2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles

This article on the 2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles aims to help you research this war-raised Battalion and those served with it. I have written separate articles for the other three Battalions of the Regiment which can be read by clicking on the links below:

I have also written a series of guides to help you research a soldier who served in the Indian Army during the First World War. The link below will take you to the guides:

The 2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles

Lineage: The 2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles was formed at Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Division, Myanmar) on 29 December 1917 and became the 2nd Battalion 20th Burma Rifles in 1922.

Class Composition of Battalion in 1919: 2 Companies of Burmans, 1 Company of Karens and 1 Company of Arakanese. July 1922: 2 Companies of Burmans and 2 Companies of Karens.

The 2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles was formed at Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin, Mandalay Division, Myanmar) on 29 December 1917. The Battalion’s first commanding officer was Acting Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Masson Rigg who was appointed from the 92nd Punjabis on 22 December 1917. Initially, the majority of its British officers were drawn from the Indian Army Reserve of Officers. The extract below was taken from the July 1918 Indian Army List and recorded the British officers serving with the Battalion. I have created a page to help you with the jargon it contains Indian Army Abbreviations and Acronyms.

2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles British OfficersThe 2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles was inspected by Brigadier-General F. A. Smith, Commanding Secunderabad Infantry Brigade on 28 March 1919:

Documents and Records: Considerable room for improvement in running of the Regimental office. The Accounts were in chaos when unit first arrived; are being put straight. Adjustments with C. M. A. Burma not yet completed.

General observations: Men are quick intelligent and athletic. Special attention has been paid to work in the Field. Unit is ready for war. Unit has a good staff of efficient instructors.

Confidential review reports on Indian Army units, depots, British officers, etc. for 1918-1919: IOR/L/MIL/7/17030

The Battalion served overseas in the Middle East, with two soldiers of the Battalion dying in Egypt, one in August and one in November 1920. While serving overseas the Battalion’s Depot was at Dinapur (Bihar, India). In the April 1920 Indian Army List, the Battalion was stationed at Dinapur and in the July 1921edition at Mandalay. The Battalion became the 2nd Battalion 20th Burma Rifles in 1922.

War Diaries of the 2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles

Unfortunately, there are no war diaries for the 2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles

Further Sources for the 2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles

For information concerning British and Indian officers who served with the 2nd Battalion 70th Burma Rifles the Indian Army List should be consulted. There are two confidential reports for the Battalion: Confidential review reports on Indian Army units, depots, British officers, etc. for 1918-1919: IOR/L/MIL/7/17030 and Review reports on certain units of Indian Army 1920-1921: IOR/L/MIL/7/17032. Though the latter is for the Battalion’s Depot only. The confidential reports also contain the annual confidential reports of the British officers who served with the Battalion.

Guides to Researching Soldiers who Served in the Indian Army

Guides to Researching Soldiers who Served in the British Army