1st Burma War

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1st Burma War
5 March 1823-24 February 1826
Chronological list of Wars and Campaigns
[[Image:|250px| ]]
Location: Burma
Combatants:
British India Burma
Result:
Treaty of Yanabo
Assam, Manipur & Tenasserim ceded to Britain
£5m indemnity paid by Burma
Medals:
Army of India Medal 1799-1826, Ava 1824-26 Clasp
HEIC Medal for Burma 1824-26
Links:
Category: 1st Burma War
See our interactive map of
1st Burma War 1824-26
locations and routes on Google Maps

The 1st Burma War, also known as the 1st Anglo-Burmese War, was the first of the three British campaigns that led to the complete annexation of Burma.

Summary

Burmese expansionist policy on the north east of British India led to refugees from the frontier states of Manipur and Cachar fleeing to British territory and asking for help. Burmese incursions in Sylhet and Cachar in January and February 1824 were defeated. On 5 March war was declared and an expeditionary force under Commodore Charles Grant and Maj-Gen Sir Archibald Campbell sailed to Rangoon which was captured. It took two years and 20,000 casualties before the British defeated the Burmese. The Treaty of Yanabo ceded Assam, Arakan and Tenasserim to the British who also extracted 10 million rupeed indemnity.

A timeline of the 1st Burma War can be viewed in Travels from India to England (1827) by James Edward Alexander, an officer who served in the campaign. The first five chapters are an account of the war from Alexander's perspective whilst accompanying the 45th Regiment of Foot and the Madras Pioneers.

Expeditionary Force

See note[1]
Commanded by Brig-Gen Sir Archibald Campbell KCB
BENGAL CONTINGENT
Bengal Infantry Brigade
Lt-Col M'Creagh CB, Brigadier Commanding

Bengal Artillery
Lt-Col George Pollock commanding

MADRAS CONTINGENT
1st Madras Infantry Brigade
Lt-Col W Smelt, Brigadier Commanding

2nd Madras Infantry Brigade
Lt-Col C Hodgson, Brigadier Commanding

3rd Madras Infantry Brigade
Lt-Col H F Smith, Brigadier Commanding

4th Madras Infantry Brigade
Lt-Col E Miles CB, Brigadier Commanding

TROOP STRENGTH

Artillery 916
Pioneers 552
European Infantry 3,969
Native Infantry 5,218
Total 10,655

External Links

The FIBIS Google Books Library
has books tagged:
1st Burma War Burma

Historical Books on-line

Narrative of the Burmese War in 1824-26 by Horace Hayman Wilson 1852 Google Books
Havelock's Memoir of Three Campaigns Google Books
Frontier and Overseas Expeditions from India Vol V - First Burmese War www.archive.org
Historical geography of the British Dependencies Vol VII India Part I - First Burma War www.archive.org
Narrative of the captivity of an officer, who fell into the hands of the Burmāhs during the late war by Captain Richard Bennett 1827 Google Books
"Burma and the Burmese During the Late War" by Major Bennett, Royal Regiment. The United Service Journal and Naval and Military Magazine 1838 Part 3 page 76,page 207, page 371, page 511 Google Books
"East Indies" The Annual Register, or a View of the History, Politics, and Literature, of the year 1824, page 114 Google Books
"The First War with Burmah 1824-26" page 287, Medals of the British Navy and how they were won by W.H. Long 1895 Archive.org
The Eastern Frontier Of British India 1784-1826 by Anil Chandra Banerjee. Second Edition , revised and enlarged 1946 (first published 1943) Archive.org

References