Battalion The Cameronians: 26 and 90 Columns

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:2nd Battalion The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster): 41 and 46 Columns

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:3rd Battalion (part) 4th Gurkha Rifles: 30 Column

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:Mixed Field Company Royal Engineers/Royal Indian Engineers & Medical and veterinary detachments: support

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Morris Force

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:O.C. Lt-Colonel (later promoted Brigadier) J.R. Morris

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:4th Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles: 49 and 94 Columns

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:3rd Battalion (part) 4th Gurkha Rifles: 40 Column

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Dah Force

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:O.C. Lieut-Colonel D.C. Herring

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:Kachin levies

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Bladet (Blain's Detachment)

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:O.C. Major Blain

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:Gliderborne commando engineers

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Royal Artillery Supporting non-mobile units designed to defend Chindit Jungle Fortresses.

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:R, S and U Troops 160th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (All 25 pounders)

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:W,X,Y, and Z Troops 69th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment (40mm Bofors / 12.5 mm Hisoano guns)

Related Topics:
69th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment - Bofors

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Support Units

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:NO 1 Air Commando USAAF – strike and casualty evacuation (until 1/5/1944 only)

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:Eastern Air Command – supply

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:U. S.Army 900th Field Unit (engineers)

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Divisional Support Troops

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:2nd Battalion Burma Rifles

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:145th Brigade Company R.A.S.C.

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:219th Field Park Company Royal Engineers

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:61st Air Supply Company R.A.S.C.

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