Indian Divisions
A listing of Indian units to see service in North Africa and Italy during
World War Two; only the main infantry and supporting regiments have been listed below.
4th Indian Division
The 4th Indian Division arrived in Italy in January 1944, moving into the Adriatic sector in the wake of the Moro River campaign. The Division had already seen considerable action in the Western Desert and Tunisia.
Composition |
|
5th Machine Gun Battalion
Rajputana Rifles |
|
5th Infantry Brigade |
1/4th Essex Regiment |
| 1/6 Rajputana Rifles | |
| 1/9 Gurkha Rifles | |
| 7th Indian Infantry Brigade | 1st Royal Sussex |
| 4/16 Punjab Regiment | |
| 1/2 Gurkha Rifles | |
| 11th Indian Infantry Brigade | 2nd Cameron Highlanders |
| 4/6 Rajputana Rifles | |
| 2/7 Gurkha Rifles | |
5th Indian Division
The 5th Indian Division saw extensive service in North Africa and afterwards went to the Far East.
8th Indian Division
The 8th Indian Division arrived in Italy in September 1943. The Royal Fusiliers had seen action already in the first Jebel Campaign in 1940 as well as seeing action in Syria versus the French. Other units fought in Eritrea, Somaliland and the Western Desert.
Composition |
|
5/5 Royal Mahratta (Machine
Gun Battalion), Mahratta Light Infantry |
|
17th Infantry Brigade |
1st Royal Fusiliers |
| 1/12 Frontier Force Regiment | |
| 1/5 Royal Gurkha Rifles | |
| 19th Indian Infantry Brigade | 1/5th Essex Regiment |
| 3/8 Punjab Regiment | |
| 6/13 Royal Frontier Force Rifles | |
| 21st Indian Infantry Brigade | 5th Royal West Kent Regiment |
| 1/5 Mahratta Light Infantry | |
| 3/15 Punjab Regiment | |
10th Indian Division
The 10th Indian Division arrived in Italy late in March 1944, relieving the Canadians in the coastal sector.
Composition |
|
1st Royal Northumberland
Fusiliers- Machine Gun Battalion |
|
10th Infantry Brigade |
1/2 Punjabis |
| 4/10 Baluch Regiment | |
| 2/4 Gurkha Rifles | |
| 20th Indian Infantry Brigade | 8th Manchester Regiment |
| 3/5 Mahratta Light Infantry | |
| 2/3 Gurkha Rifles | |
| 25th Indian Infantry Brigade | 1st King's Own Regiment |
| 3/1 Punjab Regiment | |
| 3/18 Royal Garhwal Rifles | |