ORBAT for Malayan Emergency c1960?

I'm trying to narrow down a hierarchical orbat for British forces in the far east during the period, but nothing seems immediately available, and I was hoping some of you might be of some help.

 

The Malayan Emergency came to an end in July 1960, but up till then British Army units moved in and out of theatre every couple of years. They were also moved between formation within Malaya, so any Orbat will be heavily dependent on date. However, Malcolm Bellis's publication 'The British Army Overseas 1945-1970' (ISBN 0-9529693-2-7) self published in 2001 will give you some ideas (as well as for many other theatres), though it may be hard to come by these days.
Chris

 

Try 'Withdrawal From Empire' by General Sir William Jackson, pub. 1986 (a military historian), which has two chapters on Malaya. Second, 'Britain's Army in the 20th Century' by Field Marshal Lord Carver, pub. 1998.

Well have a look around. Charley Fortnum may be along.

Have a look at the x25 threads here on Malaya via: Malaya

An online search with: "malaya" + "ORBAT" + "1960" appears to offer help. Obviously the full spelling instead of ORBAT might help.

 

I have both books and am happy to look-up specifics that are requested, but 1960 is well after my period of interest.

Must say, I hadn't heard about the book chrisgrove recommends and now I want to know if it covers Hong Kong in any depth.

 

Is there anything about 17 Gurkha Division in the two former books, even as going as early as the early 50s, particularly the supporting arms, i.e, REME, RASC, etc, or any RA Regts?

 

I have some highly detailed charts that cover the build-up of 17 Gurkha Division in FARELF from 1948 to 1954: all units with manpower by nationality and notes.

A) I'll have to find them.
B) They might be too large to post here at legible size.

What are you working on?

 

Something of a grounded alternate history thought exercise about a more stable SEATO with an actual command structure in the region similar to NATO.

 

Hi Charley
It does cover Hong Kong, but as just a few lines under the headings of Malaya and of Borneo. Not that there were that many units there for most of that time.
Chris

 

SEE:
WO 216/721: Correspondence between Brig. R C O Hedley and CIGS (Aug. 1950 to Jun. 1951)

 

Thank you, Chris.

I'm most interested in minor and supporting units that assembled to form 40 Division in Hong Kong across 1949.

Anything there?

 

Very little, Charley. It's late. I will respond tomorrow!
Chris

 

Hi Charley
Herewith the info from Malcolm Bellis's book. While I have found the odd error in his data, I have found him pretty reliable on the whole (as far as I have been able to check!). These are all the entries that appear to me to be ones which will interest you. If you have queries about names, abbreviations then let me know. There is more info about the Korea Orbat if you want. Like 1 R Leicester seems to have gone to Korea eventually!

Dated 6/49; 40th Infantry Division (26 Gurkha & 27 Infantry Brigade formed in Hong Kong. 1 R Leicester ex UK joins 27 Inf Bde.

Dated10/49; 28 Inf Bde ex UK joins 40 Div in Hong Kong.

Under 'Land Forces Hong Kong' dated 12/49:
40th Infantry Division (3 RTR, Sqn 4th Hussars, 27 Composite ATk Regt RA, 14 Field Regt RA, 23 Field Regt RA, 25 Field Regt RA)
26 Gurkha Brigade (1 Buffs, 2/6 Gurkha Rifles, 2/10 Gurkha Rifles)
27 Infantry Brigade (1 R Leicester, 1 Middlesex, 1 Argyll & Sutherland Hldrs)
28 Infantry Brigade (1 Kings Own Scottish Borderers, 1 Kings Shropshire LI, 1 South Staffordshire).

Dated 4/50: 26 Gurkha Bde arrive Malaya ex Hong Kong.

Dated 8/50: 27 Inf Bde less I R Leicester leave Hong Kong for Korea.

Under 'Land Forces Hong Kong and HQ 40 Div' dated 12/50:
Sqn 4 Hussars, 3 RTR, 27 HAA Regt RA, 14, 23 & 25 Field Regts RA,
120 Mortar Battery RA, 27 Mortar Battery RA - less det, 58 Medium Regt RA, 34 LAA Regt RA, 24 Field Engineer Regt RE, 67 & 68 Gurkha Engineer Squadrons
27Inf Bde: (HQ & 2 Bns in Korea, 1 R Leicester)
28 Inf Bde; (1 KOSB, 1 KSLI, 1 Sth Staffs).

Dated 4/51: HQ 27 Inf Bde becomes HQ 28 Commonwealth Bde in Korea. New 27 Inf Bde formed in Hong Kong from 28 Inf Bde. 28 Inf Bde disbanded.

Next entry is date 4/53, so I assume is beyond your interest.
Chris

 

Much obliged. I am fairly sure that I have all of those dates, and the Korean official history covers their ORBATs adequately, but simply covering this as a possible source is a useful exercise for me, so thank you.

The one part I didn't realise is the 27th/28th Brigade switch around in 1951. There was also a new X-brigade formed in Hong Kong at this time, but information on it seems sparse. The proposed battle lines were pulled back a bit further from the border towards Kowloon to a narrower east coast to west coast stretch, but they tried to retain the classic 'two forward, one back' defence in depth; off the top off my head, I think the 1 WILTS and 1 NORFOLK were involved with various Gurkha Engineers pulling double-duty as infantry.

I haven't really got to this part properly yet, since 54-bty, 25 Field Regt went off to Malaya in 50-51 and my focus followed them.