Were any New Zealand, Australian and French Forces used in the Burma campaign? If so, what units and when?
If you mean Army or Air Force units, then the answer is no, but ships of the RAN, the RNZN and the French Navy served in the Eastern Fleet and East Indies Fleet. If you mean individuals, then the answer is most definitely yes for Australians and New Zealanders, especially those serving in RAF squadrons. I'm not aware of any French Army involvement in Burma, but it is possible because some certainly served with Force 136 in Indochina.
thanks for that: I was thinking of Army units. Were there any Commando units made up from these nations. Where can I find out more about Force 136?
There was a unit of Australian soldiers in the 204 Military Mission to China in late 1942. See attached. Some of these mingled into Commando/Special forces after that was abandoned. One or two of the Chindit 1 Air Liaison Officers were from New Zealand and Australia, but these were RAF personnel. I'm sure there must be many more who served with Force 136, V Force and the like.
Never heard a sniff of a mention of French forces in the 111th's campaign; bound to have been individual ANZAC's; definitely mentions of RAAF personnel...
The only commandos in Burma were 3 Special Service Bde who arrived from Italy in late 1943. the brigade comprised No 1 and 5 Army Commandos, and Nos 42 and 44 RM Commandos. Its unlikely there were any French in these, the French were part of the Inter Allied Commando in NW Europe (and they were not a 'battalion' as Pres Hollande seems to think). There could have been Aust or NZ born men who had enlisted in the British Army or RM, there's a long tradition of this.
I am unaware of any Australian soldiers serving in Burma post 1943 (after 204 Mission) in Australian uniforms - I know that in 1944 / 1945 a number of AIF personnel were selected to undergo British army officer training and subsequently served in various units as Lieutenants / Captains. I am pretty sure that I have commented on this on a previous thread and I have (had?) a list of names. Similarly, a number of NZ personnel underwent the same process slightly earlier - late 1943 through to the end of 1944 - once again I know a few of the names.
There are loads of books on Force 136/SOE. 'S.O.E. IN THE FAR EAST' by CHARLES CRUIKSHANK is the standard work. 'TIGERS BURNING BRIGHT SOE HEROES IN THE FAR EAST' by ALAN OGDEN, was published last year, but I haven't read it yet. There are many more.
I don't think the French had much presence at all in SEAC until well into 1945, when the vanguard of the French Expeditionary Corps arrived. I believe that one French division was scheduled to participate in the invasion of Japan, but the whole force eventually went to Indochina. If memory serves, the French divisions were the 2nd Armored (2eme DB) and the 9th Colonial (9eme DIC). Gaullist networks were in touch clandestinely wtih the French government and armed forces in Indochina, and presumably these Gaullist representatives worked with (if not under) SEAC. The Japanese staged a coup before the French in Indochina could go over to the Gaullists, however. One French force, under Colonel Alessandri, cut its way out of Tonkin and reached China after an epic retreat. As far as I know, the only French combat unit to serve directly with the British in SEAC (RN Eastern Fleet, actually) was the battleship Richelieu. I think the Free French cruiser Le Triomphant served with the Allies in Australasian and South Pacific waters. The French also had garrisons in New Caledonia and Tahiti, but I don't know if they ever saw action. The Vichy garrison in the French Concession of Shanghai was eventually interned without firing a shot.
This discussion from last year adds to TTH's post: http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/48594-french-foreign-legion-during-world-war-2/?hl=%2Bfrench+%2Bforeign+%2Blegion
