# The Chindits order of battle

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The **Order of battle of the [Chindits](/source/Chindits)**, an Allied *special force* which carried out two deep penetration raids behind Japanese line during the [Burma campaign](/source/Burma_campaign) in the [South-East Asian Theatre](/source/South-East_Asian_Theatre_of_World_War_II) of [World War II](/source/World_War_II)

## First Chindit expedition, 1943, codenamed Operation Longcloth

Headquarters [77th Indian Infantry Brigade](/source/77th_Indian_Infantry_Brigade)[1]

- Commander [Brigadier](/source/Brigadier_(United_Kingdom)) [Orde Wingate](/source/Orde_Wingate)
- [Brigade Major](/source/Brigade_Major) Major R.B.G. Bromhead (succeeded by Major G.M. Anderson)
- Staff Captain Captain H.J. Lord

Deception party

- Officer Commanding (O.C.) [Major](/source/Major_(United_Kingdom)) Jeffries

No. 1 Group (Southern)

- Officer Commanding (O.C.) [Lieutenant Colonel](/source/Lieutenant_colonel_(United_Kingdom)) [Leigh Alexander](/source/Leigh_Alexander) (died during the operation) - 1 Column (Major Dunlop) - 2 Column (Major Burnett)

No. 2 Group (Northern)

- O.C. Lieutenant Colonel S.A. Cooke - 3 Column (Major [Michael Calvert](/source/Mike_Calvert)) - 4 Column (Major R.A. Conron)(replaced by Major R.B. Bromhead March 1, 1943) - 5 Column (Major [Bernard Fergusson](/source/Bernard_Fergusson)) - 7 Column (Major K. Gilkes) - 8 Column (Major Walter Scott)

HQ Group ([Burma Rifles](/source/Burma_Rifles))

- O.C. Lt-Colonel L.G. Wheeler 2nd Burma Rifles (replaced by Captain P.C. Buchanan on the death of Lt-Colonel Wheeler)

## Second Chindit expedition, 1944, codenamed Operation Thursday

Headquarters [3rd Indian Infantry Division](/source/3rd_Indian_Infantry_Division)[2]

- Division Commander Major-General Orde.C. Wingate (*succeeded by [Major-General W.D.A. Lentaigne](/source/Walter_David_Alexander_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*) - Locations of Headquarters - Rear HQ at Gwalior, Central India - Main HQ first at [Imphal](/source/Imphal) later at [Sylhet](/source/Sylhet), [Assam](/source/Assam) - Launching HQ at [Lalaghat](/source/Lalaghat) - Tactical/Forward HQ, [Shaduzup](/source/Shaduzup), [Burma](/source/Burma)

**Thunder** [3rd West African Brigade](/source/3rd_West_African_Brigade)

- Officer Commanding (O.C.) Brigadier A.H. Gillmore, (*succeeded by Brigadier A.H.G. Ricketts*): 10 HQ column
- 6th Battalion, [Nigeria Regiment](/source/Nigeria_Regiment): 66 and 39 Columns
- 7th Battalion, [Nigeria Regiment](/source/Nigeria_Regiment): 29 and 35 Columns
- 12th Battalion, [Nigeria Regiment](/source/Nigeria_Regiment): 12 and 43 Columns
- 3rd West African Field Ambulance: Support

(From disbanded [70th British Infantry Division](/source/70th_Infantry_Division_(United_Kingdom)) );

**Javelin** [British 14th Infantry Brigade](/source/British_14th_Infantry_Brigade)

- O.C. Brigadier [Thomas Brodie](/source/Thomas_Brodie): 59 HQ column
- 2nd Battalion, [Black Watch](/source/Black_Watch): 42 and 73 Columns - Lt.Col.G.C.Green
- 1st Battalion, [Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment](/source/Bedfordshire_and_Hertfordshire_Regiment): 16 and 61 Columns
- [2nd Battalion](/source/2nd_Battalion,_York_and_Lancaster_Regiment), [York and Lancaster Regiment](/source/York_and_Lancaster_Regiment): 65 and 84 Columns
- 7th Battalion, [Leicestershire Regiment](/source/Leicestershire_Regiment): 47 and 74 Columns - Lt Col F.R.(Wilf) Wilford; Maj (later Lt Col) F.H.J.Wileman & Maj J.G.Lockett MC (att from Seaforth H.). Maj F.H.J.Wileman later detached to help train Merrill's Marauders in Jungle Warfare.
- 54th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment:support

**Enterprise** [British 16th Infantry Brigade](/source/British_16th_Infantry_Brigade)

- O.C. Brigadier [B.E. Fergusson](/source/Bernard_Fergusson): 99 HQ column
- 2nd Battalion, [The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)](/source/The_Queen's_Royal_Regiment_(West_Surrey)): 21 and 22 Columns
- 2nd Battalion, [Leicestershire Regiment](/source/Leicestershire_Regiment): 17 and 71 Columns
- [51st/69th Regiment, Royal Artillery](/source/51st/69th_Regiment,_Royal_Artillery): 51 and 69 Columns (infantry columns made up of R.A. personnel)
- [45th Reconnaissance Regiment](/source/45th_Reconnaissance_Regiment): 45 and 54 Columns (infantry columns made up recce units)
- 2nd Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: support

**Emphasis** [77th Indian Infantry Brigade](/source/77th_Indian_Infantry_Brigade)

- O.C. Brigadier [Mike Calvert](/source/Michael_Calvert): 25 HQ column
- 1st Battalion, [The King's Regiment (Liverpool)](/source/The_King's_Regiment_(Liverpool)): 81 and 82 Columns
- 1st Battalion, [The Lancashire Fusiliers](/source/The_Lancashire_Fusiliers): 20 and 50 Columns
- 1st Battalion, [South Staffordshire Regiment](/source/South_Staffordshire_Regiment): 38 and 80 Columns
- 3rd Battalion, [6th Gurkha Rifles](/source/6th_Gurkha_Rifles): 36 and 63 Columns
- 3rd Battalion, [9th Gurkha Rifles](/source/9th_Gurkha_Rifles): 57 and 93 Columns
- 142 Company, [Hong Kong Volunteers](/source/Hong_Kong_Volunteer_Company) & Medical and veterinary detachments: Support

**Profound** [111th Indian Infantry Brigade](/source/111th_Indian_Infantry_Brigade)

- O.C. Brigadier [W.D.A. Lentaigne](/source/Joe_Lentaigne), (*succeeded first by Major [John Masters](/source/John_Masters) and then by Brigadier Morris*): 48 HQ Column
- 1st Battalion, [The Cameronians](/source/The_Cameronians): 26 and 90 Columns
- 2nd Battalion, [The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster)](/source/The_King's_Own_Royal_Regiment_(Lancaster)): 41 and 46 Columns
- 3rd Battalion (part), [4th Gurkha Rifles](/source/4th_Gurkha_Rifles): 30 Column
- Mixed Field Company Royal Engineers/Royal Indian Engineers & Medical and veterinary detachments: Support

**Morris Force**

- O.C. Lt-Colonel (*later promoted Brigadier*) J.R. Morris
- 4th Battalion, [9th Gurkha Rifles](/source/9th_Gurkha_Rifles): 49 and 94 Columns
- 3rd Battalion (part), [4th Gurkha Rifles](/source/4th_Gurkha_Rifles): 40 Column

**Dah Force**

- O.C. Lieut-Colonel D.C. Herring
- Kachin Levies

**Bladet** (Blain's Detachment)

- O.C. Major Blain
- Gliderborne commando engineers

[Royal Artillery](/source/Royal_Artillery) Supporting non-mobile units designed to defend Chindit Jungle Fortresses.

- R, S and U Troops [160th Field Regiment](/source/160th_Field_Regiment) Royal Artillery (All 25 pounders)
- W, X, Y, and Z Troops [69th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment](/source/69th_Light_Anti_Aircraft_Regiment) (40mm [Bofors](/source/Bofors))

Support Units

- NO 1 Air Commando USAAF – strike and casualty evacuation (until 1/5/1944 only)
- Eastern Air Command – supply
- U.S. Army 900th Field Unit (engineers)

Divisional Support Troops

- 2nd Battalion [Burma Rifles](/source/Burma_Rifles) – one section assigned per column except for columns in the 3rd West African Brigade
- 145th Brigade Company R.A.S.C.
- [219th Field Park Company](/source/Tower_Hamlets_Engineers), [Royal Engineers](/source/Royal_Engineers)
- 61st Air Supply Company R.A.S.C.
- 2nd Indian Air Supply Company, R.I.A.S.C.

**Galahad** [5307th Composite Unit (Provisional)](/source/5307th_Composite_Unit_(Provisional)) US Army

- 1st Battalion; Red and White Combat Teams
- 2nd Battalion; Blue and Green Combat Teams
- 3rd Battalion; Khaki and Orange Combat Teams
- *Also known as [Merrill's Marauders](/source/Merrill's_Marauders). After being trained, the force was transferred to General [Joseph Stilwell](/source/Joseph_Stilwell)'s [Northern Combat Area Command](/source/Northern_Combat_Area_Command) and operated independently of the Chindits.*

[23rd British Infantry Brigade](/source/23rd_British_Infantry_Brigade)

- O.C. Brigadier [Lancelot Perowne](/source/Lancelot_Perowne): 32 HQ Column
- 1st Battalion [Essex Regiment](/source/Essex_Regiment): 44 and 56 Columns
- 2nd Battalion [Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding)](/source/The_Duke_of_Wellington's_Regiment): 33 and 76 Columns
- 4th Battalion [Border Regiment](/source/Border_Regiment): 34 and 55 Columns
- [60th (North Midland) Field Regiment](/source/1st_Lincolnshire_Artillery_Volunteers), Royal Artillery: 60 and 68 Columns (fighting as infantry)
- 12th Field Company Royal Engineers & Medical Detachment: Support
- *This Brigade trained as a Chindit Brigade, but was diverted to the main front in [Assam](/source/Assam) and took part in the [Battle of Kohima](/source/Battle_of_Kohima).*

## Notes

1. Appendix 26: The Composition of 77th Indian Infantry Brigade (The Chindits), February 1943, Woodburn Kirby, Vol II, p. 503–4.

1. Appendix 16: Outline Order of battle of Special Force (3rd Indian Division), Woodburn Kirby, Vol III, pp. 484–85.

## References

- Maj-Gen S. Woodburn Kirby, *History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War Against Japan* Vol II, *India's Most Dangerous Hour*, London: HM Stationery Office, 1958/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-61-0.
- Maj-Gen S. Woodburn Kirby, *History of the Second World War, United Kingdom Military Series: The War Against Japan* Vol III, *The Decisive Battles*, London: HM Stationery Office, 1961/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2004, ISBN 1-845740-62-9.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Chindits order of battle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chindits_order_of_battle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Chindits_order_of_battle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.