19th Indian Infantry Division

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19th Indian Infantry Division
Burma Campaign
Commanders
Notable
commanders		Jackie Smyth VC
Thomas Wynford Rees

The 19th Indian Infantry Division was an

Burma Campaign
.

History

British 3-inch mortar detachments support the 19th Indian Division's advance along the Mawchi Road, east of Toungoo, Burma.

The 19th Indian Infantry Division was raised in

Major General Sir Jackie Smyth VC, who left in December to take command of the 17th Indian Infantry Division, then fighting in Burma. Between January and April 1942 all three brigades were reassigned and replaced by the 62nd, 64th and 98th Indian Infantry Brigades.[2]

Troops of the 19th Indian Division and a Lee tank in action during street fighting in Mandalay, 9–10 March 1945.
Casualties of the 19th Indian Division being treated in Mandalay, March 1945.

After short periods under the command of Major General

Burma front in July 1944.[2] From October the division concentrated on the Imphal plain under IV Corps and from November its brigades were involved in operations on the Chindwin River advancing to establish contact with the British 36th Infantry Division advancing from the north on their left.[2] Concentrating once more at Sinlamaung the division came under Indian XXXIII Corps, and played the major role in the capture of Mandalay which was completed on 20 March.[2] Transferred to IV Corps, it guarded the Fourteenth Army's lines of communication and mounted an offensive towards Mawchi, in the Kayah State
.

Stuart tank of 19th Indian Division passes a destroyed jeep on the outskirts of Mandalay shortly after the fall of Fort Dufferin
, 19 March 1945.

The division's successes were due to its fitness and high morale. It had a high proportion of pre-war regular soldiers among its officers and senior Non-Commissioned Officers. The 19th Indian Division was occasionally referred to as the "Dagger Division", from its divisional sign, which was a hand thrusting a dagger overhand, in yellow on a red background.

During the Second World War, a large number of brigades were assigned or attached to the division. The included at various points the

99th Indian Infantry Brigades as well as the 22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade.[3]

Order of Battle 1 March 1945

Major General Thomas Wynford Rees

Commander, Royal Artillery: Brigadier John Alexander MacDonald
Chief of Staff (GSO1): Lieutenant Colonel John Masters

62nd Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier James Ronald Morris)

64th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier John Godfrey Flewett)

98th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Charles Ian Jerrard)

Divisional Troops

Postwar

Just before the Indian/Pakistani war of 1965 began, 19th Infantry Division was at

Baramula under XV Corps (India). Its brigades were the 104th Brigade, Tithwal, the 161st Brigade, Uri and the 268th Indian Infantry Brigade
, Baramula.

References

  1. ^ Cole, Howard (1973). Formation Badges of World War 2. Britain, Commonwealth and Empire. London: Arms and Armour Press. p. 81.
  2. ^
    ISBN 0-85420-228-5
    .
  3. ^ "19 Division units". Order of Battle. Retrieved 22 October 2009.[permanent dead link]

Further reading

External links
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