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{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name=33rd Indian Mountain Regiment, RIA
|image=File:33rd Mountain Regiment RIA.png
|caption=The regiment photographed in Tanjung Rambutan in 1945.
|dates=1944–1946
|country={{flagicon|British Raj}} [[British Raj|Indian Empire]]
|branch=[[British Indian Army]]
|type=Artillery
|size=
|command_structure=[[25th Indian Infantry Division]]
|garrison=
|ceremonial_chief=
|ceremonial_chief_label=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|nickname=
|motto=
|colors=
|march=
|mascot=
|battles=[[Burma Campaign]]
|notable_commanders=Lieutenant-Colonel R. Ellis
|anniversaries=
}}
The '''33rd Indian Mountain Regiment, Royal Indian Artillery''' was an [[artillery]] regiment of the [[Indian Army during World War II]], which fought in the [[Burma Campaign]] and [[South-East Asia]].<ref>Brig.-Gen. C.A.L. Graham, ''The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery'' (Gale & Polden, March 1957)</ref>

== Service ==
The 33rd Mountain Regiment was formed in September 1944 by amalgamating the 34th Battery of the 30th Mountain Regiment and the 19th (Maymyo) Battery.<ref>Brig.-Gen. C.A.L. Graham, ''The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery'' (Gale & Polden, March 1957), p.394</ref> It was initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel R. Ellis and garrisoned at [[Ambala Cantonment]]. The regiment primarily comprised [[Sikh]], [[Ahir]] and [[Punjabi people|Punjabi]] native soldiers and British officers, and was equipped with the [[QF 3.7-inch mountain howitzer]] transported by mules.<ref>Brig.-Gen. C.A.L. Graham, ''The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery'' (Gale & Polden, March 1957), p.394</ref> It was attached to the [[25th Indian Infantry Division]] from its inception and by October 1944, it was participating in the [[Arakan Campaign 1944-1945|Arakan Campaign]]. For much of the campaign, the regiment was understrength and was consequently directly attached to brigades in a support role rather than acting as divisional artillery.<ref>Brig.-Gen. C.A.L. Graham, ''The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery'' (Gale & Polden, March 1957), p.394</ref>

In late 1944, the 33rd Mountain Regiment was attached to the [[53rd Indian Infantry Brigade]]. It was trained for an amphibious assault on the north-west corner of the [[Akyab]] peninsular, to be followed by the capture of Akyab from the landward side. In December 1944, the regiment was involved in the capture of Kudaung island to the north of Akyab, using rafts to travel down the [[Kaladan River]] and landing on the banks to engage the [[Imperial Japanese Army|Japanese]]. While crossing at Kwazu on 29 December 1944, a raft containing a sub-section of 34th Battery overturned and thirteen Indian soldiers drowned.<ref>Brig.-Gen. C.A.L. Graham, ''The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery'' (Gale & Polden, March 1957), p.401</ref> The howitzers of the regiment were engaged in the successful capture of Akyab on 4 January 1945 and the capture of [[Myebon]] on 18 January. The 25th Division was then transferred to India, with the 33rd Mountain Regiment arriving in [[Madras]] in May 1945. Here the regiment was made up to strength with the addition of the 35th Indian Mountain Battery.<ref>Brig.-Gen. C.A.L. Graham, ''The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery'' (Gale & Polden, March 1957), p.401</ref>

In August 1945, the regiment left India and participated in [[Operation Zipper]]. It entered [[Kuala Lumpur]] in Christmas 1945 where the regiment was mustered out, with the regiment's Ahirs going to 2nd Mountain Regiment and the Punjabi Muslims to [[23 Field Regiment (India)|23rd Mountain Regiment]].<ref>Brig.-Gen. C.A.L. Graham, ''The History of the Indian Mountain Artillery'' (Gale & Polden, March 1957), p.403</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:British Indian Army regiments]]
[[Category:Artillery units and formations of British India]]
[[Category:Indian World War II regiments]]
[[Category:Military units and formations established in 1851]]
[[Category:1851 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Military units and formations in Burma in World War II|R]]

33rd Indian Mountain Regiment Royal Indian Artillery - Revision history

Bot at 08:39, 7 February 2022