Indian III Corps
Encyclopedia
The III Corps was a formation of the Indian Army during World War I formed in Mesopotamia
. Prior to the reorganization of the British and Indian forces in Mesopotamia, it was designated as the Tigris Corps.
A new III Corps was formed in the Second World War for service in South East Asia.
. Under Frederick Stanley Maude
it took part in the Mesopotamian campaign
.
Among its component divisions during World War I were the Cavalry Division, 3rd (Lahore) Division
, 6th (Poona) Division
, 7th (Meerut) Division
, 12th Indian Division
, 14th Indian Division
, 17th Indian Division
, and 18th Indian Division
.
in 1942. It was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Lewis "Piggy" Heath
.
III Corps was formed in mid-1941 as part of the Malaya Command
when the increase in tension in the Far East
necessitated the dispatch of large reinforcements to the area to deter Japan
. On 7 December 1941 the Corps consisted of the Indian 9th Infantry Division
, commanded by Major-General Barstow
, the Indian 11th Infantry Division, commanded by Major-General Murray-Lyon, a Lines of Communication Area, and the Penang Fortress. Due to the rapid expansion of the British Indian Army
, many of the formations in the Indian divisions were ill-trained and lacked large enough cadres of experienced troops.
The British had plans - Operation Matador
and Operation Krohcol
to move forward into the south of Siam
to forestall Japanese advances. However, lack of forewarning, combined with caution over upsetting Japan needlessly with precipitate actions, prevented the plans from being implemented. This put the garrison on the defensive, a position from which it never recovered.
III Corps was pushed down the Malayan peninsula by Japanese units, who employed novel tactics. When confronted with an Allied strong point on a road, the Japanese troops would leave a screen in front of the position, and then send infiltrators round through the jungle to outflank the position. Having been surrounded, positions were usually relatively easy to take. III Corps and the rest of the Allied land forces were pushed back to Singapore
itself by February 1942. There they endured a short siege before the island surrendered at the direction of General Arthur Percival. Some of the prisoners taken from Indian III Corps subsequently joined the Indian National Army
.
, a new III Corps was raised by the Indian Army
in the 1980s. It is based at Dimapur
in north east India, and contains mountain formations and is tasked for use in any future Indian war against China
. Jane's
estimates that it consists of:
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
. Prior to the reorganization of the British and Indian forces in Mesopotamia, it was designated as the Tigris Corps.
A new III Corps was formed in the Second World War for service in South East Asia.
First World War
Initially formed in December 1915, it was split into two in November 1916 to form the I CorpsI Corps (British India)
for the current Indian Army formation see I Corps The I Indian Corps was an army corps of the British Indian Army in World War I. It was formed at the outbreak of war under the title Indian Corps from troops sent to the Western Front. The British Indian Army did not have a pre-war corps structure,...
. Under Frederick Stanley Maude
Frederick Stanley Maude
Lieutenant General Sir Frederick Stanley Maude KCB, CMG, DSO was a British commander, most famous for his efforts in Mesopotamia during World War I and for conquering Baghdad in 1917.-Family:...
it took part in the Mesopotamian campaign
Mesopotamian Campaign
The Mesopotamian campaign was a campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I fought between the Allies represented by the British Empire, mostly troops from the Indian Empire, and the Central Powers, mostly of the Ottoman Empire.- Background :...
.
Among its component divisions during World War I were the Cavalry Division, 3rd (Lahore) Division
3rd (Lahore) Division
The 3rd Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army, first organised in 1852. It saw service during World War I as part of the Indian Corps in France before being moved to the Middle East where it fought against troops of the Ottoman Empire.-Pre-Mutiny:The Lahore Division first...
, 6th (Poona) Division
6th (Poona) Division
For the World War II formation see 6th Infantry Division The 6th Division was a division of the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1903, following the Kitchener reforms of the Indian Army.-World War I:...
, 7th (Meerut) Division
7th (Meerut) Division
The 7th Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army that saw active service during World War I.-Pre-Mutiny:The Meerut Division first appeared in the Indian Army List in 1829, under the command of Sir Jasper Nicolls, KCB...
, 12th Indian Division
12th Indian Division
For the World War II formation see 12th Indian Infantry DivisionThe 12th Indian Division was formed in March 1915 from units of the British Indian Army. It formed part of the Tigris Corps, for service during the Mesopotamia Campaign of World War I...
, 14th Indian Division
14th Indian Division
For the World War II formation see 14th Indian Infantry DivisionThe 14th Indian Division was formed during World War I, for service in the Mesopotamia Campaign...
, 17th Indian Division
17th Indian Division
The 17th Indian Division was formed in 1917 from units of the British Indian Army for service in the Mesopotamia Campaign during World War I. The division was involved in the Action at Fat-ha Gorge on the Little Zab between October 23–26, 1918 and the Battle of Sharqat, October 28–30, 1918...
, and 18th Indian Division
18th Indian Division
The 18th Indian Division was formed during World War I in 1917 from units of the British Indian Army, for service in Mesopotamia and Persia, in what was called the Mesopotamia Campaign...
.
Second World War
The British Indian III Corps was the primary ground formation that took part in the Battle of MalayaBattle of Malaya
The Malayan Campaign was a campaign fought by Allied and Japanese forces in Malaya, from 8 December 1941 – 31 January 1942 during the Second World War. The campaign was dominated by land battles between British Commonwealth army units, and the Imperial Japanese Army...
in 1942. It was commanded by Lieutenant-General Sir Lewis "Piggy" Heath
Lewis Heath
Lieutenant-General Sir Lewis Macclesfield Heath, KBE, CB, CIE, DSO, MC was an officer in the British Army and the Indian Army during the pre-World War I years, World War I, the interwar years, and World War II...
.
III Corps was formed in mid-1941 as part of the Malaya Command
Malaya Command
The Malaya Command was a command of British Commonwealth forces formed in the 1920s for the coordination of the defences of Malaya and Singapore.-History:...
when the increase in tension in the Far East
Far East
The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia and Southeast Asia, with South Asia sometimes also included for economic and cultural reasons.The term came into use in European geopolitical discourse in the 19th century,...
necessitated the dispatch of large reinforcements to the area to deter Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. On 7 December 1941 the Corps consisted of the Indian 9th Infantry Division
Indian 9th Infantry Division
The 9th Indian Infantry Division was an Indian division which formed part of Indian III Corps in the Malaya Command of the Indian Army during World War II during the Battle of Malaya. It was commanded by Major-General Barstow.-History:...
, commanded by Major-General Barstow
Arthur Edward Barstow
Major-General Arthur Edward "Bustling Bill" Barstow CIE MC was an officer in the Indian Army and commanded the Indian 9th Infantry Division during the Battle of Malaya. He was killed by the Japanese on 28 January 1942 while trying to cross a demolished railway bridge near Layang Layang village...
, the Indian 11th Infantry Division, commanded by Major-General Murray-Lyon, a Lines of Communication Area, and the Penang Fortress. Due to the rapid expansion of the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, many of the formations in the Indian divisions were ill-trained and lacked large enough cadres of experienced troops.
The British had plans - Operation Matador
Operation Matador
Operation Matador may refer to:*Operation Matador , a proposed plan to counter any Imperial Japanese perceived threat to British Malaya*Operation Matador , a Burma campaign operation during World War II...
and Operation Krohcol
Operation Krohcol
Operation Krohcol, or the Battle for The Ledge, was a British operation in December 1941 to move into southern Thailand following the Japanese invasion of Malaya and of Thailand during World War II...
to move forward into the south of Siam
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
to forestall Japanese advances. However, lack of forewarning, combined with caution over upsetting Japan needlessly with precipitate actions, prevented the plans from being implemented. This put the garrison on the defensive, a position from which it never recovered.
III Corps was pushed down the Malayan peninsula by Japanese units, who employed novel tactics. When confronted with an Allied strong point on a road, the Japanese troops would leave a screen in front of the position, and then send infiltrators round through the jungle to outflank the position. Having been surrounded, positions were usually relatively easy to take. III Corps and the rest of the Allied land forces were pushed back to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
itself by February 1942. There they endured a short siege before the island surrendered at the direction of General Arthur Percival. Some of the prisoners taken from Indian III Corps subsequently joined the Indian National Army
Indian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
.
Post independence
After the independence of IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, a new III Corps was raised by 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...
in the 1980s. It is based at Dimapur
Dimapur
Dimapur in Nagaland is bounded by Kohima district on the south and east, Karbi Anglong district of Assam on the West, the Karbi Anglong and stretch of Golaghat District of Assam, in the west and the north...
in north east India, and contains mountain formations and is tasked for use in any future Indian war against China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. Jane's
Jane's Information Group
Jane's Information Group is a publishing company specializing in transportation and military topics.-History:It was founded by Fred T...
estimates that it consists of:
- 23rd Infantry Division23rd 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...
headquartered at RanchiRanchi-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...
, BiharBiharBihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
. Raised 1963. - 56th Infantry Division headquartered at Zakhama, NagalandNagalandNagaland is a state in the far north-eastern part of India. It borders the state of Assam to the west, Arunachal Pradesh and part of Assam to the north, Burma to the east and Manipur to the south. The state capital is Kohima, and the largest city is Dimapur...
Reportedly operational October 2009. Includes 46 Brigade (DibangDibangDibang, a senior journalist and debate show host with the news channel Star News, is rated amongst the best Hindi anchors in the industry today. He was the Managing Editor of NDTV India, a 24 hour Hindi news channel. As the Executive Editor, he was the launching face for NDTV India. Before joining...
) and the 22 Brigade (LekhapaniLekhapani-Location:Lekhapani is connected by National Highway 38 to Makum. National Highway 153 which connects Ledo to Indo-Myanmar border at Moreh Town passes through Lekhapani.-Economy:...
), though 22 Brigade may shift to 2nd Mountain Division. - 57th Mountain Division headquartered at LeimakhongLeimakhongLeimakhong is a place in Manipur State, North-Eastern India. It is located 20 km from Imphal, the capital of Manipur. Leimakhong has a heavy-fuel based power plant of capacity 36 MW .This Power Plant was built by B.H.E.L and key persons were Mr. S K Pagariya, Mr. H K Sundi and Mr...
. Raised in 1966 for counterinsurgency operations in MizoramMizoramMizoram is one of the Seven Sister States in North Eastern India, sharing borders with the states of Tripura, Assam, Manipur and with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh and Burma. Mizoram became the 23rd state of India on 20 February 1987. Its capital is Aizawl. Mizoram is located in the...
. Until 1990 headquartered at Aizawi with III Corps. Globalsecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.orgGlobalSecurity.org, launched in 2000, is a public policy organization focusing on the fields of defense, space exploration, intelligence, weapons of mass destruction and homeland security...
reports the 57 Mountain Division headquarters are at Masimpur near Silchar. The formation and units of 57 Mountain Division are deployed in some of the remotest corner of Manipur and Indo-Burmese border. 57th Mountain Division took part in the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971Indo-Pakistani War of 1971The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan. Indian, Bangladeshi and international sources consider the beginning of the war to be Operation Chengiz Khan, Pakistan's December 3, 1971 pre-emptive strike on 11 Indian airbases...
as part of IV Corps (India)IV Corps (India)-The IV Corps in the India Pakistan War 1971:"Under the command of Lieutenant General Sagat Singh the IV Corps, with all eight East Bengal Regiment battalions, had already made some gains before the war. An enclave south of Akaura served as a springboard for 57 Division, which advanced along the...
.
External links
- Australian War Memorial: Remembering 1942 The fall of Singapore, 15 February 1942
- http//www.orbat.com (History; Niehorster)
- Army's first mountain division for China border, November 2009