"British NW Europe Uniforms for Burma" Topic

I'm just getting started in WWII with the focus on the Pacific/Asia in 15mm using TFL's CoC. I've recently came across Plastic Soldiers 15mm late war British Infantry.

Would these figures work for British/Indian soldiers in Burma 1944-45 if they were painted 'Jungle Green'? Or is this way off (I know they won't work for Ghurkas or Sikhs).

Well, the slouch hat was the favourite headgear for XIV Army, but helmets were worn when necessary. Otherwise, the cut is similar and in 15mm the difference would not show a lot.

Jungle Green Battledress was essentially a shirt. It was usually worn with sleeves rolled up (or an aertex shirt was worn instead), but you do see photos of them worn with sleeves rolled down when the bugs/weather/thorns got too much. In 15mm there is little or no difference between temperate or tropical BD, so just go for it.

Bush hats were ubiquitous, but helmets were still often worn when in action. A lot of Indian units don't seem to have received bush hats, so generally wore helmets.

And they'll work absolutely fine for Gurkhas. The scabbarded kukri is not that obvious among the belt kit and in any case, the kukri was often carried in the pack with the hilt sticking out, so it could be drawn over the shoulder. Most British soldiers also carried a kukri anyway.

Thanks for the insight spontoon and Jemima Fawr.

Any suggestions for reading material on the 14th army and the Burma campaign?

Sorry I can't give you the direct links from the work computer, but have a look at the fireandfury.com site and then check out the 'Battlefront: WW2 Support' pages. You'll find TO&Es, orders of battle, scenarios and my British/Indian armour painting guide.

There is this divisional history on line ('Ball of Fire' – 5th Indian Division): link

Some books I'd highly recommend are:

'Quartered Safe Out Here' by George MacDonald Fraser – undoubtedly the best personal account by an ordinary soldier.

At the other end of the scale, there is 'Defeat Into Victory' by Field Marshal Slim – one of the great military classics.

For the Japanese invasion of 1942, there is nothing better than 'Burma 1942' by Lyall-Grant and Tamayama.

'The Battle of the Box' (author's name has temporarily slipped my mind) is an excellent account of the entire Arakan campaign, with particular emphasis on the Battle of the Admin Box (Ngakyedauk), though not solely concentrating on that battle.

The the Battle of Imphal is comprehensively covered by Ian Lyall-Grant's superb 'Burma: The Turning Point'.

The official history by Woodburn Kirby is generally good and provides an excellent overview, though is tainted by the biased and petty grudges of a few contributors – most notably Kirby himself and Christison, commander of XV Corps. The account is profoundly unfair to a few units, formations and individuals, especially the 50th Indian Para Brigade and West African formations.

'The Battle at Sangshak' by Harry Seaman, sets the record straight regarding 50th Indian Para Bde's heroic stand that saved Kohima.

'War Bush' by John Hamilton is one of the best division histories to come out of the campaign, covering 81st (West African) Division's campaigns in the Kaladan Valley and effectively counters various slanders against the division in Kirby's official history.

The Osprey Camapign book on Meiktila 1945 is absolutely superb – one of their best.

'Tank Tracks to Rangoon' by Bryan Perrett is an excellent overview of the use of armour in Burma.

That should keep you going for a while! :)

Definitely " Quartered safe out here"!!!

Here's my vehicle painting guide:

PDF link

Here's the direct link for orbats and TO&Es – note that each troop element in these orbats represents a section/squad and each vehicle or heavy weapon represents 2 or 3: link

And here's the scenario page: link

Wow!!

Great resources Jemima Fawr. It looks like the XIV Army was really diverse. Brits, Indians, Gurkhas and Africans.

Looks like I have plenty to sink my teeth into.

Thanks

Yes, it's one of the great attractions of the theatre. you've also got Chinese (which fought directly alongside Comonwealth forces on a number of occasions), Burmese on both sides, various tribal irregulars, some curious units from 'Indian States Forces' (i.e. semi-independent Indian principalities that were attached to, but not part of the Indian Army proper), units of the Royal Nepalese Army (not to be confused with the Gurkhas of the Indian Army) and Indian National Army units fighting for the Japanese.