25th Infantry Division (India)

The 25th Indian Infantry Division was a division of the British Indian Army which fought in the Burma Campaign during World War II.

Originally formed in Bangalore in South India on 1 August 1942 under Major-General Henry Davies the Division was disbanded at the end of World War II.

The division's original role was to meet any attempted Japanese invasion while at the same time training actively for jungle warfare. It first saw action, having become part of Indian XV Corps, in Arakan in March 1944 where it held and enlarged the Maungdaw Base and established superiority over the enemy.

In May 1944 command of the division was assumed by Major-General George Wood, previously commanding British 4th Infantry Brigade in India. In November 1944, supported by destroyers of the Royal Australian Navy, the division cleared the Mayu Range down to Foul Point and occupied Akyab Island. Following this, with 3 Commando Brigade under command, it made a series of successful seaborne attacks down the coast, supported by sloops of the Royal Indian Navy and winning four Victoria Crosses in the process. These actions included the decisive Battle of Kangaw and landings at Myebon and Ruywa to intercept the retreating Japanese.

In April 1945 the division was withdrawn to South India to prepare for the invasion of Malaya, having been chosen for the assault landing role. Although hostilities then ceased, the operation proceeded as planned and 25th Division was the first formation to land in Malaya, occupying the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and then accepting the surrender of the Japanese Army.

[edit] Formation During World War II

General Officer Commanding:

• Major-General Henry Lowrie Davies (August 1942 - October 1944)
• Major-General George Neville Wood (from October 1944)

[edit] Headquarters

• 19th King George's Own Lancers (Div Reconnaissance Reg)
• Royal Artillery

Commanders divisional artillery:

• Brigadier G.H. Johnstone (August 1942 - June 1943)
• Brigadier A.G. O'C. Scott (June 1943 - August 1944)
• Brigadier A.J. Daniell (August 1944 - April 1945)
• Brigadier N.P.H. Tapp (April 1945 - )
  • HQ
  • 8 & 27 FD Regts RA
  • 5 Indian FD Regt IA
  • 33 Indian Mountain Regt IA
  • 7 Indian Anti-Tank Regt IA
    
• Indian Engineers: Sappers & Miners
  • 63 & 425 FD Coys Q.V.O. Madras
  • 93 FD Coy Royal Bombay
  • 325 FD Park Coy Q.V.O. Madras
    
• 25 Indian Div Signals
  
• 7 Bn 16th Punjab Regiment

[edit] 51 Indian Infantry Brigade

Commanders:

• Brigadier T.H. Angus ( - Nov 1944)
• Brigadier R.A. Hutton (May 1944 - )

• • HQ
  • 8 BN York and Lancaster Regiment (until October 1944)
  • 2 BN 2nd Punjab Regiment (from September 1944)
  • 16 BN 10th Baluch Regiment
  • 17 BN 5th Mahratta Light Infantry (until March 1945)
  • 8 BN 19th Hyderabad Regiment (from March 1944)

[edit] 53 Indian Infantry Brigade

Commanders:

• Brigadier G.A.P. Coldstream (to August 1944)
• Brigadier A.G.O'C. Scott (August 1944 to December 1944)
• Brigadier B.C.H. Gerty (from December 1944)
  • HQ
  • 9 BN York and Lancaster Regiment
  • 17 BN 5th Mahratta Light Infantry
  • 9 BN 9th Jat Regiment
  • 4 BN 18th Royal Garwhal Rifles

[edit] 74 Indian Infantry Brigade

Commanders:

• Brigadier J.E. Hirst (to March 1945)
• Brigadier J.C.W. Cargill (from March 1945)
  • HQ
  • 6 BN Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
  • 14 BN 10th Baluch Regiment
  • 3 BN 2nd King Edward VII's Own Gurkha Rifles (The Sirmoor Rifles)

[edit] 3 Commando Brigade

Commanders:

• Brigadier
  • HQ
  • 42 Royal Marine Commando
  • 44 Royal Marine Commando
  • 1 Army Commando
  • 3 Army Commando

[edit] Support Units

• Royal Indian Army Service Corps
  • 18, 39 & 59 Animal Transport Coys (Mules)
  • 68, 81 & 101 Gp Tpt Coys
  • Comp Supply Units
  • Inland Water Tpt
    
• Medical Services
  • I.M.S-R.A.M.C-I.M.D-I.H.C-I.A.M.C
  • 51, 52 & 53 Indian Field Ambulances
    
    
• 25 Indian Div Provost Unit
  
• Indian Army Ordnance Corps
  • 125 Ordnance sub-Park
    
    
• Indian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
  • 76, 77 & 78 Infantry Workshop Coys
  • 25 Indian Div Recovery Coy

[edit] Badge

[edit] Sources

• Mason, Philip (1982-06-09). The Indian Divisions Memorial, 1939-1945, Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Wellingborough: Skelton's Press. 
• Yeats-Brown, F (1945). Martial India. London: Eyre and Spottiswood. 
• "Orders of Battle.com". Retrieved on 2007-07-25.
• Houterman, Hans; Koppes, Jeroen. "World War II unit histories and officers". Retrieved on 2007-07-25.

[edit] References

[edit] See also