Janandh at 19:23, 22 January 2026

2026-01-22T19:23:44Z

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{{For|the World War I formation|17th Indian Division}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2025}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = 17th Mountain Division
| image = 17 MD.png
| caption = Formation badge of the 17th Mountain Division.
| dates = 1941–1946 1960–present
| country = {{flagicon|British Raj}} [[British Raj|British India]] {{flag|India}}
| allegiance = {{flag|British Empire}} {{flag|India}}
| branch = {{army|British India}} {{army|India}}
| type = [[Infantry]]
| role =
| size = [[Division (military)|Division]]
| command_structure =
| garrison = [[Gangtok]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.catchnews.com/international-news/doklam-how-india-misjudged-china-s-intentions-and-it-escalated-into-a-major-standoff-81477.html|title=Doklam: How India misjudged China's intentions and it escalated into a major standoff|date=2017-09-18|access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref>
| current_commander = Major General M S Rathore, VSM
| ceremonial_chief =
| colonel_of_the_regiment =
| notable_commanders = [[Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet|Sir John Smyth]] [[David Tennant Cowan]] WA Crowther [[Kunhiraman Palat Candeth|KP Candeth]] [[Sagat Singh]] [[Siri Kanth Korla]] [[N. S. Raja Subramani]] [[Ram Chander Tiwari]] [[KVS Lalotra]] [[K T Patnaik]] [[R C Chopra]] [[Ajay Seth]] [[Amit Kabhytal]]
| identification_symbol =
| identification_symbol_2 = 
| nickname = "The Black Cat Division"
| patron =
| battles = {{tree list}}
* [[Second World War]]
** [[Burma Campaign]]
*** [[Battle of Bilin River]]
*** [[Battles of Meiktila and Mandalay|Battle of Meiktila]]
** [[Burma Campaign 1944]]
*** [[Battle of Imphal]]
* [[Annexation of Goa]]
{{tree list/end}}
| motto =
| colors =
| march =
| mascot =
| anniversaries =
| decorations =
| battle_honours = [[Burma Campaign|Burma]]
}}
The '''17th Infantry Division''' is a formation of the [[Indian Army]]. During the [[Indian Army during World War II|Second World War]], it had the distinction of being continually in combat during the three-year-long [[Burma Campaign]] (except for brief periods of refit). The division was re-raised in 1960 and the '''17 Mountain Division''' is presently located in [[Sikkim]] under [[XXXIII Corps (India)|XXXIII Corps]].<ref name="Platinum">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.in/Mountain-Division-Army-Postal-Cover-APO/dp/B07VH82JS8/ref=sr_1_20?dchild=1&keywords=mountain+division&qid=1632375954&sr=8-20|title=17 Mountain Division-Army Postal Cover|date=2016-07-01|access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref><ref name="ET">{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/weather-and-terrain-biggest-challenges-in-doklam/articleshow/59551789.cms?from=mdr|title=Weather and terrain biggest challenges in Doklam|newspaper=The Economic Times |date=2018-08-12|access-date=2021-09-23|last1=Gurung |first1=Shaurya Karanbir }}</ref>

==Second World War==
[[File:Major General Sir Frank Messervy inspecting Indian Army troops in Burma, 1944 (c).jpg|thumb|Major General [[Sir Frank Messervy]] inspects troops of the 17th Infantry Division in [[Burma]], 1944.]]
The division was first raised at [[Ahmednagar]], [[India]] under the command of Major General H V Lewis {{small|CB CIE DSO MC}} in 1941.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://burmastarmemorial.org/archive/stories/1405855-17th-indian-infantry-division?|title=17th Indian Infantry Division|date=July 2019 |access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref> It consisted then of the [[44th Indian Infantry Brigade|44th]], [[45th Indian Infantry Brigade|45th]] and [[46th Indian Infantry Brigade]]s, and was intended to garrison [[Iraq]]. At the end of the year, war with [[Imperial Japan]] broke out and the division was split; 44th and 45th Brigades were despatched to [[British Malaya|Malaya]] where 45th Brigade fought in the [[Battle of Muar]] before both brigades were lost in the [[Battle of Singapore]]. The 46th Brigade and the division HQ went to Burma, where the Division was reinforced by [[16th Indian Infantry Brigade]] and took [[2nd Burma Infantry Brigade]] under command.

===1942===
The Japanese attacked Burma on 22 January 1942. It was soon apparent that the British and Indian troops in Burma were too few in number, wrongly equipped and inadequately trained for the terrain and conditions. After failing to hold the Kawkareik Pass, [[Mawlamaying|Moulmein]] and [[Japanese invasion of Burma#Battle_of_Pa-an|Kuzeik]], the division fell back to the [[Battle of Bilin River|Bilin River]], where it was joined by [[48th Indian Infantry Brigade]].

The Bilin was not a proper defensive position, and the division tried to retreat over the [[Battle of Sittang Bridge|Sittang River]]. Air attacks, poor organization and vehicle breakdowns delayed the division, and Japanese parties infiltrated around them to threaten the vital bridge over the Sittang. The division's commander, Major General [[Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet|"Jackie" Smyth VC]], was forced to order the bridge to be destroyed, with most of the division cut off on the far side of the river. Only a few thousand men without equipment succeeded in crossing the river. Smyth was dismissed and replaced by Major General [[David Cowan (soldier)|Cowan]].

The division was reinforced with [[63rd Indian Infantry Brigade|the 63rd Indian Infantry Brigade]], and narrowly escaped being trapped in [[Rangoon]]. After trying to hold a front in the [[Irrawaddy River]] valley, the division subsequently retreated north into [[Assam]] just before the monsoon broke, fighting off a Japanese attempt to trap it at [[Kalewa]].

===1943===
For the campaigning season of 1943, the division was reorganised as a "Light" formation, with two brigades only (48th and 63rd), supported by mountain artillery, and with mules and jeeps only for transport. It disputed the mountainous and jungle-covered region around [[Tiddim]], with mixed success. The division was at the end of a long and precarious supply line, and the "light" establishment was found to be inadequate in some respects. Some heavier equipment and transport was restored.

===1944===
In 1944, the Japanese launched a major invasion of India. During the long [[Battle of Imphal]], the 17th Division first successfully fought its way out of encirclement at Tiddim, and then disputed the vital Bishenpur sector south of Imphal (with [[32nd Indian Infantry Brigade]] temporarily under command). In July, the Japanese were broken by heavy casualties and starvation, and retreated. Some units of the 17th Division had suffered nearly 100% casualties.

During the late monsoon season, the division was temporarily withdrawn to India and reorganised once again. The 48th and 63rd Brigades were fully equipped with vehicles to become [[Motorized infantry]]. [[99th Indian Infantry Brigade|The 99th Indian Infantry Brigade]] was added to the division, equipped to be transported by [[Douglas DC-3]] aircraft.

===1945===
[[File:Surrender Ceremony March Past (5316024908).jpg|thumb|Major General W. A. Crowther, GOC 17th Indian Division, takes the salute at a March Past after the surrender ceremony, 1945.]]

In late February 1945, the motor elements of the division, with the bulk of [[255th Indian Tank Brigade]] under command, crossed the [[Irrawaddy River]] and advanced on the vital Japanese communications centre of [[Meiktila]]. Joined by [[99th Indian Infantry Brigade|the 99th Indian Infantry Brigade]] which was flown into the captured airfield at [[Thabutkon]], they captured Meiktila in only four days. Reinforced by [[9th Indian Infantry Brigade|the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade]] which was flown into the airfields around Meiktila, they subsequently withstood a Japanese siege. This [[Battle of Meiktila / Mandalay|Battle of Meiktila]] largely destroyed the Japanese armies in Central Burma.

The division now broke the last Japanese defensive position at [[Pyawbwe, Pyawbwe Township|Pyawbwe]], and advanced south on [[Rangoon]]. At [[Pegu]], it pushed Japanese rearguards aside, but was still short of its objective when the [[monsoon]] broke. Rangoon fell to an assault from the sea, [[Operation Dracula]].

In the last months of the campaign, the division participated in the mopping up of Japanese stragglers in Burma. After the war ended, elements of it formed part of the [[British Commonwealth Occupation Force|Commonwealth Occupation force]] in Japan (under Cowan). The division was disbanded in India in 1946.

==Order of Battle, as of 1 May 1944==

:General Officer Commanding – ''Major General [[David Tennent Cowan]] ''
:Commander, Royal Artillery – ''Brigadier the Baron de Robeck''

::17 Division HQ and Signals

:[[48th Indian Infantry Brigade]] – ''(Brigadier Ronald Thomas Cameron)''
::9th Battalion, [[Border Regiment]]
::2nd Battalion, [[5th Gurkha Rifles]]
::1st Battalion, [[7th Gurkha Rifles]]

:[[63rd Indian Infantry Brigade]] – ''(Brigadier [[Arthur Edward Cumming]] )''
::1st Battalion, [[3rd Gurkha Rifles]]
::1st Battalion, [[4th Gurkha Rifles]]
::1st Battalion, [[10th Gurkha Rifles]]

:Divisional Units
::1st Battalion, [[West Yorkshire Regiment]] ''(attached)''
::4th Battalion, [[12th Frontier Force Regiment]] ''(Divisional reconnaissance unit)''
::7th Battalion, [[10th Baluch Regiment]] ''(Divisional defence / machine gun unit)''

::[[1st_Midlothian_Artillery_Volunteers#129th_(Lowland)_Field_Regiment|129th (Lowland) Jungle Field Regiment]], [[Royal Artillery]] (RA)
::21st Mountain Regiment, [[Royal Indian Artillery|Indian Artillery]] (IA)
::29th Mountain Regiment, IA
::82nd Light Anti-aircraft / Anti-tank Regiment RA

::60th Field Company, [[Indian Army Corps of Engineers|Indian Engineers]] (IE)
::70th Field Company, IE
::Tehri Garhwal Field Company
::414th Field Park Company IE

==Assigned brigades==
All these brigades were assigned or attached to the division at some time during World War II
*[[44th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[45th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[46th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[2nd Burma Infantry Brigade]]
*[[16th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[48th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[7th Armoured Brigade (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Brigade]]
*[[63rd Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[37th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[49th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[32nd Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[50th Indian Parachute Brigade]]
*[[99th Indian Infantry Brigade]]
*[[255th Indian Tank Brigade]]
*[[9th Indian Infantry Brigade]]<ref>{{cite web|accessdate=2009-10-22|publisher=Order of Battle|title=17 Division units|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6003&Tab=Sub|archive-date=2011-09-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928230936/http://www.ordersofbattle.com/UnitData.aspx?UniX=6003|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Post independence==
[[File:GOC 17 Mountain Division Major meets the Hon'ble Chief Minister Shri P.S.Golay.jpg|thumb|Major General RC Tiwari, GOC 17 Mountain Division, meets the Chief Minister of Sikkim Mr PS Golay in June 2019]]
The division was re-raised at [[Ambala Cantonment|Ambala]] (India) on 15 November 1960, under the command of Major General [[Kashmir Singh Katoch|K S Katoch {{small|MC}}]]. Among its new formations was [[99th Indian Infantry Brigade|the 99 Infantry Brigade]], which was soon detached for service with [[ONUC]] in the Congo.
===Operations===
[[File:Black cat div.jpg|thumb|Lieutenant General [[Manoj Pande (lieutenant general)|Manoj Pande]], GOC-in-C, Eastern Command visiting Black Cat Division, June 2021.]]
*[[Annexation of Goa|Operation Vijay]] - The division under the command of Major General [[Kunhiraman Palat Candeth|KP Candeth]] moved from Ambala and participated in the [[Goa]] military operations in 1961. It had two brigades under its command - the 63rd Brigade and the 48th Brigade. The swift operations between 17 and 19 December 1961 culminated in the surrender by the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]]. General Candeth was immediately appointed Goa's first Indian administrator (acting as the Military Governor), a post he held till June 1962.<ref name="Platinum"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://indianarmy.nic.in/Site/FormTemplete/frmTempSimple.aspx?MnId=DLxJBaf30cBe1u1oIYvQ4A==&ParentID=zoX90ciGkQkZ1MAoQEM1kw==|title=The Goa Daman and Diu Operations|access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/features/the-visionary-warrior-sagat-singh-294742|title=The visionary warrior Sagat Singh|date=2021-08-11|access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref>

*[[Sikkim]] - On 15 November 1963, the division relocated to Sikkim and took on the role of guarding a portion of the [[McMahon Line|Tibet-India border]]. Under the then GOC, Major General [[Sagat Singh]], it performed credibly during the [[Nathu La and Cho La clashes]] of 1967.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/SSnnWcxOzmDfVDiZGQS1dL/The-romance-of-a-paltan.html|title=The romance of a paltan|date=2018-09-14|access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref> The formation also played a role in the merger and statehood of Sikkim in 1975. The division is presently deployed in East and South East Sikkim.<ref name="Platinum"/> It was involved in the [[2017 China–India border standoff|Doklam standoff]] in 2017.<ref name="ET"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/post-doklam-resolution-nirmala-sitharaman-to-visit-trijunction-border-area/articleshow/60974890.cms|title=Post Doklam resolution, Nirmala Sitharaman to visit tri-junction border area|website=[[The Times of India]] |date=2017-10-06|access-date=2021-09-23}}</ref>
==Formation Sign==
The division had two different formation signs. The first was a lightning bolt (white) on a blue background. This was used until the middle of 1942. Major General CT Cowan decided to change the formation sign to a black cat on a yellow/orange background. It is said that the General wanted to motivate his troops to fight back the Japanese and he felt that no one fights more fiercely and aggressively than a cornered cat. The division is sometimes called ''The Black Cat Division'' based on its second and current formation sign. The present formation sign has a black background signifying an infantry division and black cat drawn with a yellow outline.<ref name="Platinum"/>

==External links==
* {{oob unit | id = 6003 | name = 17 Infantry Division }}

==Further reading==
* Jon Latimer, "Burma: The Forgotten War", London: John Murray, 2004 {{ISBN|0-7195-6576-6}}
Memoirs
* George Macdonald Fraser, ''Quartered Safe Out Here'' (1992), a memoir of his experiences as an infantryman in the Border Regiment, part of 17th Infantry Division, during the Burma Campaign of World War II

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Indian Divisions in World War II}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:17 Indian Infantry Division}}
[[Category:Indian World War II divisions]]
[[Category:Divisions of the Indian Army]]
[[Category:British Indian Army divisions]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1941]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Burma in World War II|D]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in British Malaya in World War II|D]]
[[Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1946]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1960]]

17th Infantry Division India - Revision history

Janandh at 19:23, 22 January 2026