- Order of Battle of the Chindits
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Order of Battle of the Chindits an Allied special force which carried out two deep penetration raids behind Japanese line during the Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II
First Chindit Expedition 1943. Codenamed Operation Longcloth
Headquarters 77th Indian Infantry Brigade
- Commander Brigadier Orde Wingate
- Brigade Major Major R.B.G. Bromhead (succeeded by Major G.M. Anderson)
- Staff Captain Captain H.J. Lord
Deception party
- Officer Commanding (O.C.) Major Jeffries
No. 1 Group (Southern)
- Officer Commanding (O.C.) Lieutenant Colonel Leigh Alexander (died during the operation)
- 1 Column (Major Dunlop)
- 2 Column (Major Burnett)
No. 2 Group (Northern)
- O.C Lieutenant-Colonel S.A. Cooke
- 3 Column (Major Michael Calvert)
- 4 Column (Major R.A. Conron)(replaced by Major R.B. Bromhead March 1, 1943)
- 5 Column (Major Bernard Fergusson)
- 7 Column (Major K. Gilkes)
- 8 Column (Major Walter Scott)
HQ Group (Burma Rifles)
- O.C. Lt-Colonel L.G. Wheeler 2nd Burma Rifles (replaced by Captain P.C. Buchanan on the death of Lt-Colonel Wheeler)
Second Chindit Expedition 1944. Codenamed Operation Thursday
Headquarters 3rd Indian Infantry Division
- Division Commander Major-General Orde.C. Wingate (succeeded by Major-General W.D.A. Lentaigne)
- Deputy Commander Major-General G.W. Symes, (succeeded by Brigadier D. Tulloch)
- Brigadier General Staff Brigadier D. Tulloch,( succeeded by Brigadier H.T. Alexander)
Thunder 3rd West African Brigade
- Officer Commanding (O.C.) Brigadier A.H. Gillmore, (succeeded by Brigadier A.H.G. Ricketts): 10 HQ column
- 6th Battalion Nigeria Regiment: 66 and 39 Columns
- 7th Battalion Nigeria Regiment: 29 and 35 Columns
- 12th Battalion Nigeria Regiment: 12 and 43 Columns
- 3rd West African Field Ambulance: Support
(From disbanded British 70th Infantry Division );
Javelin British 14th Infantry Brigade
- O.C. Brigadier Thomas Brodie: 59 HQ column
- 2nd Battalion The Black Watch: 42 and 73 Columns - Lt.Col.G.C.Green
- 1st Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment: 16 and 61 Columns
- 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment: 65 and 84 Columns
- 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment: 47 and 74 Columns
- 54th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment:support
Enterprise British 16th Infantry Brigade
- O.C. Brigadier B.E. Fergusson: 99 HQ column
- 2nd Battalion The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey); 21 and 22 Columns
- 2nd Battalion Leicestershire Regiment ; 17 and 71 Columns
- 51/69 Field Regiment Royal Artillery 51 and 69 Columns (infantry columns made up of R.A. personnel)
- 45th Reconnaissance Regiment ; 45 and 54 Columns (infantry columns made up recce units)
- 2nd Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: support
Emphasis 77th Indian Infantry Brigade
- O.C. Brigadier Mike Calvert: 25 HQ column
- 3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles: 36 and 63 Columns
- 1st Battalion The King's Regiment (Liverpool): 81 and 82 Columns
- 1st Battalion The Lancashire Fusiliers: 20 and 50 Columns
- 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment: 38 and 80 Columns
- 3rd Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles: 57 and 93 Columns
- 142 Company, Hong Kong Volunteers & Medical and veterinary detachments: support
Profound 111th Indian Infantry Brigade
- O.C. Brigadier W.D.A. Lentaigne, (succeeded first by Major John Masters and then by Brigadier Morris): 48 HQ Column
- 1st Battalion The Cameronians: 26 and 90 Columns
- 2nd Battalion The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster): 41 and 46 Columns
- 3rd Battalion (part) 4th Gurkha Rifles: 30 Column
- Mixed Field Company Royal Engineers/Royal Indian Engineers & Medical and veterinary detachments: support
Morris Force
- O.C. Lt-Colonel (later promoted Brigadier) J.R. Morris
- 4th Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles: 49 and 94 Columns
- 3rd Battalion (part) 4th Gurkha Rifles: 40 Column
Dah Force
- O.C. Lieut-Colonel D.C. Herring
- Kachin Levies
Bladet (Blain's Detachment)
- O.C. Major Blain
- Gliderborne commando engineers
Royal Artillery Supporting non-mobile units designed to defend Chindit Jungle Fortresses.
- R, S and U Troops 160th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (All 25 pounders)
- W,X,Y, and Z Troops 69th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment (40mm Bofors)
Support Units
- NO 1 Air Commando USAAF – strike and casualty evacuation (until 1/5/1944 only)
- Eastern Air Command – supply
- U. S.Army 900th Field Unit (engineers)
Divisional Support Troops
- 2nd Battalion Burma Rifles – one section assigned per column except for columns in the 3rd West African Brigade
- 145th Brigade Company R.A.S.C.
- 219th Field Park Company Royal Engineers
- 61st Air Supply Company R.A.S.C.
- 2nd Indian Air Supply Company, R.I.A.S.C.
Galahad 5307th Composite Unit (Provisional) US Army
- 1st Battalion; Red and White Combat Teams
- 2nd Battalion; Blue and Green Combat Teams
- 3rd Battalion; Khaki Orange Combat Teams
- Also known as Merrill's Marauders and after being trained were transferred to General Joseph Stilwell's Northern Combat Area Command and operated independently of the Chindits.
23rd British Infantry Brigade
- O.C Brigadier Lancelot Perowne: 32 HQ column
- 1st Battalion Essex Regiment:Columns 44, 56
- 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding): Columns 33, 76
- 4th Battalion Border Regiment:Columns 34, 55
- 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery: Columns 60, 68 (fighting as infantry)
- 12th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: Support
- This Brigade trained as a Chindit Brigade, but was diverted to the main front in Assam and took part in the Battle of Kohima.
Categories:- Groups of World War II
- Divisions of the Indian Army
- Indian World War II divisions
- World War II orders of battle
- Military units and formations of India in World War II
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