THE BORDER REGIMENT

CLICK HERE to read an extract from
THE STORY OF THE BORDER REGIMENT by Philip. J. Shears

CLICK HERE to read the Dekho! history of the Border Reg

Excellent site on Border Regt CLICK HERE

From:
THE STORY OF THE BORDER REGIMENT
                                       by Philip. J. Shears 

(2nd Battalion)

The Kabaw Valley, which means "Black" or "Death" Valley, is pleasant for a short time in winter, but is pestilential for the remainder of the year. The village huts are built on stilts so as to raise them above the monsoon floods. The valley is tree-covered with occasional clearings and is crossed frequently by streams, fairly shallow and wide in the winter, which become deep, raging torrents in the summer. In places the jungle is very thick. The width of the valley varies from about seven miles in the north to half a mile at its southern end. It abounds with mosquitoes, ticks, and leeches.

The Japanese were on the top of the steep, jungle-covered slopes of the Atwin Yomas, overlooking the valley from the east, and they also barred its narrow southern exit.

The daily routine of the battalion was varied and fairly pleasant. It included short patrols lasting about four days, keeping control of no-man's-land, and long-distance patrols behind the enemy lines, lasting from seven to ten days, and usually producing good results. Ambushes were frequent, causing the enemy many casualties, and he  did not move forward much from his positions.

The first blood was drawn by D Company when a patrol led by Captain Falconer met a Japanese patrol on the Dathwekyauk Auk track and killed four of them. On returning the same patrol met more Japanese in the village of M Ywatha, killing five of them. This patrol lost one man, Private Green. A patrol of A Company under Captain A. C. Pennington captured the first enemy prisoners, and later half of this patrol, under Sergeant J. Pearson, captured four Burma Traitor Army troops, who were armed and carried anti-British pamphlets. Another patrol of A Company, under Captain I. A. N. Urquhart, brought back very useful information of the enemy defences at Dath Wekyauk Atet.

The combined information gained by patrols of all units revealed the concentration of the 15th and 31st Japanese Divisions between Thaung-dut and Homalin and another force of undefined strength in the Yazagyo area, some thirty miles south of the battalion's position astride the same road.

 Japanese Attempt to invade India  early in March the Japanese began their assault to invade India, advancing up the Tiddim Road, the Tamu Road, and across the Chindwin father north from Homalin. At that time D Company was occupying a patrol base at Sunle, some four miles forward of the main battalion perimeter. The company was sending out patrols in all directions to a depth of ten miles and more, to gain in advance as much information as possible of the enemy's movements. From reports from loyal villagers and spies it was made apparent that the Japanese were definitely moving northwards.

On one of these patrols Corporal D. George came across a Japanese staff car containing three officers. He killed all three, and before the escort to the car knew what was happening, he scooped up papers and maps and wallets from inside the car and made off into the jungle. He carried out this gallant act entirely on his own initiative, having told his patrol to wait for him when he first saw the car. The papers which he obtained revealed in great detail the dispositions and strength of the enemy on the front of the 20th Division, and also his intentions.

It was generally assumed by intelligence officers that the senior of the three officers killed was the chief administrative officer of the Japanese forces attacking India. Corporal George received an immediate award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

On 11th March A Company, less one platoon, under Major R. P. Ward, took over the patrol base from D Company, which returned to the battalion, and with it and the 4/10th Gurkha Rifles moved into a perimeter east of Witok and off the main road. On 13th March the patrol base was discovered by the enemy when the patrols were out, and A Company H.Q. had to withdraw. That night, after losing three men killed, the two platoons of A Company came into the battalion perimeter. B Company, under Major C. H. Reed, which had gone forward to assist in their withdrawal, suffered rather more severely.

The enemy brought up tanks and artillery and shelled the battalion perimeter during most of the night of the 13/14th and on the following night attacked with infantry supported by tanks. Effective defensive fire, however, was brought down and the attack was repulsed.

With the Japanese advance across the Chindwin from Homalin, there was no other course open but to withdraw the 17th and 20th Divisions, as their long lines of communications became too vulnerable. Consequently, on 17th March the order to retire northwards was given, and Lieut.-Colonel Godley was ordered to proceed to Namuntha Chaung to organise a new perimeter there.

That night the 4/10th Gurkhas and the 2nd Border (under Major Harvey), with a large number of mules belonging to both battalions, set off down a jungle path parallel to the main road, as it was expected that the latter would be watched. Unfortunately, the Japanese had penetrated round the battalion perimeter and had laid an ambush on this jungle track. On the approach of the column they opened fire, and before counter-action could be taken the mules stampeded in all directions; and for a short while there was much confusion. Order was restored by one of the battalion buglers, Private Lennon, who sounded the Regimental Call followed by the "Charge." On hearing this, the men of the battalion cheered, and a number of bayonet charges were launched and the enemy was driven off. Unfortunately, Lieutenant J. Whitehead and C.S.M. Leadbitter were both killed in these charges. 

Major Harvey collected the battalion into a box formation, with the wounded in the centre. Captain A. R. Greenwood-Penny, R.A.M.C., who was deputising for the battalion medical officer, did very good  work amongst the wounded, but was unfortunately eventually killed from behind by a Japanese sniper who was up a tree.

Sergeant T. Rees, the battalion R.A.P. sergeant, who did fine work in maintaining the R.A.P. organisation and in bringing in the wounded under fire, was later awarded the Military Medal.

At 2 a.m. on the 18th the column continued its withdrawal, but on reaching a deep nullah, which was difficult to cross with the wounded and the few recaptured mules, the Japanese opened fire with mortars and rifles at close range. The mules again stampeded, and the two battalions got broken up into several parties of various sizes. These parties during the next four or five days found their way to the new perimeter and joined the rest of the Brigade Group, first at Brigade H.Q. and later at Moreh. When all were collected, it was found that surprisingly few had been killed or were missing.

The History of the Border Regiment from the Winter 1982 edition of the Burma Star Association magazine, the Dekho!

The King’s Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) and The Border Regiment (Carlisle) amal­gamated to form The King’s Own Royal Border Regiment in 1959. Today’s regiment remem­bers with pride the four battalions who served in Burma. The 2nd Bn The King’s Own formed 41 and 46 Columns in 111 Bde in the Chindits; 2nd 13n The Border Regt in 20th Indian Division; 4th Bn The Border Regt in 23 Brigade forming 34 and 55 Columns; and the 9th Bn The Border Regt in 17th Indian Division.

The 2 King’s Own were flown into “Broadway” on March 10, 1944 and flew out from Myitkyina on July 26, having marched and fought over 1,100 miles behind the Japanese lines.

2 Border fought in the withdrawal from the Kabaw Valley to the Shenam Pass, where many engagements for the defence of Imphal in April/May, 1944 took place; 9 Border fought with 17 Div. up the Tiddim Road and in the battles round Bishenpur and also in defence of the Silchar Track; 4 Border in 23 Bde, harassed the lines of communication of the Japanese 31st Div., and met up with 2 Border on the Ukhrul Road in June, 1944.

In the advance into Burma, 2 Border crossed the Irrawaddy on February 13, whilst in April, 1945, 9 Border fought in the battles for Meiktila.

Today’s regiment incorporates the history and traditions of three former regiments. The regiment raised in 1680 as one of the Tangier regiments, was granted the name King’s Own and the distinction of The Lion of England as a badge, by William of Orange in 1688. In 1702, the regiment which became the 34th (Cumberland) Regt was raised, and the 55th (Westmorland)) Regt was raised in 1755.

The badge of today’s regiment includes the Lion of England of the King’s Own and the laurel wreath awarded to the 34th for their part in the rearguard which saved the Army at the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745.

In 1756, the 4th and 34th were both included in the small garrison on the island of Minorca. Abandoned by the fleet and besieged by the French, they were forced to surrender, but were allowed to march out with colours flying as a tribute to their gallant defence.

In the American War of Independence, the 4th and 55th fought together in the Army of General Howe, which successfully captured New York in 1776, and Philadelphia in 1777. The 34th fought with General Burgoyne and was present at the disaster of Saratoga. Moved to the West Indies to counter the French threat, the 4th and 55th share the battle honour “St. Lucia 1778.”

Having fought in the West Indies in the early years of the French Revolutionary War in the 1790s, the 55th were in the Army of the Duke of York in his campaign in the Low Countries in 1799, showing particular gallantry at the Battle of Egmont-op-Zee. But it was in the Napoleonic wars, and particularly in the Peninsula War that the regiment gained its battle honours. The King’s Own fought with General Moore’s Army in 1808-9 and took part in the famous retreat to Corunna, and the defence of the town whilst the Army was evacuated. Between 1809 and 1814, 11 battle honours were won by the regiment. Arroyo dos Molinos is unique to the regiment, mainly on account of the fact that the English 34th met and defeated in battle the French 34th, capturing their drums and drum-major’s mace, both of which are still in possession of the regiment and trooped every year on the anniversary of the battle.

The 4th Regt particularly distinguished themselves at San Sebastian in Northern Spain in 1813, where they were instrumental in breaching the wall of the town. After Napoleon’s escape from Elba in 1815, the King’s Own crossed from England to Belgium, and by marching 48 miles in 30 hours, took part in the Battle of Waterloo.

The Chinese Dragon with which the Border Regt was always associated was awarded to the 55th after the First China War of 1841. The regiment captured an Imperial Chinese Dragon Standard which hangs in Kendal Church, and was awarded the Dragon as a regimental badge. This dragon now appears on the regimental buttons.

The 4th and 5th landed with the Army in the Crimea in 1854 and fought at the Battles of Alma and Inkerman. They were joined by the 34th in the siege and capture of Sebastopol. Five of the new Victoria Crosses were awarded to the regiments.

After returning from the Crimea the 34th were soon on their way to India as reinforce­ments to fight in the Indian Mutiny. In 1857 they fought at the Relief of Lucknow. One Victoria Cross was awarded to the regiment during the Mutiny.

The 4th King’s Own formed a part of General Napier’s Army that fought the Abyssinian War of 1867-68. This was a well-planned and executed campaign, overcoming incredible supply difficulties. The Army rescued European captives from the Emperor Theodore’s mountain stronghold, Magdala, and returned to the coast before the spring rains swelled the rivers and blocked the route. All three regiments were involved in minor wars on the frontiers of India, and the 4th in the Zulu War of 1879.

In the Army reforms of 1881, the 4th King’s Own Royal Regt was territorially affiliated to Lancaster, and recruited in Furness and North Lancashire. At the same time, the 34th Cumberland and the 55th Westmorland Regts became the 1st and 2nd Bns The Border Regt. Depots were open in Bowerham Barracks, Lancaster for The King’s Own, and in The Castle, Carlisle for The Border Regt.

The 2nd Bn The King’s Own and the 1st Bn The Border Regt fought in the Boer War and both were present at the Relief of Ladysmith in 1900 and in the battles before the Relief. Both battalions marched many miles over the veldt during the Guerilla war that followed.

The 1st Bn The King’s Own fought at Le Cateau and in the retreat from Mons in the first actions in the 1914-18 War. 2 Border soon followed with the 7th Dlv, and fought in the first Battle of Ypres in defence of the Channel Ports. The other regular battalion were hastily brought home from the East, King’s Own to fight in France, and Border to join the “Incomparable” 29th Div. to land in Gallipoli in April, 1915. Soon, other battalions of the regiment were formed. Eighteen battalions were to see active service in the war, in every theatre. A total of 13,167 of the regiment were killed in action.

Between the wars the regiment was to serve in Ireland, India including the North West Frontier, Burma, China, Egypt and Palestine where Border and King’s Own were involved in the Arab Revolt of 1938-39.

Before Dunkirk, 1 Border, 4 and 5 Border and 5 King’s Own fought in France. After Dunkirk, 1 Border were converted to gliderborne troops. They landed in Sicily, fought in Italy with the 1st Airborne Div. and in 1944, fought at Arnhem. 1 King’s Own were flown from India to Iraq in 1941, and took part in the defence of Habbaniya, one of the earliest examples of a battalion being flown into action. 1 King’s Own later fought in Italy with the 10th Indian Div. 6 Border were a beach landing group at the Normandy landings.

2nd King’s Own and 2, 4 and 9 Border all fought in Burma as explained in the beginning of this article.

After the war the two regular battalions served in Germany and Italy, before I Border was posted to Palestine in 1947. On the evacuation of Palestine in 1948, it served in Somali-land, and later in the Canal Zone of Egypt. 1 King’s Own was posted to Korea in October, 1953, moving on to Hong Kong. Whilst 1 Border served in BAOR and Berlin, the King’s Own served in Aden and Kenya.

Since 1959, The King’s Own Royal Border Regt has served in the Cameroons, in BAOR, in British Guiana, in Bahrein and Cyprus. Whilst in Bahrein, the battalion sent companies to Aden, and C Company was the last British unit to leave the colony in a tactical withdrawal by helicopters. From 1971, the battalion has carried out frequent tours in Northern Ireland. It is now part of the British Garrison in Berlin.