Appendix (5)

Summary

A Brief History of Regional Command Headquarters at (Maymyo/Mandalay) and (Mingalardon/Taungoo)

The history of the two regional command headquarters located at either Maymyo or Mandalay and at either Mingalardon or Taungoo is complex and confusing. In order to understand these commands, we need to look at Myanmar's pre-independence period. The reoccupation of Burma was carried out by the British 14th Army under the command of General William Slim. As troops were needed to operate on the Malay peninsula, the 14th Army was assigned the duty. The 12th Army commanded by Lieutenant General Stopford took over the command on 1 June 1945. The HQ-BURMA COMAND was formed on 1 January 1946 with Lieutenant General Stopford as commander, by transforming the British 12th Army. However, on 30 January, General Briggs was appointed as the General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the HQ-BURMA COMMAND. He served in this position until the HQ-BURMA COMMAND was abolished in late 1947. No. 64 Infantry Brigade (Maymyo), North Burma Area HQ (Mandalay), and South Burma Area HQ (Yangon) were under HQ-BURMA COMMAND.

In June 1945, the Supreme Allied Command South East Asia (SACSEA) appointed Major General Thomas as Inspector General (IG) of the British Burma Army. He remained in this position until the end of April 1947. Colonel Letya and Colonel Smith Dun served under him as Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs). When the HQ-BURMA ARMY was opened on 1 May 1947, Major General Thomas became the General Officer Commanding (GOC). He was assisted by Brigadier Smith Dun as Vice-GOC. Colonel Letya was attached to the HQ-BURMA COMMAND. No. 1 Infantry Brigade (Meikhtila) and No. 2 Infantry Brigade (Mingalardon) were under the HQ-BURMA ARMY.

In August 1947, North Burma Area HQ and No. 64 Infantry Brigade were merged as North Burma Brigade Area HQ in Maymyo, later renamed North Burma Sub-District (NBSD). No. 1 Infantry Brigade was attached to NBSD although it remained directly under the HQ-BURMA ARMY. In December 1947, South Burma Area HQ and No. 2 Infantry Brigade were merged as South Burma Brigade Area HQ in Mingalardon, later renamed South Burma Sub-District (SBSD). Now the HQ-BURMA ARMY had NBSD and No. 1 Infantry Brigade. Beginning from 1 November 1947, the commanding officers of Burma Rifles and Burma Regiments were replaced with Myanmar citizens.