161st Indian Infantry Brigade
Encyclopedia
The 161st Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry formation of the Indian Army
. It was formed in November 1941 and assigned to the 5th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade were then sent to Cyprus
as a garrison in case of a German invasion. In April 1942, they were sent to Egypt and took part in the Western Desert Campaign
as they has they had been re organised as a motor brigade they were attached to the British 10th Armoured Division
for the First Battle of El Alamein
between June and July 1942. Returning to the 5th Division they were sent to Burma
. In Burma they were attached to a number of divisions; British 2nd Infantry Division
between April and May 1944, 7th Indian Infantry Division between May and June 1944, during the Battle of Kohima
. They then returned to the 5th Division until March 1945, when the wer4 once again with the 7th Division. At the end of March the once again returned to the 5th Division until the end of the war. They ended the war at sea as part of the force assembled to invade Malaya.
The brigade, now dropping the epithet "Indian", became part of the Indian Army
after India's independence
, the 5th Infantry Division moving to Ranchi
. A number of units of the formation, including 161 Infantry Brigade, were called to Punjab to help curb the violence being afflicted on refugees during partition
. The brigade was urgently airlifted in an ad hoc manner to Srinagar
in Jammu and Kashmir
to halt the tribal invasion during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
. The brigade successfully prevented the fall of Srinagar, fought the battles of Badgam
and Shalateng, reinforced Poonch
garrison, distinguished itself in recapture of Uri
and the successful ejection of tribals from the Jhelum
valley.
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. It was formed in November 1941 and assigned to the 5th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade were then sent to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
as a garrison in case of a German invasion. In April 1942, they were sent to Egypt and took part in the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
as they has they had been re organised as a motor brigade they were attached to the British 10th Armoured Division
British 10th Armoured Division
The 10th Armoured Division was a British Army armoured division active from 1941-44 and 1956-57. It was formed from the 1st Cavalry Division, a 1st Line Yeomanry unit. The 1st Cavalry Division had been serving in Palestine...
for the First Battle of El Alamein
First Battle of El Alamein
The First Battle of El Alamein was a battle of the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War, fought between Axis forces of the Panzer Army Africa commanded by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel, and Allied forces The First Battle of El Alamein (1–27 July 1942) was a battle of the Western Desert...
between June and July 1942. Returning to the 5th Division they were sent to Burma
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
. In Burma they were attached to a number of divisions; British 2nd Infantry Division
British 2nd Infantry Division
The 2nd Division is a regular division of the British army, with a long history. It dates its existence as a permanently embodied formation from 1809, when it was established by Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Wellesley , as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, for service in the Peninsular War...
between April and May 1944, 7th Indian Infantry Division between May and June 1944, during the Battle of Kohima
Battle of Kohima
The Battle of Kohima was the turning point of the Japanese U Go offensive into India in 1944 in the Second World War. The battle was fought from 4 April to 22 June 1944 around the town of Kohima in northeast India. It is often referred to as the "Stalingrad of the East".The battle took place in...
. They then returned to the 5th Division until March 1945, when the wer4 once again with the 7th Division. At the end of March the once again returned to the 5th Division until the end of the war. They ended the war at sea as part of the force assembled to invade Malaya.
The brigade, now dropping the epithet "Indian", became part of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
after India's independence
Independence Day (India)
The Independence Day of India is celebrated on the fifteenth of August to commemorate its independence from British rule and its birth as a sovereign nation in 1947. The day is a national holiday in India. All over the country, flag-hoisting ceremonies are conducted by the local administration in...
, the 5th Infantry Division moving to Ranchi
Ranchi
-Climate:Ranchi has a humid subtropical climate. However, due to its position and the forests around the city, it is known for its pleasant climate. Its climate is the primary reason why Ranchi was once the summer capital of the undivided State of Bihar...
. A number of units of the formation, including 161 Infantry Brigade, were called to Punjab to help curb the violence being afflicted on refugees during partition
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
. The brigade was urgently airlifted in an ad hoc manner to Srinagar
Srinagar
Srinagar is the summer seasonal capital of Jammu and Kashmir. It is situated in Kashmir Valley and lies on the banks of the Jhelum River, a tributary of the Indus. It is one of the largest cities in India not to have a Hindu majority. The city is famous for its gardens, lakes and houseboats...
in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
to halt the tribal invasion during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
The India-Pakistan War of 1947-48, sometimes known as the First Kashmir War, was fought between India and Pakistan over the princely state of Kashmir and Jammu from 1947 to 1948. It was the first of four wars fought between the two newly independent nations...
. The brigade successfully prevented the fall of Srinagar, fought the battles of Badgam
Battle of Badgam
The Battle of Badgam was a small defensive encounter which took place at Badgam in the Kashmir valley on 3 November 1947 between troops of the Indian Army and tribal raiders from Pakistan during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947...
and Shalateng, reinforced Poonch
Poonch
Poonch is a town and a municipal committee in Poonch District in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. Based on the Mahābhārata evidence, and the evidence from 7th Chinese traveler Xuanzang, the districts of Poonch along with Rajauri and Abhisara had been under the sway of the Republican Kambojas...
garrison, distinguished itself in recapture of Uri
Úri
Úriis a village and commune in the comitatus of Pest in Hungary....
and the successful ejection of tribals from the Jhelum
Jhelum River
Jehlum River or Jhelum River , ) is a river that flows in India and Pakistan. It is the largest and most western of the five rivers of Punjab, and passes through Jhelum District...
valley.
Formation
- 3/7th Rajput Regiment7th Rajput RegimentThe 7th Rajput Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, after the Indian government decided to reform the army moving away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
November 1941 to July 1942 - 4/7th Rajput Regiment7th Rajput RegimentThe 7th Rajput Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1922, after the Indian government decided to reform the army moving away from single battalion regiments to multi battalion regiments...
November 1941 to August 1945 - 1/4th Essex RegimentEssex RegimentThe Essex Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army that saw active service from 1881 to 1958. Members of the regiment were recruited from across Essex county. Its lineage is continued by the Royal Anglian Regiment.-Origins:...
November 1941 to March 1942 - 1/2nd Punjab Regiment2nd Punjab RegimentThe 2nd Punjab Regiment was a British Indian Army regiment from 1922 to the partition of India in 1947.The regiment was formed by the amalgamation of other regiments:*1st Battalion, from the 67th Punjabis, formerly the 7th Regiment of Madras Native Infantry...
April to July 1942 - 1/1st Punjab Regiment1st Punjab RegimentThe 1st Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to the Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 14th, 15th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956, to form the Punjab Regiment....
April 1942 to August 1945 - 1st Argyll and Sutherland HighlandersArgyll and Sutherland HighlandersThe Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
August to November 1942 - 4th Queen's Own West Kent Regiment December 1942 to June 1945
- 28th Field Regiment, Royal ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryThe Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
May to June 1943 - 25th Dragoons25th DragoonsThe 25th Dragoons was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1941 to 1947.The regiment was raised in Sialkot, India, in February 1941 from a cadre of personnel taken from the 3rd Carabiniers along with volunteers from infantry regiments...
January to February 1944 - 2nd Suffolk RegimentSuffolk RegimentThe Suffolk Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army with a history dating back to 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the Royal Norfolk Regiment as the 1st East Anglian Regiment in 1959...
February to March 1944 - 1st Burma Regiment March to April 1944
- 3/4th Gurkha Rifles June to August 1945