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{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=19th Indian Infantry Division
|unit_name=19th Infantry Division
|image=File:19th indian division.svg
|image=19 Mountain Division.png
|caption=Formation sign of the 19th Indian Infantry Division.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cole|first1=Howard|title=Formation Badges of World War 2. Britain, Commonwealth and Empire|date=1973|publisher=Arms and Armour Press|location=London|page=81}}</ref>
|caption=Formation sign of the 19th Infantry Division.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cole|first1=Howard|title=Formation Badges of World War 2. Britain, Commonwealth and Empire|date=1973|publisher=Arms and Armour Press|location=London|page=81}}</ref>
|dates=1941– postwar
|dates=1941–present
|country={{flagicon|British Raj}} [[British Raj|British India]]<br>{{flag|India}}
|country={{flagicon|British Raj}} [[British Raj|British India]]<br>{{flag|India}}
|allegiance={{flag|British Empire}}
|allegiance={{flag|British Empire}}<br>{{flag|India}}
|branch=[[File:British Raj Red Ensign.svg|26px]] [[British Indian Army]]<br>{{army|India|23px}}
|branch={{army|British India}}<br>{{army|India|23px}}
|type= [[Infantry]]
|type= [[Infantry]]
|role=
|role=
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|equipment=
|equipment=
<!-- Commanders -->
<!-- Commanders -->
|current_commander = [[Major General]] Paranvir Singh Punia<br/>{{postnominals|country=IND|size=75%|sep=,|SM|VSM}}
|current_commander=
|ceremonial_chief=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|colonel_of_the_regiment =
|notable_commanders=[[Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet|Jackie Smyth VC]]<br>[[Thomas Wynford Rees]]
|notable_commanders=[[Brigadier]] [[Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet|Jackie Smyth VC]]<br>[[Major General]] [[Thomas Wynford Rees]]<br>[[Lieutenant general|Lt General]] [[Lakshman Singh Rawat]]<br>[[General]] [[Bipin Rawat]]
<!-- Insignia -->
<!-- Insignia -->
|identification_symbol=
|identification_symbol=
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|battle_honours=
|battle_honours=
}}
}}
The '''19th Indian Infantry Division''' was an [[infantry]] [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[Indian Army during World War II]], and played a prominent part in the final part of the [[Burma Campaign]].
The '''19th Infantry Division''' is an [[infantry]] [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[Indian Army]].


==History==
==History==
⚫
[[File:British 3-inch mortar detachments support the 19th Indian Division's advance along the Mawchi Road, east of Toungoo, Burma.jpg|thumb|left|British [[ML 3-inch mortar|3-inch mortar]] detachments support the 19th Indian Division's advance along the Mawchi Road, east of Toungoo, Burma.]]
⚫
The 19th Indian Infantry Division was raised in [[Secunderabad]], [[British Raj|India]] in October 1941 during the [[World War II|Second World War]] and became part of [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Army]], which was mainly concerned with defence against a possible seaborne invasion by the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]]. The division originally consisted of the [[47th Indian Infantry Brigade|47th]], [[48th Indian Infantry Brigade|48th]] and [[49th Indian Infantry Brigade]]s. The divisions' first [[General officer commanding|General Officer Commanding]] (GOC) was [[Major-general (United_Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet|Sir Jackie Smyth VC]], who left in December to take command of the [[17th Infantry Division (India)|17th Indian Infantry Division]], then fighting in Burma. Between January and April 1942 all three brigades were reassigned and replaced by the [[62nd Indian Infantry Brigade|62nd]], [[64th Indian Infantry Brigade|64th]] and [[98th Indian Infantry Brigade]]s.<ref name="Kempton">{{cite book| first=Chris| last=Kempton| title='Loyalty & Honour'. The Indian Army September 1939 - August 1947. Part I: Divisions| year=2003| publisher=The Military Press| location=Milton Keynes, U.K.| pages=101–105| isbn=0-85420-228-5}}</ref>


⚫
The 19th Indian Infantry Division was raised in [[Secunderabad]], [[British Raj|India]] in October 1941 during the [[World War II|Second World War]] and became part of [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Army]], which was mainly concerned with defence against a possible seaborne invasion by the [[Empire of Japan|Japanese]]. The division originally consisted of the [[47th Indian Infantry Brigade|47th]], [[48th Indian Infantry Brigade|48th]] and [[49th Indian Infantry Brigade]]s. The divisions' first [[General officer commanding|General Officer Commanding]] (GOC) was [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet|Sir Jackie Smyth VC]], who left in December to take command of the [[17th Infantry Division (India)|17th Indian Infantry Division]], then fighting in Burma. Between January and April 1942 all three brigades were reassigned and replaced by the [[62nd Indian Infantry Brigade|62nd]], [[64th Indian Infantry Brigade|64th]] and [[98th Indian Infantry Brigade]]s.<ref name="Kempton">{{cite book| first=Chris| last=Kempton| title='Loyalty & Honour'. The Indian Army September 1939 - August 1947. Part I: Divisions| year=2003| publisher=The Military Press| location=Milton Keynes, U.K.| pages=101–105| isbn=0-85420-228-5}}</ref>
⚫
[[File:IND 004723.jpg|thumb|British [[Ordnance ML 3 inch mortar|3-inch mortar]] detachments support the 19th Indian Division's advance along the Mawchi Road, east of Toungoo, Burma. The mortar proved the most effective weapon in [[jungle warfare]].]]


[[File:The British Army in Burma 1945 SE3271.jpg|thumb|right|Troops of the 19th Indian Division and a Lee tank in action during street fighting in [[Mandalay]], 9–10 March 1945.]]
⚫
After short periods under the command of Major General [[Geoffrey Scoones]] and [[Douglas Stuart (British Indian Army officer)|Douglas Stuart]] the division in October 1942 came under the command Major General [[Thomas Wynford Rees]], who was to become GOC until December 1945. The division spent an extended period on [[internal security]] duties and in training before being committed to the [[Fourteenth Army (United Kingdom)|Fourteenth Army]], commanded by [[Lieutenant-general (United_Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim|Sir William J. "Bill" Slim]], on the [[Burma Campaign 1944&ndash;45|Burma front]] in July 1944.<ref name="Kempton"/> From October the division concentrated on the Imphal plain under [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]] and from November its brigades were involved in operations on the Chindwin River advancing to establish contact with the [[36th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 36th Infantry Division]] advancing from the north on their left.<ref name="Kempton"/> Concentrating once more at Sinlamaung the division came under [[XXXIII Corps (British India)|Indian XXXIII Corps]], and played the major role in the [[Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay|capture of Mandalay]] which was completed on 20 March.<ref name="Kempton"/> Transferred to IV Corps, it guarded the Fourteenth Army's [[line of communication|lines of communication]] and mounted an offensive towards [[Mawchi]], in the [[Shan States]].


[[File:The British Army in Burma 1945 SE3268.jpg|thumb|Casualties of 19th Indian Division being treated in Mandalay, March 1945.]]
[[File:The British Army in Burma 1945 SE3268.jpg|thumb|left|Casualties of the 19th Indian Division being treated in Mandalay, March 1945.]]


⚫
After short periods under the command of Major General [[Geoffry Scoones]] and [[Douglas Stuart (British Indian Army officer)|Douglas Stuart]] the division in October 1942 came under the command Major General [[Thomas Wynford Rees]], who was to become GOC until December 1945. The division spent an extended period on [[internal security]] duties and in training before being committed to the [[Fourteenth Army (United Kingdom)|Fourteenth Army]], commanded by [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] [[William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim|Sir William J. "Bill" Slim]], on the [[Burma Campaign 1944&ndash;45|Burma front]] in July 1944.<ref name="Kempton"/> From October the division concentrated on the Imphal plain under [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]] and from November its brigades were involved in operations on the Chindwin River advancing to establish contact with the [[36th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|British 36th Infantry Division]] advancing from the north on their left.<ref name="Kempton"/> Concentrating once more at Sinlamaung the division came under [[XXXIII Corps (British India)|Indian XXXIII Corps]], and played the major role in the [[Battle of Meiktila and Mandalay|capture of Mandalay]] which was completed on 20 March.<ref name="Kempton"/> Transferred to IV Corps, it guarded the Fourteenth Army's [[line of communication|lines of communication]] and mounted an offensive towards [[Mawchi]], in the [[Kayah State]].
⚫
The division's successes were due to its fitness and high morale. Not having been stationed in the unhealthy mountains on the Indian/Burmese border in 1943, nor fought during the battles in 1944, it had a high proportion of pre-war [[Regular army|regular]] soldiers among its [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]]s and senior [[Non-commissioned officer|Non-Commissioned Officers]]. The 19th Indian Division was occasionally referred to as the "Dagger Division", from its divisional sign, which was a hand thrusting a dagger overhand, in yellow on a red background.


[[File:The British Army in Burma 1945 SE3453.jpg|thumb|right|[[Stuart tank]] of 19th Indian Division passes a destroyed jeep on the outskirts of [[Mandalay]] shortly after the fall of [[Mandalay Palace|Fort Dufferin]], 19 March 1945.]]
⚫
During the Second World War, a large number of brigades were assigned or attached to the division. The included at various points the [[9th Indian Infantry Brigade|9th]], [[47th Indian Infantry Brigade|47th]], [[48th Indian Infantry Brigade|48th]], [[49th Indian Infantry Brigade|49th]], [[62nd Indian Infantry Brigade|62nd]], [[64th Indian Infantry Brigade|64th]], [[98th Indian Infantry Brigade|98th]] and [[99th Indian Infantry Brigade]]s as well as the [[22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2009-10-22|publisher=Order of Battle|title=19 Division units|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6011&Tab=Su}}</ref>

⚫
The division's successes were due to its fitness and high morale. It had a high proportion of pre-war [[Regular army|regular]] soldiers among its [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]]s and senior [[Non-commissioned officer|Non-Commissioned Officers]]. The 19th Indian Division was occasionally referred to as the "Dagger Division", from its divisional sign, which was a hand thrusting a dagger overhand, in yellow on a red background.

⚫
During the Second World War, a large number of brigades were assigned or attached to the division. The included at various points the [[9th Indian Infantry Brigade|9th]], [[47th Indian Infantry Brigade|47th]], [[48th Indian Infantry Brigade|48th]], [[49th Indian Infantry Brigade|49th]], [[62nd Indian Infantry Brigade|62nd]], [[64th Indian Infantry Brigade|64th]], [[98th Indian Infantry Brigade|98th]] and [[99th Indian Infantry Brigade]]s as well as the [[22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2009-10-22|publisher=Order of Battle|title=19 Division units|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6011&Tab=Su}}{{Dead link|date=July 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


==Order of Battle 1 March 1945==
==Order of Battle 1 March 1945==
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* 4th Field Regiment, [[Royal Indian Artillery]]
* 4th Field Regiment, [[Royal Indian Artillery]]
* 5th Field Regiment, Indian Artillery
* 5th Field Regiment, Indian Artillery
* 115th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery
* [[115th (North Midland) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery]]
* 20th Mountain Regiment, Indian Artillery
* 20th Mountain Regiment, Indian Artillery
* 33rd Anti-tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (''mixed anti-tank and light anti-aircraft batteries'')
* 33rd Anti-tank Regiment, Royal Artillery (''mixed anti-tank and light anti-aircraft batteries'')
Line 105: Line 109:
[[Category:Indian World War II divisions]]
[[Category:Indian World War II divisions]]
[[Category:Divisions of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:Divisions of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:British Indian Army divisions]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Burma in World War II|D]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Burma in World War II|D]]

Latest revision as of 09:10, 30 November 2024

19th Infantry Division
Formation sign of the 19th Infantry Division.[1]
Active1941–present
CountryBritish Raj British India
 India
Allegiance British Empire
 India
Branch British Indian Army
 Indian Army
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Nickname(s)"Dagger Division"
EngagementsBurma Campaign
Commanders
Current
commander		Major General Paranvir Singh Punia
SM, VSM
Notable
commanders		Brigadier Jackie Smyth VC
Major General Thomas Wynford Rees
Lt General Lakshman Singh Rawat
General Bipin Rawat

The 19th Infantry Division is an infantry division of the Indian Army.

History

[edit]
British 3-inch mortar detachments support the 19th Indian Division's advance along the Mawchi Road, east of Toungoo, Burma.

The 19th Indian Infantry Division was raised in Secunderabad, India in October 1941 during the Second World War and became part of Southern Army, which was mainly concerned with defence against a possible seaborne invasion by the Japanese. The division originally consisted of the 47th, 48th and 49th Indian Infantry Brigades. The divisions' first General Officer Commanding (GOC) was Major General Sir Jackie Smyth VC, who left in December to take command of the 17th Indian Infantry Division, then fighting in Burma. Between January and April 1942 all three brigades were reassigned and replaced by the 62nd, 64th and 98th Indian Infantry Brigades.[2]

Troops of the 19th Indian Division and a Lee tank in action during street fighting in Mandalay, 9–10 March 1945.
Casualties of the 19th Indian Division being treated in Mandalay, March 1945.

After short periods under the command of Major General Geoffry Scoones and Douglas Stuart the division in October 1942 came under the command Major General Thomas Wynford Rees, who was to become GOC until December 1945. The division spent an extended period on internal security duties and in training before being committed to the Fourteenth Army, commanded by Lieutenant General Sir William J. "Bill" Slim, on the Burma front in July 1944.[2] From October the division concentrated on the Imphal plain under IV Corps and from November its brigades were involved in operations on the Chindwin River advancing to establish contact with the British 36th Infantry Division advancing from the north on their left.[2] Concentrating once more at Sinlamaung the division came under Indian XXXIII Corps, and played the major role in the capture of Mandalay which was completed on 20 March.[2] Transferred to IV Corps, it guarded the Fourteenth Army's lines of communication and mounted an offensive towards Mawchi, in the Kayah State.

Stuart tank of 19th Indian Division passes a destroyed jeep on the outskirts of Mandalay shortly after the fall of Fort Dufferin, 19 March 1945.

The division's successes were due to its fitness and high morale. It had a high proportion of pre-war regular soldiers among its officers and senior Non-Commissioned Officers. The 19th Indian Division was occasionally referred to as the "Dagger Division", from its divisional sign, which was a hand thrusting a dagger overhand, in yellow on a red background.

During the Second World War, a large number of brigades were assigned or attached to the division. The included at various points the 9th, 47th, 48th, 49th, 62nd, 64th, 98th and 99th Indian Infantry Brigades as well as the 22nd (East Africa) Infantry Brigade.[3]

Order of Battle 1 March 1945

[edit]

General Officer Commanding: Major General Thomas Wynford Rees
Commander, Royal Artillery: Brigadier John Alexander MacDonald
Chief of Staff (GSO1): Lieutenant Colonel John Masters

62nd Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier James Ronald Morris)

64th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier John Godfrey Flewett)

98th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Charles Ian Jerrard)

Divisional Troops

Postwar

[edit]

Just before the Indian/Pakistani war of 1965 began, 19th Infantry Division was at Baramula under XV Corps (India). Its brigades were the 104th Brigade, Tithwal, the 161st Brigade, Uri and the 268th Indian Infantry Brigade, Baramula.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Cole, Howard (1973). Formation Badges of World War 2. Britain, Commonwealth and Empire. London: Arms and Armour Press. p. 81.
  2. ^ a b c d Kempton, Chris (2003). 'Loyalty & Honour'. The Indian Army September 1939 - August 1947. Part I: Divisions. Milton Keynes, U.K.: The Military Press. pp. 101–105. ISBN 0-85420-228-5.
  3. ^ "19 Division units". Order of Battle. Retrieved 22 October 2009.[permanent dead link‍]

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
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