11th Infantry Division (India)

The 11th Indian Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. It formed part of Indian III Corps in the Malaya Command during the Battle of Malaya.

For the World War I formation, see 11th Indian Division.

11th Indian Infantry Division
Active15 September 1940–15 February 1942
CountryIndia
AllegianceBritish Indian Army
Indian Army
BranchArmy
TypeInfantry
SizeDivision
Part ofIndian III Corps
EngagementsBattle of Malaya
Battle of Jitra
Battle of Slim River
Battle of Singapore
Commanders
Notable
commanders		David Murray-Lyon
Archibald Paris
Billy Key
Insignia
Identification
symbol

History
Men of the 2/9th Gurkha Rifles training in the Malayan jungle, October 1941.

It was originally commanded by Major-General Murray-Lyon until 24 December 1941. Under Murray-Lyon the 11th Indian Division was defeated at the Battle of Jitra and suffered some of its worst casualties during the retreat from Jitra and at the Battle of Gurun.

Murray-Lyon was fired by Lieut. Gen. Arthur Percival and replaced by Brig. A.C.M. Paris and then Maj. Gen. Billy Key. This division suffered such heavy casualties during the early stages of the campaign, that the 1st Leicesters and the 2nd East Surreys were forced to amalgamate, becoming the British Battalion and the 1/8th Punjab and the 2/9th Jats were also amalgamated, becoming the Jat-Punjab Battalion. The 6th and 15th Infantry Brigades were also amalgamated becoming the 6th/15th Indian Infantry Brigade.

After the Battle of Jitra the 11th Division, under Major-General Paris, inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese at the Battle of Kampar, but was almost completely destroyed at the Battle of Slim River. The division was reformed in Singapore with the remains of the 9th Indian Division.

The 11th Indian Division surrendered to the Japanese on 15 February 1942, along with about 130,000 other British and Commonwealth soldiers, when Singapore was surrendered.

Formation

On 10 December 1941, for more details of the brigade units see the individual brigade articles

6th Indian Infantry Brigade

Brig. William Oswald Lay

15th Indian Infantry Brigade

Brig. K.A. Garrett/ W. St. John Carpendale

28th Indian Infantry Brigade

Brig. W.St.John Carpendale/ Ray Selby

  • 2nd Battalion, 1st Gurkha Rifles - Lieut.Col.Jack Fulton (Died of wounds as a P.O.W)
  • 2nd Battalion, 2nd Gurkha Rifles - Lieut. Col. G.H.D. Woollcombe
  • 2nd Battalion, 9th Gurkha Rifles - Lieut.Col.W.R.(Ray) Selby[3]

Support units
  • 3rd Cavalry - Lieut. Col. C.P.G.De Winton
  • 1st Battalion, Bahawalpur Infantry, Indian State Forces - Lieut.Col. H.E.Tyrell
  • 137th Field Regiment - Lieut. Col. Charles Holmes Royal Artillery (RA) (24x25pdrs)
  • 155th (Lanarkshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery - Lieut. Col. Augustus Murdoch (16x4.5 inch Howitzers)
  • 22nd Mountain Regiment - Lieut. Col. G.L.Hughes Indian Artillery (IA) (12x3.7 inch Howitzers)
  • 80th Anti-Tank Regiment RA - Lieut. Col. W.E.S.Napier (48x2pdrs/47mm Breda)
  • 3rd Field Company, Indian Engineers (IE)
  • 17th Field Company IE
  • 23rd Field Company IE
  • 46th Army Troops Company IE
  • 43rd Field Park Company IE[4]

Assigned brigades

All these brigades were assigned or attached to the division at some time during World War II

Re-raising

11 Infantry Division was re-raised by the Indian Army, and is headquartered at Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

References
  1. "6 Indian Brigade Units". Order of Battle. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  2. "15 Indian Brigade Units". Order of Battle. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  3. "28 Infantry Brigade units". Order of Battle. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 19 October 2009.
  4. "11 Division units". Order of Battle. Archived from the original on 14 March 2007. Retrieved 22 October 2009.

Further reading
  • Colin Smith (2006). Singapore Burning. England: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-101036-6.
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