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473:, the capital and principal port of Burma, to allow the Army to be supplied during the monsoon. In the event, IV Corps was held up 40 miles (64 km) north of Rangoon by sacrificial Japanese rearguards, but its advance caused the Japanese to abandon Rangoon, which was occupied after an unopposed amphibious landing (codenamed
426:
In 1945, amphibious operations to recapture Burma had to be cancelled once again because of a shortage of resources. Instead, Fourteenth Army was to mount the main offensive. The Army was now subordinated to the headquarters of Allied Land Forces, South East Asia (ALFSEA), and consisted of IV Corps
333:, then commanding XV Corps, was appointed to the command of the Army. At least two sources report the story of Mountbatten's first or one of his initial meetings with Slim, who reportedly told Mountbatten "..Let's change this ghastly name Eastern Army. Let's just get a number."
417:
The result of the battles was a crushing
Japanese defeat. The Japanese suffered 85,000 casualties, mainly from sickness and disease after their supplies ran out. The Allies had been continually supplied from the air, in the largest operation of its type to that date.
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561:, was made up from units that came from all corners of the Commonwealth. In 1945 the Fourteenth Army was the largest army in the Commonwealth and one of the largest armies in the world, with about a million men under command. Three African divisions, the
375:
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The first
Japanese move was a subsidiary attack in Arakan where XV Corps was advancing slowly south. After initial Allied setbacks, in which an Indian divisional HQ was overrun, the surrounded units defeated the Japanese at the
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850:
When you go home don't worry about what to tell your loved ones and friends about service in Asia. No one will know where you were, or where it is if you do. You are, and will remain "The
Forgotten Army".
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243:
were overlooked by the contemporary press, and remained more obscure than those of the corresponding formations in Europe for long after the war. For most of the Army's existence, it was commanded by
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In early 1944, the Allies began tentative advances into Burma. The
Japanese responded with all-out offensives, intending to destroy the Allies in their base areas.
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538:
was nevertheless mounted unopposed as the quickest method of introducing troops to Malaya to enforce the surrender of the
Japanese there and repatriate Allied
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was moved from southern India, where they had been training for amphibious operations, to relieve the garrison at Kohima and then push on to relieve Imphal.
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1212:
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has the famous inscription "When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us And Say, For Your
Tomorrow, We Gave Our Today". The Kohima Epitaph is attributed to
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410:. Since the Japanese attack in Arakan had already failed, battle-hardened units were flown from Arakan to aid the besieged forces in Assam. Also,
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Fourteenth Army now advanced south. While XXXIII Corps advanced down the
Irrawaddy River, IV Corps made the main effort along the
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279:. On or about 21 April 1942, Eastern Command was reorganised as Eastern Army. It had both control of operations against the
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and XXXIII Corps. Since the Army's supply lines by land were long and precarious, air supply was once again to be vital.
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historical novels, writes vividly of his service in the Burma campaigns of 1944–45, and of the soldiers he served with.)
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Shortly after the fall of
Rangoon, the Army headquarters was relieved of responsibility for operations in Burma. A new
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who provided a canteen service for the troops of Burma
Command and moved down through the country with the Army.
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in Burma, and large rear-area responsibilities, stemming from its pre-war task. In July 1942, Broad retired and
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as
Commander-in-Chief. Eastern Army was split. A reformed Eastern Command took over the rear areas of
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headquarters was formed from XXXIII Corps HQ and took over IV Corps. Fourteenth Army HQ now moved to
493:
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The main Japanese offensive was launched on the central front in Assam. While a division advanced to
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434:. Fourteenth Army was nevertheless able to change its axis of advance. IV Corps, spearheaded by
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General Slim was promoted to command Allied Land Forces in South East Asia. Lieutenant-General
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Burma: The Forgotten War, BBC, 1995 (Director: Mark Fielder; Narrator: Charles Wheeler)
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Kolakowski, "Nations in the Balance," 15; Hough, "Mountbatten, Hero of Our Time," 239.
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348:. During the early part of 1944, the Army also had loose operational control over the
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Also serving with the 14th Army were a range of army, corps and divisional units not
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had been divided into regional commands supervised by the headquarters in New Delhi,
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325:. Eastern Army remained responsible for operations against the Japanese, as part of
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Portrait of William Slim, as commander of the Fourteenth Army, commissioned by the
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The Japanese attempted to forestall the Allied attacks by withdrawing behind the
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to isolate IV Corps, the main body attempted to surround and destroy IV Corps at
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population. The result of the Battles of Meiktila and Mandalay, known as the
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British army groups, armies, commands, and corps during the Second World War
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At different periods of the Second World War it was composed of four corps:
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573:, were attached to the army. There were many units and formations from the
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assumed command. The army HQ exchanged its location and role with that of
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469:, covering 200 miles (320 km) in a month. It was vital to capture
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and there were also significant contributions from the British Army's
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298:. After the failure of this offensive, Irwin was replaced by General
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units, crossed the river downstream of the main Japanese forces and
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Military units and formations of the British Empire in World War II
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1031:. London: HarperCollins (1995). (Fraser, author of the series of
399:. A vital factor was the resupply of cut-off units by aircraft.
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1012:
Forgotten Armies: Britain's Asian Empire and the War with Japan
645:
A total of thirteen divisions served with the Fourteenth Army:
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Lt.-Gen. Slim, commanding the Fourteenth Army, chatting to a
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The Imperial War Museum Book of the War in Burma 1942–1945
1029:
Quartered Safe Out Here: Recollections of the War in Burma
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A seaborne landing on the west coast of Malaya, codenamed
1122:
marks 75 years since VJ Day and the end of World War Two)
1088:), was Elephant Advisor to the Fourteenth Army, see his
336:
Fourteenth Army's principal subordinate formations were
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Military units and formations in Burma in World War II
871:(1875–1958), and is thought to have been inspired by
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Military units and formations disestablished in 1945
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30:"Forgotten Army" redirects here. For the novel, see
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1575:Field armies of the United Kingdom in World War II
1042:The Unforgettable Army: Slim's XIVth Army in Burma
1560:Military units and formations established in 1943
363:operating behind enemy lines under Major General
211:was a multi-national force comprising units from
446:the vital logistic and communications centre of
1539:Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force
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780:Some smaller fighting formations also served:
597:Army, with nearly a million men by late 1944.
508:. It controlled XV Corps and the newly raised
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8:
235:divisions. It was often referred to as the "
329:(commanded by Giffard). Lieutenant General
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1126:
519:was appointed to command Fourteenth Army.
480:The Fourteenth Army was supported by the
27:1943-1945 Commonwealth military formation
1004:, London: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 2000.
1061:, London: Constable and Robinson, 2004.
927:Allied Land Forces South East Asia 1945
891:
879:to honour the Spartans who fell at the
223:units, many of its units were from the
900:Volume II: India's Most Dangerous Hour
40:
7:
775:82nd (West Africa) Infantry Division
765:81st (West Africa) Infantry Division
685:11th (East Africa) Infantry Division
1570:Field armies of the United Kingdom
1388:Allied Land Forces South East Asia
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812:28 Infantry Brigade (East Africa)
808:22 Infantry Brigade (East Africa)
482:Women's Auxiliary Service (Burma)
970:The Kohima 2nd Division Memorial
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239:" because its operations in the
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34:. For the documentary film, see
1002:Burma: The Longest War, 1941–45
1078:, London: Pan Macmillan, 2003.
903:, Major-General Stanley Kirby
789:77th Parachute Brigade (India)
785:50th Parachute Brigade (India)
755:British 36th Infantry Division
557:The Fourteenth Army, like the
1:
745:Indian 26th Infantry Division
735:Indian 25th Infantry Division
725:Indian 23rd Infantry Division
715:Indian 20th Infantry Division
705:Indian 19th Infantry Division
695:Indian 17th Infantry Division
655:British 2nd Infantry Division
18:Eastern Army (United Kingdom)
1054:, London: John Murray, 2004.
842:Fourteenth Army memorial in
675:Indian 7th Infantry Division
665:Indian 5th Infantry Division
589:The Fourteenth Army was the
545:Fourteenth Army was renamed
534:and the Japanese surrender.
357:Northern Combat Area Command
1213:British Expeditionary Force
1044:, Stroud: Spellmount, 1998.
571:11th (East Africa) Division
567:82nd West African Divisions
296:Arakan campaign (1942–1943)
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1534:First Allied Airborne Army
271:. One of the commands was
55:14th Army formation badge.
29:
1524:Allied Force Headquarters
1398:British Army of the Rhine
830:to the combat divisions.
48:
1071:, London: Cassell, 1956.
1052:Burma: The Forgotten War
936:, accessed November 2008
873:the epitaph of Simonides
796:268 Indian Motor Brigade
263:Before World War II the
1025:George MacDonald Fraser
792:14th Airlanding Brigade
460:Battle of Central Burma
397:Battle of the Admin Box
371:Defending British India
327:British 11th Army Group
307:South East Asia Command
201:Ministry of Information
1193:Allied Armies in Italy
1101:The Road Past Mandalay
958:Burma Star Association
865:War Cemetery in Kohima
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311:Lord Louis Mountbatten
204:
1082:James Howard Williams
881:Battle of Thermopylae
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215:countries during the
198:
36:Kabir Khan (director)
1358:Western Desert Force
869:John Maxwell Edmonds
800:3rd Commando Brigade
549:on 1 November 1945.
1069:Defeat into Victory
1059:Slim, Master of War
1033:The Flashman Papers
1019:Beyond the Chindwin
1017:Bernard Fergusson,
1014:, UK: Penguin, 2005
975:10 May 2015 at the
579:British Indian Army
265:British Indian Army
160:Battle honours
123:British Indian Army
952:2008-09-12 at the
932:2008-12-02 at the
847:
819:255th Tank Brigade
816:254th Tank Brigade
510:Indian XXXIV Corps
389:
309:was created, with
285:Lieutenant General
245:Lieutenant-General
205:
182:Lieutenant-General
143:The Forgotten Army
32:The Forgotten Army
1547:
1546:
1348:3rd Anti-Aircraft
1343:2nd Anti-Aircraft
1338:1st Anti-Aircraft
1120:Captain Tom Moore
1116:Captain Tom's War
1074:Julian Thompson,
1008:Christopher Bayly
947:General Bill Slim
822:50th Tank Brigade
553:Commonwealth Army
475:Operation Dracula
277:Sir Charles Broad
190:
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16:(Redirected from
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1463:Northern Ireland
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1040:Michael Hickey,
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591:Second World War
540:prisoners of war
524:Operation Zipper
387:, November 1944.
344:and XV Corps in
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422:Retaking Burma
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305:In late 1943,
300:George Giffard
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241:Burma campaign
237:Forgotten Army
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1162:Army Groups (
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1118:, ITV, 2020 (
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960:. Paragraph 8
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449:
445:
441:
437:
433:
428:
421:
419:
415:
413:
409:
405:
400:
398:
392:
386:
382:
377:
370:
368:
366:
362:
358:
355:
351:
347:
343:
339:
334:
332:
328:
324:
320:
316:
312:
308:
303:
302:in May 1943.
301:
297:
293:
289:
286:
282:
281:Japanese Army
278:
274:
270:
266:
258:
253:
251:
249:
246:
242:
238:
234:
230:
226:
222:
219:. As well as
218:
214:
210:
202:
197:
192:Military unit
186:
183:
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174:
169:
166:
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157:
154:
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147:
144:
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137:
134:
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127:
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112:
101:
97:
94:
93:British India
82:
71:
67:
63:
59:
52:
47:
42:
37:
33:
19:
1353:Commonwealth
1247:
1100:
1093:
1089:
1085:
1075:
1068:
1065:William Slim
1058:
1051:
1041:
1035:
1028:
1018:
1011:
1001:
994:
991:Brian Aldiss
965:
941:
921:
912:
907:, 1958, 193.
904:
899:
894:
862:
857:General Slim
849:
825:
779:
644:
630:XXXIII Corps
599:
595:Commonwealth
588:
575:British Army
556:
544:
535:
521:
514:
494:Twelfth Army
491:
479:
477:) on 2 May.
464:
429:
425:
416:
412:XXXIII Corps
401:
393:
390:
365:Orde Wingate
335:
331:William Slim
321:and most of
304:
262:
248:William Slim
236:
233:East African
221:British Army
213:Commonwealth
208:
207:The British
206:
185:William Slim
142:
111:British Army
1498:West Africa
1453:Middle East
1413:East Africa
1092:(1950) and
1048:Jon Latimer
945:Frank Owen
925:Orbat.com,
883:in 480 BC.
875:written by
640:XXXIV Corps
593:'s largest
559:Eighth Army
225:Indian Army
149:Engagements
139:Nickname(s)
1554:Categories
1367:Commands (
1273:I Airborne
1248:Fourteenth
359:, and the
288:Noel Irwin
178:commanders
171:Commanders
133:Field army
1529:Deception
1468:Palestine
1433:GHQ India
1408:Cyrenaica
1383:Aldershot
887:Footnotes
877:Simonides
528:Hiroshima
506:Singapore
440:motorised
269:GHQ India
1503:Western
1493:Southern
1478:Scottish
1458:Northern
1428:Far East
1202:Armies (
1094:Bandoola
973:Archived
950:Archived
930:Archived
853:—
620:XV Corps
610:IV Corps
532:Nagasaki
452:Mandalay
448:Meiktila
436:armoured
361:Chindits
350:American
338:IV Corps
294:for the
292:XV corps
259:Creation
1443:Malaya
1418:Eastern
1257:Corps (
1243:Twelfth
1021:, 1962.
844:Bristol
828:organic
471:Rangoon
354:Chinese
254:History
176:Notable
69:Country
64:1943–45
1438:London
1228:Eighth
1223:Second
1096:(1953)
997:(1988)
905:et al.
834:Legacy
536:Zipper
502:Malaya
498:Ceylon
456:Burman
444:seized
408:Imphal
404:Kohima
385:Pallel
381:Gurkha
346:Arakan
323:Bengal
319:Odisha
120:
108:
99:Branch
90:
78:
61:Active
1512:Other
1448:Malta
1423:Egypt
1403:Burma
1238:Tenth
1233:Ninth
1218:First
342:Assam
315:Bihar
165:Burma
1519:ABDA
1378:Aden
1369:list
1328:XIII
1303:VIII
1259:list
1204:list
1188:21st
1183:18th
1178:15th
1173:11th
1164:list
863:The
569:and
565:and
563:81st
530:and
504:and
438:and
352:and
231:and
229:West
129:Type
1333:XXX
1323:XII
1298:VII
1283:III
340:in
1556::
1318:XI
1308:IX
1288:IV
1278:II
1067:,
1050:,
1027:.
993:,
956:,
542:.
512:.
367:.
317:,
250:.
1371:)
1313:X
1293:V
1268:I
1261:)
1206:)
1166:)
1149:e
1142:t
1135:v
1084:(
203:.
38:.
20:)
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