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9th Battalion, Border Regiment
The 9th Battalion, the Border Regiment was formed in June 1940 in West Cumberland as a holding Battalion providing reinforcements for existing regular territorial battalions. It consisted of a few regular, reserve and territorial officers and senior ranks, and drafts from Carlisle of newly enlisted men aged 25 and 27 years.
By February 1941 the Battalion was sufficiently trained to man beach defences on the Northumberland coast, also taking part in exercises up to Brigade level. By April 1942 it was officially recognised as an efficient Service Battalion and was one of the few newly-formed wartime units to be selected for Service Overseas.
It went to Calcutta in August 1942, becoming a garrison battalion on internal security duties, gaining useful grounding in jungle warfare. It joined the 17th Indian Light Division (the Black Cats) composed mostly of Gurkha Regiments that had been fighting in Burma for the previous eighteen months. The role of the Light Division was to fight in difficult mountainous terrain. It became part of the 14th Army in the Chin Hills, patrolling mountainous Burma jungle tracks.
Early 1944 the Japanese began their offensive to capture the main railway line in northeast India crossing the Imphal Plain. By July they withdrew to Burma after several months of heavy fighting. The 9th Battalion took full part in these operations with heavy losses, requiring a period of rest in Ranchi for the training of reinforcements. January 1945 the 9th Battalion was full strength and working as motorised infantry with Probyn's Horse of 255 Tank Brigade. With the objective of Meiktila across the Irrawaddy, severe fighting ensued ultimately cutting off Japan's communications with Mandalay. The 9th Battalion The Border Regiment took part in actions at Wetlet, Yindaw, Kinde and Pywabwe.
In August 1945 when Japan surrendered, the 9th was stationed at Waw, west of Sittang River. The Battalion began the task of disarming some 2,000 Japanese and controlling the activity of dacoits on the Mokpalin and Bilin areas. On the 1st December 1945 the Battalion amalgamated with the 4th Battalion, taking on the name of the latter.
12th March 1941 Reorganisation
If you can provide any additional information, especially on actions and locations at specific dates, please add it here.
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Those known to have served with 9th Battalion, Border Regiment during the Second World War 1939-1945. - Allison George William. Pte (d.28th November 1943)
- Dowling James William. Pte.
- Houchen Robert Raymond. Pte.
- Johns John. Pte.
- Smith William. Pte.
- Taylor Thomas. Captain
- Tweddle Septimus. L/Cpl.
- Wilson Sam Mackenzie. Sgt.
The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed,
please
Add a Name to this List
Records of 9th Battalion, Border Regiment from other sources.
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Want to know more about 9th Battalion, Border Regiment? There are:1320 items tagged 9th Battalion, Border Regiment available in our Library
These include information on officers, regimental histories, letters, diary entries, personal accounts and information about actions during the Second World War. |
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Sgt. Sam Mackenzie Wilson 9th Btn. Border Regiment Sam Wilson served in the formation of 9th Border Regiment West Cumberland and on the beaches at Northumberland.
He sailed to India, served with Internal Security in Calcutta and proceeded to Assam with 9th Borders in 1943. Sam was a Sergent in No 1 platoon (sigs) in both campaigns, sailing back from Rangoon on 5th of Nov 1945.
He organized the Battalion reunion with Lt Col Petty.
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Pte George William Allison 9th Battalion Border Regiment (d.28th November 1943) George Allison was my great grand father, he served with 9th Battalion, Border Regiment.
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Pte. William Smith 9th Battalion Border Regiment My grandfather William Smith served in the Border Regiment in Burma during World War Two. He told me his stories when I was a young boy and he gave me his fabric covered service and pay book, so covered because the jungle conditions rotted the normal issued type! His stories were both fascinating and horrifying to me and he was clearly affected by his time in Burma having lost close friends.
I went on to a short career in the Royal Marines and always remembered his advice throughout my service. He sadly died in 2001 and I wish I had talked in more detail to him about his experiences in Burma.
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Pte. John Johns 9th Battalion Border Regiment My father, Jack Johns, was called up to join the 9th Battalion, Border Regiment at Carlisle, Cumberland. He mentioned being trained at Furness Abbey and Cromer Norfolk before leaving for Burma via Egypt and India.
He did not mention too much about what happened out there, but did mention he saw Wingate and Slim out there, he joined up with the 17th Indian Division out there and had nothing but praise for the Indian people. He loved his curry which he always made himself, he loved his Border and black cat Badges. And, after his return home after the war, he kept his bush hat and kukri in the coalhouse, he used it to chop the wood for the fire.
He told my mother he was ordered to look after a young lad of 18 who had arrived, but the boy was sadly killed standing next to my father, which left him a bad memory for the rest of his life. My father died in 1968 aged just 53, I just wish I had talked to him more. RIP Dad miss you lots..
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L/Cpl. Septimus Tweddle 9th Btn. Border Regiment My father Septimus Tweddle served in Burma from 1942 to 1946 he took part in the battles for Kennedy Peak and Imphal. He later fought the Dacoits. He also assisted in the rescue of POW's on the Burma Road, one of them being a fellow Geordie who was his local barber back home. During his time in Burma he told me his patrol got shot up and they scattered. My father got lost and was missing presumed dead, my mother was informed. His account was as far as I remember was that he was missing a long time. He eventually was picked up by a British patrol and returned to friendly lines for interegation regarding his survival whilst missing.
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