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THE 17th INDIAN INFANTRY DIVISION
Click
to read a short history of the 'Black Cat' Division
Click Here for a link to The Border Regiment
Personnel
and Search pages
Click
here for the 1942 Structure of the Division and it's Officers
Click here for the 1943-45 Structure
23rd
MOUNTAIN BATTERY
S.E.A.C.
Report on contribution by 17 Indian Div
Short
History of Black Cat Division
17 Mountain Division was
originally raised as 17 Indian Division at Ahmednagar on 01 July 1941 under the
command of Maj Gen HW Lewis, CE, CIE, DSO. Though the formation was earmarked
for operation in North Africa after raising, it was rushed to Burma as part of
the Burma Corps due to the adverse situation prevailing in SE Asia. In March
1942, Maj Gen DT ‘Punch’ Cowan, CD, CEE, DSO, MC assumed command of the
formation. The division as part of 4 Corps and under 14 Army, was launched into
Burma in December 1944. Starting with the battle of Meiktila, it continued its
advance into Burma till Rangoon fell to the Allied Forces in June 1945. The
formation won many laurels including 7 VCs, and 161 MCs, besides other
gallantry awards.
On
conclusion of World War II, the Division was disembodied in 1946. It was
re-raised as 17 Infantry Division at Ambala in 15 November 1960 under Maj Gen KS
Katoch, MC. During 1961, the Division was assigned the task of liberating Goa
under Maj Gen Candeth. Subsequently on 15 Nov 1963, the Formation moved to
Sikkim since then it has been successfully guarding the 245 Km long Sikkim
border with Tibet.
STRUCTURE OF THE DIVISION: (Order of Battle 1942)
Headquarters
Brigade
4th Btn
12th Frontier Force Rifles
1st Btn West Yorkshire Regt
Divisional
Artillery
129th
Fld Regt (Royal Artillery)
82nd A/Tank Regt (Royal Artillery)
1st Indian Fld Regt (Indian Artillery)
2nd Indian A/Tank Regt (Indian Artillery)
1st Indian Light A.A. Regt (Indian Artillery)
16th
Indian Infantry Brigade
1st
Btn 9th Jat Regt (Royal)
4th Btn Frontier Force Rifles
2nd Btn Duke of Wellington's Regt
1st Btn 7th Gurkha Rifles
2nd. 4th. 5th. 7th. 8th. Btn The Burma Rifles
46th
Indian Infantry Brigade
1st
Btn Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry
5th Btn 17th Dogra Regt
3rd Btn 7th Gurkha Rifles
9th(?) Baluch Regiment
COMMANDED by Brig.
Ekin up to the Sittang Bridge catastrophe of 1942 after which the 46th ceased to
exist
48th
Gurkha Brigade
1st Btn
3rd Q.A.O. Gurkha Rifles
1st
Btn 4th P.W.O. Gurkha Rifles
2nd Btn 5th
Royal Gurkha Rifles (F.F.)
COMMANDED by Brig.
R.T. Cameron for most of the 1st campaign and well into 1942. It is
believed that he was then relieved by Brig. N.
Hugh-Jones
44th
Indian Infantry Brigade
6th Btn
1st Punjab Regt
7th Btn 8th Punjab Regt
6th
Btn 14th Punjab Regt
COMMANDED by Brig.
G. Ballantine
7th
Armoured Brigade
7th
Queens Hussars
2nd Royal Tank Regt
Indian
Engineers Sappers & Miners
70th Fld
Coy K.G.O. (Bengal Lancers)
60th Fld Coy Q.V.O. (Madras)
414th
Fld Park Coy K.G.O. (Bengal Lancers)
24th Fld Coy (Royal Bombay)
Tehri Garhwal Fld Coy (State Forces)
The
Following Regiments also served with this Division during the withdrawal from
Burma.
1st
Btn Cameronians (Scottish Rifles)
1st Btn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
2nd Btn Duke of Wellington's Regt
6th Btn 7th Rajput Regt
6th Btn 9th Jat Regt
9th Btn 13th Frontier Force Rifles (M/Gun)
An Infantry Btn of Chinese Army
(Order
of Battle 1943=1945)
DIVISIONAL COMMANDERS
Maj/Gen
H.V. Lewis (C.B. C.I.E. D.S.O.)
Maj/Gen
J.G. Smyth (V.C. M.C.)
Maj/Gen D. (Punch) Cowan (C.B. C.B.E. D.S.O. M.C.)
Headquarters
Brigade
4th Btn
12th Frontier Force Rifles
1st Btn West Yorkshire Regt
7th
Btn 10th Baluch Regt
Divisional
Artillery
129th
Fld Regt (Royal Artillery)
82nd A/Tank Regt (Royal Artillery)
1st
Indian Fld Regt (Indian Artillery)
2nd Indian A/Tank Regt (Indian Artillery)
21st. 28th. 29th. Indian Mountain Regt (Indian Artillery)
1st Indian Light A/A. Regt (Indian Artillery)
48th
Indian Infantry Brigade
1st
Btn West Yorkshire Regt
1st Btn 12th Frontier Force Rifles
1st Btn 3rd Q.A.O. Gurka Rifles
1st Btn 4th P.W.O. Gurkha Rifles
2nd
Btn 5th (Royal) Gurkha Rifles
1st Btn 7th Gurkha Rifles
COMMANDED by Brig.
M. Hadley (D.S.O.)
63rd
Indian Infantry Brigade
1st
Btn Gloucestershire Regt
9th Btn Border Regt
7th Btn 10th Baluch Regt
1st Btn 11th Sikh Regt
2nd Btn 13th Frontier Force Rifles
1st Btn 10th Gurkha Rifles
99th
Indian Infantry Brigade
1st
Btn East Yorkshire Regt
6th Btn 15th Punjab Regt
1st Btn Sikh Light Infantry Regt
COMMANDED by Brig.
G.L. Turver (D.S.O.)
Royal
Indian Army Service Corps
14th.
42nd. 43rd. 45th. Animal Trt Coy's (Mule)
121st G.P. Trt Coy
47th. 49th. 52nd. 54th. Animal Trt Coy's (Mule)
50th Gwalior Pony Coy (State Forces)
900th. 902nd. 903rd. 904th. 906th. Jeep Coy's
Medical
Services
I.M.S.
R.A.M.C. I.M.D. I.H.C. I.A.M.C.
American Fld Service (U.S.A.)
23rd.
27th. 39th. 50th. Indian Fld
Ambulance
17th Division Signals Unit
Indian
Army Ordnance Corps
20th
Mobile W/Shop Coy
117th
Ordnance Sub=Park
Indian Electrical & Mechanical Engineers
1st.
123rd. Infantry W/Shop Coy's
17th Division Recovery Coy
| HARRY GIBSON | Harry Gibson, born 5 July 1914, died 13 March 2002.Private, Royal Artillery. Was secretary of Widnes branch of the Association. |
| MAJOR RICHARD POWERS | Family request for information about Major Powers and also aircraft shot down in Ceylon. Please click here to help |
| 'GUNA' HAYES | Click here to see the photo of Guna Hayes - driver of Major Powers |
| MAJ GEOFFREY PAWSON | Please CLICK HERE if you remember Major Pawson as we need your help |
| AMERICAN FIELD SERVICES (Ambulance Drivers) | If you knew any AFS ambulance drivers, could you please contact Hugh Gemmell on meg3128@home.com |
| SGT RUPERT (RUBE) MAYNE | If you can help with information, can you please CLICK HERE |
| MAJOR SAMEK | Both officers were part
of 557 Indian Infantry troops workshop - if you can help with information
about them, please CLICK HERE |
| MAJOR SHEEHAN | |
| WO1 ALBERT SAVILLE | Albert of 46th & 48th Brigades is looking for old comrades - please CLICK HERE for details |
| GEORGE CHARLES BURTON |
George's Granddaughter
is seeking information. If you can help, please |
| RSM JACK HOLT M.M. | Just died (w/c 25/6/2000) Click here for details |
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MAPS OF BURMA |
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