23rd Infantry Division (India)

The Indian 23rd Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. It fought in the Burma Campaign.

History
The division was raised on 1 January 1942, at Jhansi in Central India. Its badge was a red fighting cock on a yellow circle. (The animal was chosen by Major General Reginald Savory, the division's first commander, as one which would offend neither the Moslem nor Hindu soldiers of the division.

In May that year, while the division was still forming, it was ordered to Imphal in Manipur, where Burma Corps was retreating, having been driven out of Burma by the Japanese. Imphal lay within the mountainous frontier between India and Burma, and the division was ordered to move while the monsoon season was at its height. Movement was difficult, and disease (mainly malaria, but also typhus) was rampant. The division's chief claim to respect lies in holding its positions in these trying conditions, while also trying to undertake basic training.

On 3 June 1943, Major General Savory was promoted and appointed Director of Infantry in India. The division was temporarily commanded by Brigadier Collingridge of 37th Brigade until 15 August, when Major General Ouvry Lindfield Roberts, who had gained widespread respect by his handling of operations in the Middle East, was appointed.

Battle of Imphal
In March, 1944, the Japanese launched a major attack on the British troops at Imphal. At the time, 23rd Division was the reserve unit for Indian IV Corps. After its previous service in Imphal, the division was no less than 5,000 men short of establishment (about 18,500). This was due mainly to disease, and poor administration in the rear areas in 1943, which prevented many recovering sick men from rejoining the division.

When the Japanese offensive began, Indian 17th Infantry Division was cut off in its forward position at Tiddim. One brigade of 23rd division was left to hold Imphal while the remainder of the division was sent to help extricate the 17th Division. Once the two divisions had linked up, they retreated to Bishenpur south of Imphal, being supplied by parachute drops.

The 23rd Division was then sent to Kanglatongbi, north of Imphal, where Japanese troops had cut the road linking Imphal with India and were threatening a major supply dump. The Japanese were held back while the dump was emptied of stores.

In June, all the divisions at Imphal were reorganised and repositioned. 23rd Division defended the Shenam Saddle southeast of Imphal against the last Japanese attacks in this area.

Operation Zipper
After the end of the Battle of Imphal, the division was withdrawn to India. After recuperating, it began training for future operations in Malaya. Major General Roberts was promoted to command Indian XXXIV Corps, and the division was commanded by Major General Douglas Hawthorn. In mid-1945, the division was due to take part in Operation Zipper, a landing on the west coast of Malaya, as part of XXXIV Corps. Although forestalled by the Japanese surrender, the landing took place unopposed, as the quickest means of sending troops to Malaya to enforce the surrender.

Later that year, the division was sent to Java, where the end of the war had brought widespread disorder and conflict between the restored Dutch East Indies colonial regime and pro-independence movements. The division was broken up in Java, and its units were merged into Indian 5th Infantry Division.

Order of battle
as of 1st April, 1944
 * GOC Major General Ouvry Roberts


 * 1st Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier A. King)
 * 1st Bn. Seaforth Highlanders
 * 1st Bn. 16th Punjab Regiment
 * 1st Bn. Patiala Infantry Regiment (State forces)


 * 37th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier P. C. Marindin)
 * 3rd Bn. 3rd Gurkha Rifles
 * 3rd Bn. 5th Gurkha Rifles
 * 3rd Bn. 10th Gurkha Rifles


 * 49th Indian Infantry Brigade (Brigadier F. Esse)
 * 4th Bn. 5th Mahratta Light Infantry
 * 6th Bn. 5th Mahratta Light Infantry
 * 6th Bn. 6th Rajputana Rifles


 * Divisional Units
 * 2nd Bn. 19th Hyderabad Regiment (divisional reconnaissance unit)
 * 4th Bn. 12th Frontier Force Regiment (divisional machine-gun unit)


 * 3 Field Regiment Royal Indian Artillery (IA)
 * 28 Mountain Regiment IA
 * 2 Anti-Tank/Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment IA


 * 23 Indian Infantry Division Provost Unit
 * 23 Indian Infantry Division Signal Unit


 * 69, 71, 91 Field Companies Royal Indian Engineers (IE)
 * 305 Field Park Company IE


 * 21, 24, 50, 61 Animal Transport Companies Indian Army Service Corps (IASC)
 * 121, 122, 123 General Purpose Transport Companies IASC
 * 12, 13, 14, 15 Composite Units IASC


 * 24, 47, 49 Indian Field Ambulances, Indian Army Medical Corps (IAMC)


 * 23 Ordnance Field Park, Indian Army Ordnance Corps (IAOC)


 * 38, 61 Infantry Workshop Companies, Indian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (IEME)
 * 23 Indian Division Recovery Company IEME

Assigned brigades
All theses brigades were assigned or attached to the division at some time during World War II
 * 63rd Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 98th Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 64th Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 23rd Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 1st Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 49th Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 123rd Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 37th Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 50th Indian Parachute Brigade
 * 32nd Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 37th Indian Infantry Brigade
 * 268th Indian Infantry Brigade
 * British 5th Infantry Brigade