I am looking for information on Assam Rifle's involvement in Burma Campaign. Any help will be highly appreciated. Raj
Raj, There was a short discussion about the Assam Regiment and partly the Assam Rifles a few years back on the forum: The Assam Regimental history
Many thanks. The link shows interesting read on Assam Regiment. Assam Rifle is a different Unit and can’t find much. Raj.
I had a look for their unit war diaries the other day at the National Archives. I couldn't find them which suggests they are in India or lost.
There was a 1929 History which was reprinted in 1977 on behalf of the Tribal Research Institute, Government of Mizoram, Aizawal. Perhaps this Institute (if it still exists) may have some information about WW2. History of the Assam Rifles by L W Shakespear, 1977 reprint of 1929 original Archive.org mirror version, originally from Digital Library of India. Also available as a pdf download Pahar-Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset. Cheers Maureen
There has been a recent addition to Pahar-Mountains of Central Asia Digital Dataset, catalogued as 1984 Sentinels of the North-East--the Assam Rifles by Palit I haven't looked at it, so don't know what the contents are. Books Look under Books, Indian subcontinent and scroll down to 1984. There is also a book called Assam Rifles at 180 (no author given) "A book on the Assam Rifles on completing 180 years of existence" Assam Rifles at 180 Cheers Maureen
*@#£&*!! You had me going there Tony! I wonder why these diaries are deficient? Not just one or two battalions but the whole regiment, despite their huge involvement and numerous mentions elsewhere. Could this be due to their being a para-military force? Lionboxer
The records must exist somewhere because the level of detail in the book 'Sentinels of the North East' can only be found there I suggest. Maybe in the Regimental Archive? Would that be in Shillong? The link below to the download is taken from Maureene's great post in the British Indian Army forum on this site: Sentinels of the North-East--the Assam Rifles by D.K. Palit 1984. If the download button does not display, locate under Books/Indian Subcontinent. Another history of the Assam Rifles Assam Rifles at 180 c 2015. (no author given) issuu.com. Possibly a regimental publication. "A book on the Assam Rifles on completing 180 years of existence".
It seems likely that the diaries remained in India after the war and are hopefully sitting somewhere in an archive in Delhi.
Very true. Back in 2008 I managed to make contact with the Dogra Regiment HQ and get some info on one of their British officers from the WW2 period. However, when I tried the same trick again a few year's later, they were not interested in helping out.
No good trying that in this case as it’s the Assam Rifles themselves that are asking, or at least one of their CO’s!! Lionboxer
