Burma Rifles: Difference between revisions

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In 1916 during World War I two companies of pioneers were raised in [[Mandalay]]. This increased to four companies and became the 70th Burma Rifles in 1917. Also in 1917 the 85th Burma Rifles were raised from the Burma Military Police.
== Chronology ==
== Chronology ==
*'''1916''' Two companies of Burma Pioneers raised in Mandalay
*'''1916''' Two companies of Burma Pioneers raised in Mandalay
*'''1917''' Burma Pioneers became the 70th Burma Rifles
*'''1917''' Burma Pioneers became the '''70th Burma Rifles'''
*'''1917''' 85th Burma Rifles raised from the Burma Military Police
*'''1917''' '''85th Burma Rifles''' raised from the Burma Military Police
*'''1922''' 70th & 85th merged to form the 20th Burma Rifles  
**'''1921, April 1''' became the Kachin-Chin Battalion
*'''1916'''  
**'''1921, November''' became 3rd Battalion, 70th Kachin Rifles
 
**'''1922''' designated 3rd/20th Burma Rifles (Kachin)
 
*'''1922''' 70th & 85th merged to form the '''20th Burma Rifles'''
*[[1st Gurkha Rifles]]
*'''1937''' renamed '''Burma Rifles''' on separation of Burma from India. At the time of transfer, there were four  regular infantry battalions.
*[[2nd Gurkha Rifles]]
*'''1942, October 1''' The Burma Regiment was formed.
*[[3rd Gurkha Rifles]]
*'''1945 onwards''' Battalions of Burma Rifles, Chin Rifles, Kachin Rifles and Karen Rifles formed for the new Burma Army.
*[[4th Gurkha Rifles]]
=='Z-Force' in Burma, WW2==
*[[5th Gurkha Rifles]]
Men from the Burma Rifles were recruited to  the 'Z-Force', a WW2 joint Allied reconnaissance and sabotage unit, who became 'Johnnies'. It was decided to recruit volunteers who were prepared to go into Burma, hide themselves in selected areas, and report back any information that they could pick up. "All had a thorough knowledge of the jungle, its inhabitants, and their language; all were tough and used to living on their own far from civilization; and all possessed courage of outstanding quality".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140226122557/https://www.spink.com//lot-description.aspx?id=100816  Medals of  Major C.G. ´Micky´ Merton], November 25, 2010 spink.com, now an archived page.</ref>
*[[6th Gurkha Rifles]]
*[[7th Gurkha Rifles]]
*[[8th Gurkha Rifles]]
*[[9th Gurkha Rifles]]
*[[10th Gurkha Rifles]]


The 11th Gurkha Rifles was raised during the 1st World War then disbanded. The 25th, 26th & 29th Gurkha Rifles were raised during the 2nd World War then disbanded.
== External links ==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma_Rifles Burma Rifles] Wikipedia<br>
*[http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/burif.htm The Burma Rifles] rothwell.force9.co.uk<br />
** See sidebar for individual pages for 1st Battalion to 10th Battalion
*[http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/BTF.htm The Burma Territorial Force] Details of the 11th to 14th Battalions, The Burma Rifles. rothwell.force9.co.uk
*[http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/BurmaRegt.htm The Burma Regiment] was formed 1st October 1942. rothwell.force9.co.uk
*[http://www.rothwell.force9.co.uk/burmaweb/BurmaArmy1945-49.htm The New Burma Army, 1945-1949] rothwell.force9.co.uk
** See sidebar for pages for Battalions of the Burma Rifles, Chin Rifles, Kachin Rifles and Karen Rifles
*[http://www.kaiserscross.com/304501/527922.html "Kurdistan 1919: Military Operations in Mesopotamian Kurdistan: South Kurdistan, May–June 1919"] by Harry Fecitt. From Harry's Sideshows kaiserscross.com
*[https://shapingoursorrow.cwgc.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/1228_1.jpg Headstone carving for 70th Burma Rifles]  used by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission for First World War deaths. Possibly based on the regimental badge. From a CWGC webpage [https://shapingoursorrow.cwgc.org/bargaining/international-differences/ "International differences"] shapingoursorrow.cwgc.org
*WW2Talk Forum thread  "Interview: Major Neville Graham Hogan officer served with 2nd Bn Burma Rifles"<ref>WW2Talk Forum thread [http://ww2talk.com/index.php?threads/interview-major-neville-graham-hogan-officer-served-with-2nd-bn-burma-rifles.49770/ Interview: Major Neville Graham Hogan officer served with 2nd Bn Burma Rifles] </ref> includes link to a IWM [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80012076 1991 interview]
*[https://vickersmg.blog/world-service/india-including-india-pakistan-and-bangladesh/british-indian-army/20th-burma-rifles/ 20th Burma Rifles] The Vickers Machine Gun website.
===Historical books online===
*[https://archive.org/details/cu31924024039855 ''Kachin military terms''] by C M  Enriquez,  Major, 85th Burma Rifles  1919 Archive.org
**The [https://archive.org/stream/cu31924024039855#page/n7/mode/2up Dedication] indicates that D Company, 85th Burma Rifles, served in Mesopotamia 1917-1919
*[https://archive.org/details/burmeseenchantme00enriiala ''A Burmese Enchantment''] by Captain C M Enriquez, 21st Punjabis (“Theophilus”) 1916 Archive.org. [https://cmenriquez.com/about/ Biography of the author]
:[https://archive.org/details/burmeselonelines00enriiala ''A Burmese Loneliness: a tale of travel in Burma, the Southern Shan States and Keng Tung''] by Captain C M  Enriquez, 21st Punjabis (Burma Military Police: 85th Burma Rifles) 1918 Archive.org.
:[https://archive.org/details/burmesewonderlan00enri ''A Burmese Wonderland : a Tale of Travel in Lower and Upper Burma'']  by Major C M Enriquez, 3-70th  Kachin Rifles, Divisional Recruiting Officer, Burma 1922 with a [https://archive.org/stream/burmesewonderlan00enri#page/n22/mode/1up Map of Burma] Archive.org
:[http://seasiavisions.library.cornell.edu/catalog/sea:017 ''A Burmese Arcady, an account of a long and intimate sojourn amongst the mountain dwellers of the Burmese hinterland and of their engaging characteristics and customs''] by Major C M Enriquez, [3/70th] Kachin Rifles. 1923. Southeast Asia Visions, Cornell University.


On the FIBIS website British Indian Army regiments are listed with titles as at the re-organisation of 1895. So 6th, 7th & 8th Gurkha Rifles are in articles titled 42nd, 43rd & 44th Gurkha Rifles. At the Partition of India in 1947 the regiments were given the choice of attachment to the British Army or the Indian Army. The 1st, 2nd, 6th, 7th & 10th Regiments chose Britain. The 3rd, 4th, 5th , 8th & 9th Regiments chose India.
== References ==
<references />
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== External Links ==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma_Rifles Burma Rifles] Wikipedia<br>


[[Category:Indian Army Infantry Regiments]]
[[Category:Indian Army Infantry Regiments]]

Latest revision as of 10:47, 15 October 2020

Chronology

  • 1916 Two companies of Burma Pioneers raised in Mandalay
  • 1917 Burma Pioneers became the 70th Burma Rifles
  • 1917 85th Burma Rifles raised from the Burma Military Police
    • 1921, April 1 became the Kachin-Chin Battalion
    • 1921, November became 3rd Battalion, 70th Kachin Rifles
    • 1922 designated 3rd/20th Burma Rifles (Kachin)
  • 1922 70th & 85th merged to form the 20th Burma Rifles
  • 1937 renamed Burma Rifles on separation of Burma from India. At the time of transfer, there were four regular infantry battalions.
  • 1942, October 1 The Burma Regiment was formed.
  • 1945 onwards Battalions of Burma Rifles, Chin Rifles, Kachin Rifles and Karen Rifles formed for the new Burma Army.

'Z-Force' in Burma, WW2

Men from the Burma Rifles were recruited to the 'Z-Force', a WW2 joint Allied reconnaissance and sabotage unit, who became 'Johnnies'. It was decided to recruit volunteers who were prepared to go into Burma, hide themselves in selected areas, and report back any information that they could pick up. "All had a thorough knowledge of the jungle, its inhabitants, and their language; all were tough and used to living on their own far from civilization; and all possessed courage of outstanding quality".[1]

External links

Historical books online

A Burmese Loneliness: a tale of travel in Burma, the Southern Shan States and Keng Tung by Captain C M Enriquez, 21st Punjabis (Burma Military Police: 85th Burma Rifles) 1918 Archive.org.
A Burmese Wonderland : a Tale of Travel in Lower and Upper Burma by Major C M Enriquez, 3-70th Kachin Rifles, Divisional Recruiting Officer, Burma 1922 with a Map of Burma Archive.org
A Burmese Arcady, an account of a long and intimate sojourn amongst the mountain dwellers of the Burmese hinterland and of their engaging characteristics and customs by Major C M Enriquez, [3/70th] Kachin Rifles. 1923. Southeast Asia Visions, Cornell University.

References

  1. ↑ Medals of Major C.G. ´Micky´ Merton, November 25, 2010 spink.com, now an archived page.
  2. ↑ WW2Talk Forum thread Interview: Major Neville Graham Hogan officer served with 2nd Bn Burma Rifles

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