British Units 1946-48
Information on the last British units in India is very hard to come by, but through our research we know that there were at least 30 Battalions in India during the final withdrawal. Any information would be most welcome. This list does not include RAF Units as we are still searching for a list, although we do know that No.618 Squadron RAF support personnel were disembarked for operations on their way back to the United Kingdom after the Squadron was disbanded in July 1945 in Australia. This is a list some the British forces that served in the India. It is NOT our intention to ignore any unit which served. We wish to get the facts correct and produce a accurate list of all the units who served. If you find your unit is not mentioned below please take a moment to fill out the form below. We wish to get the facts correct.
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Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
Royal Marines
Commonwealth/Colonial Forces
Maj-General Whistler was in charge of the withdrawal arrangements.
The HQ moved to Colaba, Bombay in early 1948, quartered with Somerset Light Infantry.
The last troops to leave we embarked on the 'Empress of Australia', landed in Liverpool on March 17.
Sgt RASC-posted from GHQ 2nd Echelon to GHQ BFI New Delhi in late 1946. Thanks to Norman Taylor for this entry.
6th British Independant Para Brigade I served with the Signals section of 158 Para Field Regt, R.A.while stationed at Malir, near Karachi in 1945/6/7. After we were disbanded we became part of the above mentioned unit.
29th British Brigade HQ Left from Ballard pier, 30th Jan 1948.
23 Independent Infantry Brigade Brigade formed in Northern India near Hazariba near Ranchi late 1945. 2 British battalions, 1 Indian( Madrassi) Attached were units from Tanks . Etc. Moved to Jullunder in 196 for duties on proposed border between India and Pakistan.
Royal Armoured Corps
7th Royal Tank Regiment Stationed at Sialkot January to September 1947 Squadrons stationed at Lahore and Jullunder. Thanks to Edwin Wolfenden for this entry.
Infantry
1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry
2nd Battalion Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 29 Ind.British Brigade.
1st Battalion The Cameronians
1st Battalion landed in Burma March 1944 (from India) as part of the Chindit operations. Four months later it withdrew as last rearguard (to India) to the column having lost 247 men but having done some sterling service.. Served in Far East until the end of the war pushing the Japs out of Burma. 2nd Battalion were sent to India but were then diverted to Madagascar, then to Persia as part of PAI Force and then served mostly in Italy. Moved to Germany in April 1945 and took part in the capture of Lubeck. In 1947, in common with other infantry regiments, The Cameronians were reduced to a single regular battalion. Between 1946-48 the 1st Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) was reduced to nil strength in India. The remnants (150 men) joined the 2nd Battalion at Gibraltar where on 19 Sept 1948 it was officially redesignated as the new 1st Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) and the 2nd Battalion ceased to exist. It was sent to Malaya to operate against the ' bandits' (Malay Races Liberation Army) This information was kindly supplied to us by Alan Taylor who's uncle served with the Cameronians. To find out more Please visit Alan memorabilia & genealogy site which can be found at http://memorabilia.homestead.com/Home.html
2nd battalion Black Watch, 44th Indian Airborne Division. Colonel Benson (OC), Bilaspur, Karachi, NW Frontier, 1945 -1948, Last British Battalion to leave Karachi. With a Bn Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment and a Bn of the King's Regiment (Liverpool) they formed the 16th Independent British brigade.
1st Bn of the The King's Regiment (Liverpool). Based at Maroot. With the 2nd Bn Black Watch and Bn of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment they formed the 16th Independent British brigade.
1st King's were part of 16 Brigade, Mobile Infantry Brigade Group stationed at Meerut united provinces. Commanded by lCOL K Binney. Went into suspended animation April 1946/7. D coy went to 2 btn the manchester regt. All returned to UK October 1947.
2nd Battalion Kings Own Royal Regiment(Lancaster)
A (number unknown) Bn of the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. With the 2nd Bn Black Watch and Bn of the King's Regiment (Liverpool) they formed the 16th Independent British brigade.
The 1st Battalion Beds&Herts were stationed in Meerut and Officers of the Battalion were photographed by Din Bros on the B&H Regimental Day, Blenhiem Day 13th August 1947. Partition India and Pakistan was on the 14th August 1947. The 1st Bn. B&H then moved to the Red Fort in Delhi and helped to control the refugee crisis initially working in the New Delhi Temple Gardens Refugee Camp. Other duties followed and at the end of '47 to '48 the Battalion moved to Tripoli in North Africa. The Commanding Officers in Meerut in '47 were Lt.Col.R.H.H.Osbourne, Maj.G.A.Chilton, Maj.L.S.Evans, Maj.C.E.Brittain, Maj.J.C.Salazar M.C. and Maj.H.M.Lloyd. I was a 2nd Lt. and went to Tripoli, via Malta in October '47 on the Advance Battlion to prepare for the Bn. to arrive end of '47-'48. Thanks to 2nd Lt. Alan A. Soloway for this entry.
2nd Battalion The Green Howards, Alexandra Princes of Wales Own, The Yorkshire Regt. The 2nd Bn moved from Burma to India in late 1945/early 1946 and was stationed near Calcutta (Barrackpore) It saw action in the Calcutta riots before being posted to the Sudan. Here like many other 2nd Bn's, it was stood down in 1949 and reformed as the 1st Bn.
2nd Bn The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding), served on the frontier in 1937, in Burma during the retreat from Rangoon in 1942 and went back into Burma as the 33rd and 76th Chindit Columns in 1944. 2nd Bn are believed to have been the last infantry Bn to leave Delhi.
1st Battalion The Essex Regiment
2nd Bn The Manchester Regiment In April 1945 the battalion, commanded by Lieut Colonel Rex King-Clark, was flown out of Burma to Calcutta. It then moved to Secunderabad but within weeks moved again to Poona and in October Lieut Colonel B F G Blood took over command. In March 1946 the battalion moved to a camp on the banks of Lake Kharakvasla but two months later moved to Arkonam, 60 miles west of Madras.
In May 1946 Lieut Colonel J H Orgill took over command. In August yet another move, this time to Fort St George in Madras. In May 1947 the battalion moved to Bangalore, leaving there in September and sailing from Bombay to England on 9 October 1947.
The 2nd Battalion then amalgamated with the 1st Battalion.
Thanks to Robert Bonner for this entry.
1st Battalion The Royal Norfolk Regiment In 1945 2nd Battalion The Royal Norfolk Regt: moved from Ramgarh Bihar, to Calcutta then to Sialkot and last stationed at Victoria Barracks, Rawalpindi,North India from 1946 to 1947. The Battalion was involved in numerous 'incidents' to quell riots etc: in surrounding provinces. The 2nd Battalion left India on Independence Day 15th August 1947 from Ballard Pier, Bombay on Troopship MV Georgic bound for Liverpool UK - Viceroy Lord Louis Mountbatten together with other senior British dignitaries and newly formed Indian Government Officials waved good bye to us, the first complete British Army Battalion and other British service personnel to leave India on Independence Day. My Ex Army colleague Gordon Spong and myself have formed an Association named 'Independence of India Association (1947)' which we started in 1996. We have 25 (qualifying) 2nd Battalion Royal Norfok Regt: members who embarked on the MV Georgic that day, and we meet every August at The Union Jack Club in London - Yes we are all in our eighties, and sadly do not have a medal to show that we 'were there' in that dangerous and historic period.
2nd Battalion The Royal Norfolk Regiment Thanks to Ron Stokoe (Tel; 01702 521690) for this entry.
Border Regiment
1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment 1942-1947
2nd battalion East Lancashire Regiment Started off in Kalyan then to Port William Calcutta then to Delhi then back to Bombay. This was in 1947 - 1948 we were there when Ghandi was shot. We returned home on the emporess of Australia.
Essex Regiment
1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers April 1945 to Feb 1948
Royal Scots Fusiliers The 1st Bn. was located in the Cantonment, Delhi in 1946/7 and a Company was always in residence in the Red Fort in Delhi. Lt.Col Dunlop was Commanding Officer at this time with Maj. Du Sautoy as 2 i/c. I left in July/Aug 1947 on discharge to Deolali Transit Camp first, South of the then Bombay and was in Bombay on the night prior to India's Independence prior to sailing on a troopship back to Liverpool the following day. Lord Mountbatten came to the quayside that day and farewelled the 1st Bn. The Norfolk Regt.,on Ballard Pier which left India to commence the withdrawal of British Forces following Independence.
As the ship left Ballard Pier a Guard of Honour from a Sikh Regt., presented arms, & (I think) there was also present a detachment from the Royal Indian Air Force together with a Band of the Royal Indian Navy who played 'Will ye no come back again!". When the 1st. Bn., left Delhi I do not know.
Suffolk Regiment
2nd Battalion The King's Own Scottish Borderers
2KOSB were a regular Scottish infantry battalion who arrived in India in the early '30s having spent much of the '20s in Egypt and Hong Kong. 1939-41 found them on operations on the North West Frontier(much to their chagrin the outbreak of WW2 denied them the "Frontier Medal").2KOSB fought on India's North East frontier and in Burma from'43 until the end of WW2 when they returned to India where they served until being placed in suspended animation just prior to Independence in '47 at,I believe, Jubblepore(?).They were a typical tough regular Scottish infantry unit who managed to retain their professionalism, pride and spirit right to the end. James Ian Murdoch.
Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1st Battalion The Royal Scots returned from Burma, via Singapore and Malaya to India in early 1947. Karchi from April 1947 CO LtCol Dixon Bn was in Tokyo prior to Karachi, provided Firing Squads for Japanese War Criminals. Battalion returned hom to Glasgow from Karachi in December 1947
1st Battalion North Staffordshire Regiment Ranchi 1945/6 and Dinapore 1946/7.
1st. Batt. The Wiltshire Regiment I joined the 1st. Batt.Wilts Regt. at Rawalapinda in 1945, The Battalion had just finished a stint at Razmak on the Afghanistan border. We had more permanent bases at Julunder and Jhansi, but moved around doing IS Duties, Calcutta, Amritsar and Lahore, we also carried out "Flag Marches" in a number of smaller places. We left Bombay to return to the UK in October 1947,after the partition of India, forming Pakistan. A few names I remember are the Battalion Commander, Lt.Col.Kenrick, 2i/c was Maj.Newton-Dunn,I was in "A" Coy., Coy Commander was Capt. Avery,Platoon Commander was Lt. Langmead and Company Sgt. Major was CSM Baldrey.
7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment the 7th worcs were stationed at Kanchrapara nth calcutta 46 _april 48 were in all the riots in calcutta disbanded and split up with 1st som li and beds & herts.
Royal Artillery
2nd Survey Regiment, R.A. In India 1943-47, COs - 1945 Lt Col D.N. Morgan, M.C., 1945-46 Lt Col. G.P. Pirie Gordon, 1947 A/Co Maj L.E. Prothero and from 1946 43 Maj H.G. Bennett & 44 Bty Maj L.E. Prothero. Coimbatore 19455, Quetta & Murree hills June 1946-Jan 19477. Internal defence against riots with 10 Ind Div. Many Thanks to Massimo Mangilli-Climpson for the detailed information.
10th Field Regt. Royal Artillery. Attached to the 2nd. Indian Division Located at Visapur 1945, Kalyan 1945 and then Kalakwasa Nr Poona.
14 counter-mortar battery RA Battery drawn from 2nd Survey Regiment RA. Formed at Sennybridge Breconshire in January 1945. Commanding Officer Major Conway-Ward. Came from India to take part in the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. Landed in gliders but unfortunately suffered heavy losses and was probably disbanded soon after.
16th Field Regiment R.A. arrived in deolali in around september 1945. Stayed for a while and then moved to Kharakvasla (KV). 7/8 months later moved to coinbatore (west camp). all the regiments went down there. Cochin after their navy mutinied.
18th Field Regiment R.A. This unit was stationed at Bangalore between 1945 to 1947 and carried out Internal Security duties until Independence, after handing over the ordnance and vehicles to 18th Indian Field Regiment I.A. the regiment returned home as 68th Regiment R.A.
30th Field Battery, Royal Artillery, Satpur then on 'Orduna' to Kure in Japan Hiro
36 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery.
72nd Field Regiment Royal Artillery.
208 Field Regiment (SP) Royal Artillery, Stationed at following :- 1945 Ranchi, August 1945 Kedgoan, Meerut - 1946 -1947 Dehra Dun.
158 Parachute Field Battery, 2nd Indian Airborne Division, Indian Command, Location Bilaspure, CO LT colonel Lamarshant, Adgitent Major Ellis, Fox troop commander Capitan Brock, And Lt Lewis, Tour duration approx 2 years.
581 Parachute Field Battery, Royal Artillery, Karachi 1946.
Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers Survey, Delhi, Dehra Dun and Risalpur on the N.W. Frontier
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
REME LAD att. 23 British Infantry Brigade, 1946 Jullundar, 1947 Bihar & Orrissa and 1948 Devlali.
Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps 554 Tank, Stationed in Madras 46-48
24 Company, RASC, Camp Nasik Road, Bombay.
Royal Signals, based in Quetta Jubbulpur India 1938-1948
GHQ Signals Regiment GHQ Signals Regiment stationed in New Delhi played a vital role in communications during the period 1946-1948. The regiment was responsible for supplying information to both the Indian and British governments of all the upheavals that took place at that time. Information was gathered from all over India, and this passed to the world media via government sources.
Unable to remember names of officers but can remember well the ceremonies that took place on August 15th 1947.
The duties were taken over by Indian Army towards the end of 1947.
Signals Training Centre - STC(1) Mhow. Major R.H. Farlow, April 1947.
Communications Security School Attached to the Signals Training Centre
MHOW. India. Major Prince C.J. Capt.Denton. Lt.Williams E.J.
Instructors included: Sgt.Symons J.R. C.S.M.Stansford.D.J. Sgt.Rattenbury S. Sgt.Knighton J.K.Cpl.Perkins M.L.
This team were responsible for training members of The Communications Security personnel from units throughout the British Army in India Under the badge of the Royal Signals.
The cipher was high grade to Top Secret standard and was vital for the army units all over India,especially during the years 1945-48. Thanks to John Beal for this entry.
2nd Indian Airborne Divisional Signal Regiment I was a member of the South Staffordshire Regiment, but was attached to 2nd Indian Airborne Division Signal Regiment after being converted to Ciphers in 1946. The Regiment was, at that time, stationed in Clifton which was part of Karachi, and the until was under the command of Lt.Col David Horsfield. Later that year the unit relocated to Malir, some 10 miles from Karachi, and occupied what was previously an American Army camp. Lt.Col Horsfield was recalled to Europe and the unit was then commanded by Major,and later by Lt.Col D.G.Jones.
Towards the spring of 1947 the unit relocated yet again to Quetta, and it was here that it saw the Independence of both India and Pakistan in the August of that year. 2nd Indian Airborne Divisional Signal Regiment was designated an 'Indian Army Unit' and moved very quickly from Quetta (Pakistan) into India. The British Army content, which then comprised approx 40 other ranks and 5 officers detached themselves from the 'Indian' unit, and under my command moved to the transit camp in Karachi from where we were repatriated to the UK in November/December 1947 on the troopship
'Empire Trooper'. Thanks to Norman Logan for this entry.
Ceylon Signal s Squadron, Colombo, Ceylon. Echelon Barracks, Colombo. Major J. Badcock. Major P.A.M.Tighe.
Army Educational Corps
Air Transport Development Unit, this was an army unit with various RAF tradesmen on strength. Based at Chaklala, the CO was an army Major with an RAF officer in charge of RAF personnel. The unit was reequipped for parachute dropping army equipment including jeeps and guns.
124, Railway Operating Company, Military Railway Unit. Adra. India., Commanding Officer La Frenais. British Army. Ceylon Command.
Any help to list those units present in India during this period would be greatly appreciated.
No.10 Squadron, Royal Air Force. was based at Mauripur Air Base,Karachi in 1946/7. Flying DC3(Dakotas) on general transport duties including movement of troops to trouble spots. C.O. was S/L Bastard.
No.20 Squadron, Royal Air Force. CO was Sqd Ldr J R Ritchie. No.20 Squadron was in India in October 1946.
No.52 Squadron, Royal Air Force. 52 Squadron was based at Dum Dum Calcutta from 1945 flying the hump to China and subsequently through 1946 carrying passengers between Calcutta, Rangoon, Saigon and Hong Kong and other cities in SE Asia flying DC3 Dakotas.
No 2 Casualty Evacuation Unit, Based at Digri West Bengal, early 1945. Part of SE Asia Command. Part of operation zipper - preparation for flying into advanced landing strips in Burma/East Bengal for evacuation of casualties. Jim Mann was CO of No. 2 unit, after moving from England to Karachi (Drigh Road) (22 AACU - anti-aircraft cooperation unit,Dec 43), posted to Madras (Feb 45), posted Madras to West Bengal (April 45) into No 2 unit.
Operations were wound down after Hiroshima: unit was posted on to Japan to Hiroshima itself. Thank to Flt Lieutenant James Mann, CO for this entry.
20 C & M Radio Unit RAF BILASPUR 1944-46. Training in the C. P jungles for mobile attachments. Call Sign 3OC. Signals Officer was F/O Davies, Citation M.I.Despatches. The unit was disbanded in January 1946.
7089 Servicing Echelon RAF Originally based at Baigachi, thence via MV Dunera and landing craft to Morib beach as part of Operation Zipper. We were the servicing element of 89 Squadron, flying Mosquitos and winding up at Seletar in Singapore.
HMS Furious
HMS Norfolk
NORFOLK was a County Class Cruiser. We had been on active service through the campaign in Java/Sumatra post Japanese surrender and were despatched to Bombay arriving February 1946. This was to provide ship borne backup if required. The Ship returned to duties off Samarang Java once the situation at Bombay stabilised.
HMS Tambaram
Tambaram was a Naval Air Station situated close to Madras.
LST 3010
Royal Navy Beach Commando Unit "Uncle"
This was a navy group consisting of 99 ratings and 11 officers under the command of lt-Cmdr, George B. Ayre, RNVR. We were at Mahd Island for a couple of months in early 1945 before transferring by rail to Cocanada to become a part of the 46th Indian Assault Brigade. We took part in the landings in Malaya at Morib, but the war was virtually over when this took place. We were shipped back to Madras to regroup for a landing at Padang, N.W. Sumatra, but this was cancelled. We were then transferred back to Bombay where the unit was disbanded with, so far as I know all being appointed to ships. Thanks to Sydney C. Heal (Lt. RNVR) for the entry.
94 Amphibious Support Regiment
Regiment consisted of RM,RA,RAC and REME personnel destined to spearhead Operation 'ZIPPER' the intended invasion of Malaya. Disembarked Bombay 8 May 1945 and after a brief spell in Kharakwasla near Poona moved to the Combined Operations Training Centre at Mahd Island north of Bombay. Took possession of American Landing Vehicles Tracked fitted with 75 howitzers, multiple rocket launchers and Crocodile flame throwers plus a number for solely troop carrying. The dropping of the atom bombs caused the Regiment to be withdrawn from any landings on the west coast of Malaya. The Regiment was sent to Tanjong Priok, Batavia, Java in December 1945 in an infantry role but saw little action because it was called back to India after a very short period arriving Calcutta Christmas Eve 1945. Regiment was involved in police-keeping duties in Bombay during the Indian Naval Mutiny. Regiment returned to the UK around April 1946 with all its equipment to set up an Amphibious Warfare Demonstration Unit at Saunton Sands, N.Devon. Disbanded in 1947. Personnel awarded GS Medal with clasp South East Asia 1945-46 for service in Java. Lt. Col. Wills, Royal Marines commanding. Many thanks to John Sparkes for this detailed information.
HMIS Bombay
HMIS Hamlawar, This unit was located on the Madh Island of Mumbai and used as Combined Operations Training Wing.
Royal Indian Army Service Corp
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