Burma Rifles

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
• 1922 70th & 85th merged to form the 20th Burma Rifles
• 1937 renamed Burma Rifles on separation of Burma from India

'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".

External Links

• Burma Rifles Wikipedia
  
• The Burma Rifles www.rothwell.force9.co.uk
  
• 2nd Btn The Burma Rifles www.rothwell.force9.co.uk
  
• 12th Btn The Burma Rifles www.rothwell.force9.co.uk
  
• 14th Btn The Burma Rifles www.rothwell.force9.co.uk
  
• "Kurdistan 1919: Military Operations in Mesopotamian Kurdistan: South Kurdistan, May–June 1919" by Harry Fecitt. From Harry's Sideshows kaiserscross.com
• WW2Talk Forum thread "Interview: Major Neville Graham Hogan officer served with 2nd Bn Burma Rifles" includes link to a IWM 1991 interview

Historical books online

• Kachin military terms by C M Enriquez, Major, 85th Burma Rifles 1919 Archive.org
  • The Dedication indicates that D Company, 85th Burma Rifles, served in Mesopotamia 1917-1919
• A Burmese Enchantment by Captain C M Enriquez, 21st Punjabis (“Theophilus”) 1916 Archive.org. Biography of the author

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.