User:Coldstreamer20/Presidency and Assam District

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Presidency and Assam District was a military district of the British Indian Army. Originally formed following the 1903 Kitchener Reforms of the Indian Army, the district would form the basis of XV Indian Corps when the Indian Army was reorganised.

Formation sign of the 202nd Lines of Communications Area.[1]

History

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Presidency and Assam District was a military district formed in 1920 as part of a reorganisation of the Indian Army. These reforms saw the army's former divisions and brigades broken up along with the merger of many regiments within the army. The divisions were reorganised as 'Districts', while the brigades became new brigades or brigade areas. In Eastern Command, the former Presidency Brigade was expanded to become the new Presidency and Assam District.[2][3][4][5][6] Eastern Command was responsible for a large area: Delhi Province; Rohtak and Gurgaon District; Dujana and Pataudi States of the Punjab Province; Bawat (Nabha); The United Provinces; United Provinces States; Rajputana (less some districts); the combined Bundelkhand and Bahelkhand Agency of Central India; Piklon (Bhopal); Gwailor State (less some districts); Bihar; Orissa; the Eastern States Agency (less some states); Bengal; the Bengal States; Assam; and the Manipur State. The new command consisted of three subordinate districts: Meerut District (becoming 3rd Indian Division on mobilisation), Lucknow District, and the Presidency & Assam District.[2][3][4][5][6]

The new district – as the name suggests – was responsible for not just the Province of Assam and former Presidency of Bengal (now Bengal Province), but also the Princely State of Manipur. In the September 1939 Army List, the district is listed as a '2nd Class' district, indicating it was to be commanded by a two-star major-general and remain a rear area formation upon mobilisation.[3][4][5][7]

With the outbreak of war with Japan in 1941, Eastern Command was redesignated as Eastern Army on 13 April 1942, and its district reorganised. Among the changes was the expansion of the district to form the new Headquarters, XV Indian Corps and the Assam Division. Along with these two formations, the district also provided some personnel to form Headquarters, 26th Indian Infantry Division.[3][4][7][8][9][10]

Formation sign of the 303rd Lines of Communications Area.

XV Indian Corps was headquartered in Barrackpore and consisted of the 14th Indian Infantry Division in Comilla (47th & 49th Indian Infantry Brigades) and 26th Indian Infantry Division (4th, 36th, 71st, and 109th Indian Infantry Brigades and 1st Indian Anti-Aircraft Brigade). The Assam Division was headquartered in Jorhat and consisted of the 1st Indian Infantry Brigade and 9th Indian Anti-Aircraft Brigade.[4][10][11]

In August 1942, Eastern Army was reorganised into three new 'Lines of Communication Areas' (LOC Area), which were formed to relieve the operational corps of the responsibility for internal security and other-non-operational commitments. Among the new LOC Areas, was the 202nd Lines of Communication Area (initially known as Lines of Communication Area, Burma) headquartered in Dimapur. There was also the 303rd Lines of Communication Area, headquartered in Calcutta. However, on 15 October 1943, Eastern Army was dispersed and split into 14th Army and a new Eastern Command. 202nd and 404th LOC Areas subsequently joined the 14th Army and provided rear area support during Operation U-Go while the 101st and 303rd LOC Areas joined a reorganised Eastern Command.[4][8][12][13]

In March 1944, the 202nd LOC Area was involved in the Battle of Kohima, where it was left in charge of the garrison of the city, as part of the XXXIII Corps.[14] During the operation, the area commanded the 161st (Essex) Infantry Brigade and the separate 1st Battalion, Assam Regiment.[15] Within 'Zone 2', XXXIII Corps included the 2nd Division, 23rd, 33rd, 161st, and Lushai Brigades, 202nd LOC Area, the Fort Hertz garrison, and other troops.[16]

On 15 November 1944, the 14th Army formed 'Lines of Communication Command', headed by Major-General G. W. Symes which grouped all the army's LOC areas into a single command. This saw the 202nd LOC Area reorganised: its headquarters moved to Gauhati and divided into five 'sub-areas', commanded by brigadiers: 251st, 252nd, 253rd, 256th, and 257th LOC Sub-Areas.[17][18]

Following the end of the war, the 303rd LOC Area was renamed as Bengal and Assam District headquartered in Calcutta, while 202nd LOC Area became Bihar and Orissa Area headquartered in Dinapore. However, following the Partition of India in 1947, the districts were finally disbanded.[4][8][12]

Composition

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1939

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The district's peacetime organisation in 1939 (including Indian State Forces) was as follows:[3][5][19][20][21][22][23]

  • Presidency and Assam District
    • Headquarters, in Jalapahur
    • The Governor's Bodyguards, Bengal, in Calcutta
    • Eastern Bengal Brigade Area: Brigadier Harold Wyn Goldfrap DSO MC
    • 2nd Battalion, The Border Regiment, at Fort William, Calcutta
      • Detachment, in Alipore
      • Detachment, in Ballygunge
      • Detachment, in Hastings
      • Detachment, in Cossipure
    • 1st Battalion, The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), in Barrackpore
      • Detachment, in Ishapore
      • Detachment, in Darjeeling
    • 1st Battalion, The Northamptonshire Regiment, in Dinapore
      • 1 x Company, in Muzzaffarpur
      • 'C' Company, at Port Blair, Andaman Islands
    • 1st Battalion, 4th Bombay Grenadiers, in Midnapore
      • 1 x Company, in Saidpur
    • 1st Battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment, in Alipore
      • Detachment, in Gyantse
      • Detachment, in Yatung
    • 1st Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles, in Digboi
    • 2nd Battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles, in Shillong
    • 11th (Territorial) Battalion, 19th Hyderabad Regiment, in Dinapore (Indian Territorial Force)
    • 5th (Bengal Presidency) Battalion, Urban Infantry, in Calcutta (Indian Territorial Force)
    • 2nd (Caluctta) Battalion, University Training Corps, in Calcutta (Indian Territorial Force)
    • 7th (Patna) Company, University Training Corps, in Patna (Indian Territorial Force)
    • No. 8 D. S. Company, Royal Indian Army Service Corps, in Calcutta
      • Detachment, in Darjeeling
      • Detachment, in Dinapore
      • Detachment, in Gyantse
      • Detachment, in Muzzaffarpur
      • Detachment, in Yatung
    • No. 70 Section, No. 4 W/S (Mechanical Transport), Royal Indian Army Service Corps, in Calcutta
    • Detachment, No. 3 MAU, Royal Indian Army Service Corps, in Calcutta
    • Detachment, D Company, Indian Army Ordnance Corps
    • Ordnance Depot, Indian Army Ordnance Corps
    • Tripura State Forces, in Tripura

1944/1945

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202nd LOC Area

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The 202nd LOC Area had the following order of battle in May 1945:[17][24]

  • 202nd Lines of Communication Area
    • Headquarters, in Gauhati
    • 251st Lines of Communication Sub-Area
    • 252nd Lines of Communication Sub-Area
    • 253rd Lines of Communication Sub-Area
    • 256th Lines of Communication Sub-Area
    • 257th Lines of Communication Sub-Area
    • 43rd Indian General Hospital (British Troops), in Manipur Road
    • 44th Indian General Hospital (Combined), in Margherita
    • 59th Indian General Hospital (British Troops), in Manipur Road
    • 66th Indian General Hospital (Combined), in Manipur Road
    • 87th Indian General Hospital (Combined), in Imphal
    • 88th Indian General Hospital (Combined), in Tamu Road
    • 89th Indian General Hospital (Combined), in Moreh
    • 94th Indian General Hospital (Combined), in Margherita
    • District Laboratory, in Shillong
    • 25th (Indian) Field Laboratory, in Manipur Road
    • 30th (Indian) Field Laboratory, in Digboi
    • 31st (Indian) Field Laboratory, in Imphal
    • 36th (Indian) Field Laboratory, in Kohima
    • 42nd (Indian) Field Laboratory, in Jorhat
    • 52nd (Indian) Field Laboratory, in Moreh
    • 53rd (Indian) Field Laboratory, in Imphal
    • 57th (Indian) Field Laboratory, in Imphal
    • 10th (Indian) Mobile Surgical Unit
    • 8th (Indian) Mobile Ophthalmic Unit, in Manipur Road
    • 11th (Indian) Otolaryngology Surgical Unit, in Manipur Road
    • 6th (Indian) Subsidiary Spectacle Centre, in Imphal
    • 28th (Indian) X-ray Unit, in Gauhati
    • 32nd (Indian) X-ray Unit, in Imphal
    • 37th (Indian) X-ray Unit, in Shillong
    • 50th (Indian) X-ray Unit, in Manipur Road
    • 61st (Indian) X-ray Unit, in Sylhet
    • 76th (Indian) X-ray Unit, in Imphal
    • 89th (Indian) X-ray Servicing Unit, in Jorhat
    • 36th (Indian) Field Hygiene Section, in Manipur Road
    • 46th (Indian) Field Hygiene Section, in Manipur Road
    • 7th (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Palel
    • 9th (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Manipur Road
    • 21st (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Imphal
    • 22nd (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Kalewa Road
    • 24th (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Manipur Road
    • 25th (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Silchar
    • 27th (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Lumding
    • 28th (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Gauhati
    • 31st (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Tinsukia
    • 36th (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Moreh
    • 61st (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Ledo
    • 62nd (Indian) Anti-Malaria Unit, in Kangla
    • 24th (Indian) Staging Section (Indian Troops), in Dhubri
    • 26th (Indian) Staging Section (Indian Troops), in Ledo
    • 28th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Palel
    • 36th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Bongaigaon
    • 40th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Sookerating
    • 41st (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Namrup
    • 57th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Nowgong
    • 58th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Haflong
    • 60th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Mariani
    • 62nd (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Chandranathpur
    • 64th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Sylhet
    • 68th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Kalewa
    • 69th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Taukkyan
    • 70th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Shwebo
    • 72nd (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Lumding
    • 73rd (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Sookerating
    • 77th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Bhamo
    • 78th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Myitkyina
    • 86th (Indian) Staging Section (Combined), in Moreh
    • 14th (Indian) Ambulance Train (Machine-Gun), in Dibrugarh
    • 17th (Indian) Ambulance Train (Machine-Gun), in Manipur Road
    • 19th (Indian) Ambulance Train (Machine-Gun), in Manipur Road
    • 68th (Indian) Army Dental Centre (Indian Troops), in Shillong
    • 4th (Indian) Dental Mechanised Unit, in Shillong
    • 26th (Indian) Dental Mechanised Unit, in Manipur Road
    • 27th (Indian) Dental Mechanised Unit, in Gauhati
    • 57th (Indian) Dental Unit (British Troops), in Manipur Road
    • 58th (Indian) Dental Unit (British Troops), in Gauhati
    • 71st (Indian) Dental Unit (Indian Troops), in Shillong
    • 78th (Indian) Dental Unit (Indian Troops), in Gauhati
    • 8th (Indian) Convalescent Depot (British Troops), in Shillong
    • 9th (Indian) Convalescent Depot (Indian Troops), in Shillong
    • 16th (Indian) Convalescent Depot (Indian Troops), in Shillong
    • 17th (Indian) Convalescent Depot (Indian Troops), in Dibrugarh
    • 25th (Indian) Convalescent Depot (British Troops), in Shillong
    • 45th (Indian) Convalescent Depot (Indian Troops), in Kohima
    • 24th (Indian) Base Depot Medical Stores, in Ledo
    • 27th (Indian) Depot Medical Stores, in Gauhati
    • 29th (Indian) Depot Medical Stores, in Manipur Road
    • 47th (Indian) Sub-depot Medical Stores, in Ledo
    • British Military Hospital, Shillong
    • Combined Military Hospital, Dibrugarh
    • Combined Military Hospital, Digboi
    • Combined Military Hospital, Silchar
    • Indian Military Hospital, Shillong
    • Northern Field Dental Centre (Class 'B'), in Shillong

303rd LOC Area

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The 303rd LOC Area had the following order of battle in 1944:[25]

Commanders

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Commanders of the combined district included:[7]

  • 10 November 1920 – 10 November 1924: Major-General Thomas Astley Cubitt CB CMG DSO[6]
  • 10 November 1924 – January 1926: Major-General Sir William Montgomerie Thomson KCMG CB MC[27]
  • January 1926 – October 1929: Major-General Henry D. O. Ward
  • October 1929 – December 1930: Major-General Henry E. ap R. Pryce
  • December 1930 – 30 December 1934: Major-General Hugh K. Bethell
  • 30 December 1934 – 18 July 1935: Major-General Hubert Jervoise Huddleston[28]
  • 7 September 1935 – 1 August 1939: Major-General George Mackintosh Lindsay[29]
  • 1 August 1939 – 14 September 1941: Major-General Cecil Albert Heydeman MC[5][30]
  • 15 September 1941 – 19 March 1942: Major-General Thomas George Gordon Heywood[31]
  • 19 March 1942 – 29 May 1942: Major-General Henry Hampden Rich[32]
  • 1946 – 1947: Major-General F. R. Roy Bucher

202nd Line of Communication Area:[13]

  • 1942 – 1 January 1946: Major-General Robert Philip Lancaster-Ranking[17][33]

303rd Line of Communication Area:[13]

  • 1943 – 1944: Major-General Sir Charles Reginald Cambridge Lane[34]

Staff in 1939

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The staff of the district in 1939 was as follows:[5]

  • Commander: Major-General Cecil Albert Heydeman MC
    • Aide-de-Camp (Personal Appointment): Lieutenant C. L. Sayers
    • General Staff Officer, 2nd Grade: Major P. L. Graham MC
    • General Staff Officer, 3rd Grade: Major R. Saint J. Hartley
    • General Staff Officer, 3rd Grade: Major D. Q. H. Agnew
    • General Staff Officer, 3rd Grade: Captain L. S. Sheldon
    • Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General: Major A. J. A. Shofield AMIEE
    • Staff Captain: Major H. D. Whittick
    • Staff Captain: Lieutenant R. V. Russell
    • Staff Captain: Captain C. H. Genders
  • Commander, Royal Engineers: Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Noel Crawford MC
  • Assistant Director of Supplies & Transport and Embarkation Commandant: Lieutenant-Colonel Torquil Macleod Duncan
  • Assistant Director of Medical Services: Colonel W. B. Rennie MC MB
    • Deputy Assistant Director of Hygiene: Major E. J. S Bonnett (also of Lucknow District)
    • Deputy Assistant Director of Pathology: Captain B. L. Taneja MB MRCP
  • Deputy Assistant Director of Ordnance Services: Major W. N. Polkinhorne
  • Deputy Assistant Director of Veterinary Services: Major F. J. Welr

Notes

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  1. ↑ WW2 British - 202nd Lines of Communication Area (ASSAM) Patch | #3914786092 (in en). Worthpoint. Retrieved on 2024-06-24.
  2. ↑ a b Colin Mackie, Senior Army Appointments: 1860–present. July 2022.
  3. ↑ a b c d e Palmer, Rob (2 October 2020). Eastern Command, India (1939). britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk. Retrieved on 23 June 2024.
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g Palmer, Rob (24 September 2020). A Concise History of Eastern Command, India (later designated Eastern Army), between 1930 and 1947. britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk. Retrieved on 23 June 2024.
  5. ↑ a b c d e f September 1939 Army List, War Office, London.
  6. ↑ a b c 1921 Monthly Army List, White Hall, London.
  7. ↑ a b c Pettibone, p. 206
  8. ↑ a b c Docs – India 1930 - 1947 – Eastern Command, India (in en-GB). British Military History. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  9. ↑ Pettibone, p. 240
  10. ↑ a b 26th Indian Infantry Division - Burma Star Memorial Fund (in en). burmastarmemorial.org (2019-07-01). Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  11. ↑ Palmer, Rob (14 August 2020). A concise history of the 14th Army, a higher formation in the British Army from 1943 until 1945. britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk. Retrieved on 23 June 2024.
  12. ↑ a b Palmer, Rob (24 September 2020). A Concise History of Eastern Command, India (later designated Eastern Army), between 1930 and 1947. britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk. Retrieved on 23 June 2024.
  13. ↑ a b c Pettibone, p. 289
  14. ↑ Prasad, p. 213, 217, 270
  15. ↑ Crew, p. 265
  16. ↑ Crew, p. 327
  17. ↑ a b c Nafziger, George Frederick. British Forces, Indian Ocean Theater, September 1944 – May 1945. usacac.army.mil. Retrieved on 23 June 2024.
  18. ↑ Crew, p. 420
  19. ↑ The Indian Army on 3 September 1939 :: The Patriot Files :: Dedicated to the preservation of military history. www.patriotfiles.com. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  20. ↑ The Indian State Forces on 3 September 1939 :: The Patriot Files :: Dedicated to the preservation of military history. www.patriotfiles.com. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  21. ↑ Presidency and Assam District, Eastern Command, The Army in India, 03.09.1939. www.niehorster.org. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  22. ↑ Nafziger, George Frederick. The Indian Army, 3 September 1939. usacac.army.mil. Retrieved on 23 June 2024.
  23. ↑ April 1939 Indian Monthly Army List.
  24. ↑ Crew, Appendix XXVII (202 Lines of Communication Area. Medical Order of Battle. May 1945)
  25. ↑ Palmer, Rob (2 October 2020). Eastern Army, India (1944). britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk. Retrieved on 23 June 2024.
  26. ↑ Crew, p. 675
  27. ↑ 1935 April, May, and June Monthly Army List. Whitehall, London.
  28. ↑ Biography of Lieutenant-General Hubert Jervoise Huddleston (1880 – 1950), Great Britain. generals.dk. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  29. ↑ Biography of Major-General George Mackintosh Lindsay (1880 – 1956), Great Britain. generals.dk. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  30. ↑ Biography of Major-General Cecil Albert Heydeman (1887 – 1967), Great Britain. generals.dk. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  31. ↑ Biography of Major-General Thomas George Gordon Heywood (1886 – 1943), Great Britain. generals.dk. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  32. ↑ Biography of Major-General Henry Hampden Rich (1891 – 1976), Great Britain. generals.dk. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  33. ↑ Biography of Major-General Robert Philip Lancaster Ranking (1896 – 1961), Great Britain. generals.dk. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.
  34. ↑ Biography of Major-General Charles Reginald Cambridge Lane (1890 – 1964), Great Britain. generals.dk. Retrieved on 2024-06-23.

References

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  • Pettibone, Charles D. (2008) The Organization and Order of Battle of Militaries in World War II, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada: Trafford Publishing ISBN: 978-1412085670.
  • Prasad, Bisheshwar (1958) Official History of the Indian Armed Forces in the Second World War 1939–45, I: June 1942 – June 1944, India: Orient Longmans
  • Crew, Francis (1966) The Army Medical Services Campaigns, History of the Second World War: United Kingdom Medical Series, V: Burma, London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London
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