161st Indian Infantry Brigade

161st Indian Infantry Brigade

161st Indian Infantry Brigade was a former armed infantry formation that operated under the British Indian Army. The brigade remained in active service from 1941 to 1947.

The 161st Indian Infantry Brigade was a former armed infantry formation that operated under the British Indian Army. The brigade remained in active service from 1941 to 1947. It was raised under the British Empire in India in November 1941 during the Second World War. It took part in a number of British battles and Campaigns and also fought in the Burma Champaign and the Western Desert Champaign. After the partition of India, the infantry brigade was assigned to the modern Indian army.

History of 161st Indian Infantry Brigade
The brigade was formed from the British 161st Infantry Brigade which was allotted to the 5th Indian Infantry Division. Initially the troops were stationed in Cyprus garrison. Later it was sent to Egypt in April 1942 and it participated in the Western Desert Champaign. There it was re-structured as a motor brigade. The 161st Indian Infantry Brigade was attached to the British 10th Armoured Division from June 1942 and July 1942 for the First Battle of El Alamein. However it was later merged with the 5th Division and the troops took part in the military operations in Burma.

The infantry brigade was consecutively attached to several divisions, namely the British 2nd Infantry Division (from April 1944 to May 1944), and the 7th Indian Infantry Division (from May 1944 to June 1944). The troop later provided valuable military service during the Battle of Kohima. Afterwards the brigade was again attached to the 5th Division. It was attached to the 7th Division for a brief period in March 1945 but later served as a part of the 5th Division until the culmination of World War II. During the end of the war, the troops were stationed in Malaya.

Later the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade was sent to serve in the Dutch East Indies as a part of the force which restored order for the British administration from the local freedom movement. The troops were sent to British India in the year 1946.

Development of 161st Indian Infantry Brigade
After the Indian independence and the formation of the Union of India and the Domnion of Pakistan in August 1947, the 161st Indian Infantry Brigade was assigned to the Modern army of independent India. It was then re-designated as the 161st Infantry Brigade and was attached with 5th Infantry Division in Ranchi. Later it served in Punjab with the Punjab Boundary Force to subdue the violence on refugees during the partition of India. The troops were later posted in Jammu and Kashmir during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1947. The brigade took part in the battles of Shalateng and Badgam (Budgam).

Formation of 161st Indian Infantry Brigade
The 161st Indian Infantry Brigade included a number of infantry regiments. These are mentioned below-
* 3/7th Rajput Regiment (November 1941 to July 1942)
* 4/7th Rajput Regiment (November 1941 to August 1945)
* 1/4th Essex Regiment (November 1941 to March 1942)
* 1/2nd Punjab Regiment (April 1942 to July 1942)
* 1/1st Punjab Regiment (April 1942 to August 1945)
* 1st Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (August 1942 to November 1942)
* 4th Queen's Own West Kent Regiment (December 1942 to June 1945)
* 28th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery (May 1943to June 1943)
* 25th Dragoons (January 1944 to February 1944)
* 2nd Suffolk Regiment (February 1944 to March 1944)
* 1st Burma Regiment (March 1944 to April 1944)
* 3/4th Gurkha Rifles (June 1945 to August 1945)

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