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{{for|the World War I formation|11th Indian Division}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=11th Indian Infantry Division
|image=
|caption=
|dates=15 September 1940–15 February 1942 1 April 1965-date
|country={{flagicon|British Raj}} [[British Raj|British India]] {{flag|India}}
|allegiance=[[British Indian Army]] [[Indian Army]]
|branch=[[File:British Raj Red Ensign.svg|26px]] [[British Indian Army]] {{army|India}}
|type=[[Infantry]]
|role=
|size=[[Division (military)|Division]]
|command_structure=[[Indian III Corps]] [[XII Corps (India)|XII Corps]]
|garrison=[[Ahmedabad]]
|garrison_label=
|nickname=''Golden Katar Division''
|patron=
|motto=''Jeet Nishchay''<ref name="GJ">{{cite web|url=https://samsshopping.com/product/hq-11-infantry-division/|title=11 Division Golden Jubilee|date=2015-04-01|access-date=2021-09-27}}</ref>
|colors=
|colors_label=
|march=
|mascot=
|equipment=
|equipment_label=
|battles=[[Battle of Malaya]] [[Battle of Jitra]] [[Battle of Slim River]] [[Battle of Singapore]] [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1965]] [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1971]]
|anniversaries=
|decorations=
|battle_honours=

|commander1=
|commander1_label=
|commander2=
|commander2_label=
|commander3=
|commander3_label=
|notable_commanders=[[David Murray-Lyon]] [[Archibald Paris]] [[Berthold Wells Key|Billy Key]]

|identification_symbol=[[File:11th indian infantry div.svg|100px]]
|identification_symbol_label=
|identification_symbol_2=
|identification_symbol_2_label=
|identification_symbol_3=
|identification_symbol_3_label=
}}
The '''11th Indian Infantry Division''' was an infantry [[Division (military)|division]] of the [[Indian Army during World War II]]. It formed part of [[Indian III Corps]] in the [[Malaya Command]] during the [[Battle of Malaya]]. The division was re-raised on 1 April 1965 and is presently part of the [[XII Corps (India)|XII Corps]] of [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Command]].<ref name="GJ"/> It is presently responsible for safeguarding the borders with Pakistan along Southern Rajasthan and Gujarat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/maj-gen-dinesh-shrivastava-assumes-command-golden-katar-division-1502789532.html|title=Maj Gen Dinesh Shrivastava assumes command of Golden Katar Division|date=2019-08-17|access-date=2021-10-01}}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:Men of the 2-9th Gurkha Rifles.jpg|thumb|Men of the 2/[[9th Gurkha Rifles]] training in the Malayan jungle, October 1941.]]
It was originally commanded by Major-General [[David Murray-Lyon|Murray-Lyon]] until 24 December 1941. Under Murray-Lyon the 11th Indian Division was defeated at the [[Battle of Jitra]] and suffered some of its worst casualties during the retreat from Jitra and at the [[Battle of Gurun]].

Murray-Lyon was fired by Lieut. Gen. [[Arthur Percival]] and replaced by Brig. [[Archibald Paris|A.C.M. Paris]] and then Maj. Gen. [[Berthold Wells Key|Billy Key]]. This division suffered such heavy casualties during the early stages of the campaign, that the 1st Leicesters and the 2nd East Surreys were forced to amalgamate, becoming the [[British Battalion (Malaya 1941)|British Battalion]] and the 1/8th Punjab and the 2/9th Jats were also amalgamated, becoming the Jat-Punjab Battalion. The 6th and 15th Infantry Brigades were also amalgamated becoming the 6th/15th Indian Infantry Brigade.

After the Battle of Jitra the 11th Division, under Major-General Paris, inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese at the [[Battle of Kampar]], but was almost completely destroyed at the [[Battle of Slim River]]. The division was reformed in Singapore with the remains of the [[9th Infantry Division (India)|9th Indian Division]].

The 11th Indian Division surrendered to the Japanese on 15 February 1942, along with about 130,000 other British and [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]] soldiers, when [[Battle of Singapore|Singapore]] was surrendered.

==Formation==
''On 10 December 1941, for more details of the brigade units see the individual brigade articles''

===[[6th Indian Infantry Brigade]]===
Brig. William Oswald Lay
*1st Battalion, [[8th Punjab Regiment]] - Lieut. Col. R.C.S.Bates
*2nd Battalion, [[East Surrey Regiment]] - Lieut.Col. G.E. Swinton MC
*2nd Battalion, [[16th Punjab Regiment]] - Lieut. Col. Henry Sloane Larkin<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=23 October 2009|publisher=Order of Battle|title=6 Indian Brigade Units|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=9630&Tab=Sub|archive-url=https://archive.is/20120225213355/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=9630&Tab=Sub|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 February 2012}}</ref>

===[[15th Indian Infantry Brigade]]===
Brig. K.A. Garrett/ W. St. John Carpendale
*1st Battalion, [[Royal Leicestershire Regiment|Leicestershire Regiment]] - Lieut. Col. Esmond Morrison (Later commanded the [[British Battalion (Malaya 1941)|British Battalion]])
*1st Battalion, [[14th Punjab Regiment]] - Lieut.Col.James Fitzpatrick (Wounded at [[Asun]])
*2nd Battalion, [[9th Jat Regiment]] - Lt.Col. Charles Knowler Tester<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=23 October 2009|publisher=Order of Battle|title=15 Indian Brigade Units|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6143&Tab=Sub|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130111071457/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6143&Tab=Sub|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 January 2013}}</ref>

===[[28th Indian Infantry Brigade]]===
Brig. W.St.John Carpendale/ Ray Selby
*2nd Battalion, [[1st Gurkha Rifles]] - Lieut.Col.Jack Fulton (Died of wounds as a [[Prisoner of War|P.O.W]])
*2nd Battalion, [[2nd Gurkha Rifles]] - Lieut. Col. G.H.D. Woollcombe
*2nd Battalion, [[9th Gurkha Rifles]] - Lieut.Col.W.R.(Ray) Selby<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=19 October 2009|publisher=Order of Battle|title=28 Infantry Brigade units|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6141&Tab=Sub|archive-url=https://archive.is/20130104065842/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6141&Tab=Sub|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 January 2013}}</ref>

===Support units===
*[[3rd Cavalry (India)|3rd Cavalry]] - Lieut. Col. C.P.G.De Winton
*1st Battalion, [[Bahawalpur Infantry]], [[Indian State Forces]] - Lieut.Col. H.E.Tyrell
*137th Field Regiment - Lieut. Col. Charles Holmes [[Royal Artillery]] (RA) (24x25pdrs)
*[[155th (Lanarkshire Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery]] - Lieut. Col. Augustus Murdoch (16x4.5 inch Howitzers)
*22nd Mountain Regiment - Lieut. Col. G.L.Hughes [[Indian Artillery]] (IA) (12x3.7 inch Howitzers)
*80th Anti-Tank Regiment RA - Lieut. Col. W.E.S.Napier (48x2pdrs/47mm Breda)
*3rd Field Company, [[Indian Engineers]] (IE)
*17th Field Company IE
*23rd Field Company IE
*46th Army Troops Company IE
*43rd Field Park Company IE<ref name=11div/>

==Assigned brigades==
All these brigades were assigned or attached to the division at some time during World War II
*[[8th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[12th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[27th Australian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[British 53rd Infantry Brigade]]<ref name=11div>{{cite web|accessdate=22 October 2009|publisher=Order of Battle|title=11 Division units|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6009&Tab=Sub|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070314220640/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6009&Tab=Sub|archive-date=14 March 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Re-raising==
11 Infantry Division was re-raised on 1 April 1965 at [[Yol, Himachal Pradesh]] as '''11 Mountain Division''' under the command of Major General [[N. C. Rawlley]] {{small|PVSM, AVSM, MC}}. The division was subsequently re-organised as an '''Infantry Division''' and relocated to [[Ahmedabad]], Gujarat. It was expanded to its full strength by June 1971.<ref name="GJ"/> The division had the following brigades-
*31 Infantry Brigade at [[Bhuj]]
*30 Infantry Brigade at [[Dhangadhra]]
*85 Mountain Brigade at [[Belgaum]]

==Indo-Pakistani War of 1965==
{{main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1965}}
Soon after raising, the division moved first to [[Gurdaspur]] and then to [[Bhuj]] for ''Operation Ablaze''. It took over operational control of the Kilo Sector on 29 June 1965. 31 Infantry Brigade of the division took part in ''Operation Kabaddi'' and 30 and 85 Infantry Brigades took part in ''Operation Riddle'' between September and October 1965.<ref name="GJ"/> The 'order of battle' for the division was as follows -

'''Operation Kabaddi'''
*31 Infantry Brigade (Brigadier S.S.M. Pahalajani)
**1 [[Mahar Regiment|Mahar]]
**2 [[Sikh Light Infantry]]
**17 [[Rajputana Rifles]]
**11 Field Regiment
**226 Independent Workshop Company
**373 Field Company
**31 Infantry Brigade Signal Company
**407 Medical Company

'''Operation Ablaze / Operation Riddle'''
*30 Infantry Division (Brigadier J Guha)
**5 [[Maratha Light Infantry]]
**1 [[Garhwal Rifles]]
**3 [[Brigade of the Guards|Guards]]
**13 [[The Grenadiers|Grenadiers]] (D Squadron)
*85 Infantry Brigade (Brigadier H.N. Summanwar) (after 18 September)
**5 Maratha Light Infantry (from 30 Infantry Division)
**17 [[Madras Regiment|Madras]]
*3 Independent Armoured Squadron (from [[1st Horse (Skinner's Horse)|1 Horse]]) (one troop)
*Artillery regiments
**95 Composite Mountain Regiment
**167 Field Regiment (1673 Field Battery)
**954 Heavy Mortar Battery

As the division had a large area of responsibility, the troop deployment was very thin on the ground. Pakistan's Army had the same problem and both forces made limited gains during the war. 30 Infantry Brigade captured Gadra in [[Sindh]] on 8 September 1965 and the division captured Dali on 19 September 1965. Pakistani troops captured [[Munabao railway station]] and the old fort at Kishangarh in [[Jaisalmer district]].<ref name="KVK">{{cite book|last=Rao|first=KVK|title=Prepare or Perish: A Study of National Security|publisher=Lancer Publishers|date=1991|isbn=978-8172120016|page=}}</ref> The division eventually captured 388 square kilometres of Pakistani territory in this sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=SAmRF4OO6jtQXYgXvs6VaA==&ParentID=xhiHNk844Lpl9hfyUrNXWw==|title=INDO PAK WAR 1965|access-date=2021-09-29}}</ref>

Captain SK Mathur of 5 Air Observation Post Flight was awarded the [[Maha Vir Chakra]]. The division also won 10 [[Vir Chakra]]s.<ref name="GJ"/>

==Indo-Pakistani War of 1971==
{{main|Indo-Pakistani War of 1971}}
During ''Operation Cactus Lily'', the division under Major General R.D.R. Anand was responsible for the [[Barmer, Rajasthan|Barmer]] sector. This area stretched from Pochheena in [[Jaisalmer district]] in the north to the inter-state boundary of Rajasthan and [[Gujarat]] in the south. The 'order of battle' for the division was as follows<ref name="Gill 2003a">{{cite book|last=Gill|first=JH|title=An Atlas Of 1971 India Pakistan War - Creation of Bangladesh|date=2003|publisher=National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies|pages=88–89}}</ref>-
*3 Independent Armoured Squadron (from [[1st Horse (Skinner's Horse)|1 Horse]])
*17 [[The Grenadiers|Grenadiers]] (camels)
*2 Grenadiers
*17 [[Border Security Force|BSF]]
*85 Infantry Brigade (Brigadier Gurjeet Singh Randhawa)
**2 [[Rajputana Rifles]]
**2 [[Mahar Regiment|Mahar]]
**10 [[Sikh Regiment|Sikh]]
**10 [[Sikh Light Infantry]]
*31 Infantry Brigade
**15 [[Kumaon Regiment|Kumaon]]
**9 [[Madras Regiment|Madras]]
**18 Madras
**20 [[Rajput Regiment|Rajput]]
*330 Infantry Brigade
* 10 [[Parachute Regiment (India)|Para]] (Commando) - operated under the area, but was directly under Headquarters, [[Southern Command (India)|Southern Command]]
*11 Artillery Brigade (Brigadier N.M.K. Nayar)
**13 Field Regiment
**164 Field Regiment
**68 Field Regiment
**218 Medium Regiment
**1981 Light Battery
**1521 AD Battery
**Locating Battery
**5 Independent Air Operations Flight

The Pakistani defence in the Barmer sector was weak, with only 55 Brigade of Pakistani 18 Division in the area. The 11th Division attacked on the evening of 4 December 1971 targeting to reach the 'Green belt' area around the [[Indus River]] near [[Hyderabad, Sindh|Hyderabad]]. 85 and 330 Brigades pushed towards Naya Chor along the rail line, 31 Brigade advanced to Chachra. In the absence of any strong resistance, the division quickly achieved major territorial gains and constructed a link between the Indian and Pakistani rail lines between [[Munabao]] in [[Rajasthan]] to [[Khokhrapar]] in [[Sindh]] to support further operations.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Singh|first1=Air Commodore Jasjit|title=Role of Indian Air Force in 1971 War|publisher=KW Publishers Pvt Ltd|date=2013|isbn= 978-9381904503|language=en}}</ref>

Despite the early gains, persistent air attacks by the [[Pakistan Air Force]], supply and logistical problems and finally prolonged hesitation by the division halted the advance on the northern axis, before the troops reached Naya Chor. During this time, Pakistani troops were reinforced by 60 Brigade from 33 Division, which also took over the command of 55 Brigade. On the southern axis, 31 Brigade captured Chachra. Further advances were prevented as the ceasefire was declared.<ref name="KVK"/><ref name="Gill 2003b">{{cite book|last=Gill|first=JH|title=An Atlas Of 1971 India Pakistan War - Creation of Bangladesh|date=2003|publisher=National Defense University, Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies|pages=58–59}}</ref> Following the operations, the division captured approximately 9,000 square kilometres of Pakistani territory, the largest in the western sector.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=DLuum6nFPVLAnKKSdcdz6Q==&ParentID=4fTqH38OYO0j40BXu/Nwug==&flag=3LAYYTckNPTnjQVZOPxcFQ==|title=COMMAND - OLDEST FIELD FORMATION OF INDIAN ARMY|access-date=2021-09-29}}</ref> The division won the following honours <ref name="GJ"/><ref name=" Khullar 2017">{{cite book|last= Khullar|first= Darshan |title= Themes of Glory: Indian Artillery in War|date=2017|publisher= VIJ Books (India) Pty Ltd|isbn=978-9385563973}}</ref> -
;Battle honours
*''Parbat Ali'' - 10 Sikh, 2 Mahar, 164 Field Regiment, 68 Field Regiment
*''Chachro'' - 10 Para
*''Gadra City'' - 15 Kumaon, 13 Field Regiment
*''Khinsar'' - 20 Rajput
;Gallantry awards
*Maha Vir Chakra
**Lieutenant Colonel [[Bhawani Singh|S Bhawani Singh]] (10 Para)
**Lieutenant SS Walkar (18 Madras)
*Vir Chakra - 26

==Other operations==
*[[Operation Brasstacks|Operation Trident]]

*[[Kargil War|Kargil War (Operation Vijay)]]

*[[2001–2002 India–Pakistan standoff|Operation Parakram]]

*The division has actively participated in rescue and relief operations during natural calamities in Gujarat.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/politics/gujarat-floods-army039s-golden-katar-division-iaf-at-rescue-ops/|title=Gujarat floods: Army's Golden Katar Division, IAF at rescue ops|date=2017-08-23|access-date=2021-10-01}}</ref>

==Divisional insignia==
The present formation sign has a black background signifying an infantry division and a ''[[Katar (dagger)|Katar]]'' facing upwards. The motto of the division is जीत निश्चय (Jeet Nischay), which translates to Victory and Determination.<ref name="GJ"/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book | title = Singapore Burning | author = Colin Smith | publisher = Penguin Books | year = 2006 | location = England | isbn = 978-0-14-101036-6 }}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110911064110/http://www.britishmilitaryhistory.co.uk/documents.php?aid=104&nid=14&start=0 British Military History Far East 1930 - 47]

{{Indian Divisions in World War II}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:11 Indian Infantry Division}}

{{#seo:
|keywords=Indian World War II divisions, Divisions of the Indian Army, British Indian Army divisions, Military units and formations established in 1940, Military units and formations disestablished in 1942
|description=
}}

[[Category:Indian World War II divisions]]
[[Category:Divisions of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:British Indian Army divisions]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in British Malaya in World War II|D]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1940]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1942]]

11th Infantry Division India - Revision history

CleanupBot at 04:36, 8 July 2023