Anglo-Indian Army 1939-45

[IronDuke99]

The Anglo-Indian Army of WWII was the largest all volunteer army in history.

As well as the Far East, especially Malaya and Burma, the Anglo-Indian Army saw extensive service in the East African, North African and Italian campaigns.

Indian units sent to North Africa and East Africa early in the war were generally good quality, experienced, pre-war regulars. Some of those sent to Malaya and Burma in 1941 were largely newly raised and of uneven quality, although Ghurka units always remained good troops. By 1943-44 most Indian units were well trained and capable troops.

Normally Anglo-Indian Army brigades consisted of two Indian and one British units. The same was, mostly, true of Ghurka brigades, although occasionally a Ghurka brigade was all Ghurka, without a British battalion. Sometimes a Ghurka battalion might be brigaded with two Indian battalions. (The Ghurka's, prior to Indian Independence in 1947, forming part of the Anglo-Indian Army, not the British Army as they do today, although the Indian Army too still has Ghurka troops).

Although by 1945 a few Indian Officers had reached the rank of Brigadier, up until the end of the war the vast majority of Indian Army battalion Commanders, including Ghurka units, were British.

The majority, but not all, of Company Commanders were also British.

Around half of platoon Commanders were British even late in the war.

All of the above applies across Infantry, cavalry (armour in WWII) and Artillery although the proportion of British to Indian units was higher in the Artillery with the majority of Anglo-Indian army artillery units being British. As an aside the Indian Mountain Artillery units (armed with the 3.7 inch mountain howitzer) were always of very high quality in terms of training, etc.

The number of Indian Commission Officers greatly increased as the war went on, but they were still not a majority when Japan surrendered.

British Officers of the Anglo-Indian Army were expected to learn their troops language and customs and were often highly regarded by their soldiers. Such famous soldiers as Field Marshal 'Bill' Slim were originally officers of the Anglo-Indian Army.

None of this affects the game much unless you want to get officers names right...