Special Force Chindits of the Lancashire Fusiliers

1st Battalion The XX Lancashire Fusiliers

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Orde Wingate's Chindits

The WW2 Chindits

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77 Brigade, Code name "Emphasis" columns 20 and 50 of Wingate's Chindits Special Force, The 2nd Chindit Expedition 1944

Quadrant Conference 1943 In August 1943 Churchill, Roosevelt and the Combined Chiefs of Staff met in Quebec at the Quadrant Conference to discuss future Allied strategy. Accompanying Churchill was Wingate. At the conference Wingate presented his plans on how Long Range Penetration brigades would march into Burma to disrupt enemy communications behind their front lines and prepare the way for the main forces to recapture north Burma.

Wingate's proposals won American support and the conference agreed to a second Chindit operation.

To show their support the Americans offered to form an American Long Range Penetration Group to be trained and commanded by Wingate (this group later became known as Merrill's Marauders). When the British requested a supply of American light aircrafts for evacuating the wounded, the Americans instead offered to provide an air task force consisting of light bombers, fighters, transport Dakotas, light aircrafts and gliders.

Brigades and Regiments The second Chindit force was given the name Special Force but was also known as 3rd Indian Division, Long Range Penetration Groups, and still better known as Wingate's Chindits.

The force was composed of six brigades -

At Gawilor, India, Special Force received training to prepare them for operating deep behind enemy lines. This training covered jungle marching, blowing up bridges, bivouacking, crossing rivers, receiving air supply drops, laying ambushes, attacking enemy held village, taking evasive action by dispersing into small parties and gathering at a safe rendezvous.

Column Organisation Each brigade was divided into columns and a Headquarter.

A column had about 400 men and typically consisted of;
- Infantry company of four platoons armed with rifles and light machine guns.
- Heavy weapons platoon armed with two Vickers machine guns, two 3-inch mortars and anti-tank weapons.
- Commando platoon for demolitions and setting booby traps.
- Reconnaissance platoon with a section of Burma Rifles.
- The column also included RAF, sapper, signaller and medical detachments.

The RAF detachment included an active pilot and was responsible for directing air support and the air evacuation of the wounded.

Each column had about 56 mules, much less than the first expedition, as there would be more reliance on air supplies.

The mules provided the transport for the column. Ten mules were required to carry the radio equipment, including the batteries, generators and petrol. The remaining mules carried other heavy equipment, weapon and supplies.

Once in Burma the Chindits would attack and cut supply lines and generally harass the rear of the Japanese forces on the frontline facing British, American and Chinese forces. Like the 1st Chindit expedition, the column formations were designed for movement through the jungle. This mobility would be the strength of a Chindit column.

A column would emerge from the jungle to blow up a dump or ambush an enemy convoy and then slip away again into the jungle where the enemy would be unable or afraid to follow. When necessary though the columns would reform into battalions and brigades to attack and seize larger targets or to repel attacks from a large enemy force.

Plans and Objectives The Americans wanted to open a supply route to China from India and this required the capturing of Japanese held north Burma. To achieve this an American led Chinese force commanded by General Stilwell US Army advanced from the north into Burma.

The Chindits objective was to cut the supply lines of the Japanese forces facing British, American and Chinese forces in north Burma but the priority was to cut the communication lines to the forces facing Stilwell's advance.

The orders given to Wingate were;

1. To help the advance of combat troops (Ledo Sector) to the Myitkyina area by drawing off and disorganising the enemy force opposing them and to prevent the reinforcement of these forces.

2. To create a favourable situation for the Chinese advance westwards across the Salween.

3. To inflict the maximum confusion, damage, and loss on the enemy forces in Burma.

The initial Chindit move centred on 16th, 77th and 111th Brigades. The other three brigades were held in reserve.

16th Brigade was to march from Ledo to Indaw and then capture Indaw. 77th Brigade was to fly in to Burma, establish a base, and from there attack road, rail and river traffic in the area, while 111th Brigade was also to fly in and then block road and rail links south of Indaw to prevent Japanese reinforcements coming up from Mandalay.

ORDER OF BATTLE - 2nd Chindit Expedition 1944
Special Force, 3rd Indian Infantry Division

Command and Staff

Commander Major-General O.C.Wingate DSO 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 Headquarters Rear HQ at Gwalior, Central India Main HQ first at Imphal and then at Sylhet, Assam Launching HQ at Lalaghat Tactical/Forward HQ, Shaduzup, Burma

Support Units

Air Force United States Army Air Force Colonel P. Cochran USAAF, Colonel J.R. Alison USAAF Royal Artillery 160th Field Regiment, R,S,and U troops 69th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, W, X, Y and Z troops

3rd West African Brigade

Commander Brigadier A.H. Gillmore, succeeded by Brigadier A.H.G. Ricketts DSO Column 10 HQ column, 7th West African Field Company Columns 39, 66 6th Battalion Nigeria Regiment Columns 29, 35 7th Battalion Nigeria Regiment Columns 12, 43 12th Battalion Nigeria Regiment 3rd West African Field Ambulance

14th British Infantry Brigade

Commander Brigadier T. Brodie Column 59 HQ column Columns 42, 73 2nd Battalion The Black Watch Columns 16, 61 1st Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment Columns 65, 84 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment Columns 47, 74 7th Battalion Royal Leicestershire Regiment Support 54th Field Company Royal Engineers Medical Detachment

16th British Infantry Brigade

Commander Brigadier B.E. Fergusson DSO Column 99 HQ column Columns 21, 22 2nd Battalion Queens Royal Regiment (West Surrey) Columns 17, 71 2nd Battalion Royal Leicestershire Regiment Columns 51, 69 51/69 Field Regiments, Royal Artillery (fighting as infantry) Columns 45, 54 45th Reconnaissance Regiment (fighting as infantry) Support 2nd Field Company Royal Engineers Medical Detachment

23rd Indian Infantry Brigade

Commander Brigadier Lance E.C.M. Perowne CBE Column 32 HQ column Columns 44, 56 1st Battalion Essex Regiment Columns 33, 76 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington's Regiment Columns 34, 55 4th Battalion Border Regiment Columns 60, 68 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (fighting as infantry) Support 12th Field Company Royal Engineers Medical Detachment

77th Indian Infantry Brigade

Commander Brigadier J.M. Calvert DSO Column 25 HQ column Mixed Field Company Royal Engineers/Royal Indian Engineers Columns 36, 63 3rd Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles Columns 81, 82 1st Battalion King's (Liverpool) Regiment, to 111 Brigade in May 1944 Columns 20, 50 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers Columns 38, 80 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment Columns 57, 93 3rd Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles, to 111 Brigade in May 1944 Support 142 Company Hong Kong Volunteers Medical and veterinary detachments

111th Indian Infantry Brigade

Commander Brigadier W.D.A. Lentaigne, succeeded first by Major J. Masters and then by Brigadier Morris CBE DSO Column 48 HQ column Columns 26, 90 1st Battalion Cameronians Columns 41, 46 2nd Battalion Kings Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) Column 30 3rd Battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles Support Mixed Field Company Royal Engineers/Royal Indian Engineers Medical and veterinary detachments

Morris Force

Commander Brigadier J.R. Morris Columns 49, 94 4th Battalion 9th Gurkha Rifles Column 40 3rd/4th Gurkha Rifles

Dah Force Lieut-Colonel D.C. Herring Kachin Levies

Bladet (Blain's Detachment)

Major Blain Gliderborne commando engineers.

Other Units 2nd Battalion Burma Rifles Four troops 160th Field Regiment Royal Artillery (in artillery role) Four troops 69th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment Royal Artillery (in artillery role)

Divisional Troops

219th Field Park Company, Royal Engineers Detachment 2nd Burma Rifles 145th Brigade Company, R.A.S.C. 61st Air Supply Company, R.A.S.C. 2nd Indian Air Supply Company, R.I.A.S.C.

CHINDIT ORDER OF BATTLE JANUARY 1944 The Chindits were officially known as 'Special Force' or the '3rd Indian Infantry Division. ' THE CHINDITS WERE OFFICIALLY KNOWN AS ;

N.B. The title 3rd Indian division was only given in order to deceive the Japanese.

There were six brigades -- each referred to by a nickname. Each brigade had its own HQ situated near an airfield and an HQ column in the field (numbered separately from below).

GALAHAD 5307TH COMPOSITE UNIT (PROVISIONAL) US ARMY

Also known as Merrill's Marauders and after being trained were handed over to Gen. Stilwell's Northern Command.

ORGANISATION The column was the main unit and all operations were column biased - the column was referred to literally, because all personnel moved through the jungle in single file - a tactic to be copied 20 years later. Each column was essentially of company strength. The unit as a whole was supported by about 1,000 mules.

Each column had 4 rifle platoons, 1 heavy weapons platoon (2 Vickers mmg, 2 - 3 inch mortar, 1 flame thrower, 2 piats), 1 commando platoon (demolition and booby trap skills) and 1 recce platoon with a British officer and Burma rifles (Karen and Kachin tribesmen).

NOTE:- It is of special interest to note that in Enterprise (16) Brigade,Columns 51 and 69 were Infantry Columns formed from men of the Royal artillery,using their original Artllery Unit number. This may explain why there were so many Gunner casualties,they were in the line as Infantry.