‘WAR DIARY. ARMY HEADQUARTERS, INDIA. […] I.E.F. “D”. Volume 58. (From 1st to 31st May 1919.)’ [‎40r] (84/298)

Memo. No. G.*506, dated 21st March 1919.
p rom —The General Officer Commanding, 18th Division,
To—The General Headquarters, Mosopotamian Expeditionary Force.
The attached correspondence is forwarded in original.
I have had no personal experience of the Kachins.
No. B. B.-854, dated 10th March 1919.
From-The General Officer Commanding, 53rd Infantry Brigade,
To— Headquarters, 18th Division.
Forwarded.
In order to keep the Kachins under observation I have had a platoon
(| t i t0 Brigade Head Quarters from January 28th until their departure on
Marrh 8th 1919 I am greatly struck with their adaptability and intelligence,
iart^and -ood conduct. They appear to be as intelligent and quick to
Wn things as any Indian or Gurkha and they understand and pick up
ii” p. Rnrlchas They have a great sense of humour, are of
Hindustani e * admirably with British ranks and Gurkhas and play
lolffl other g S ames with them on equal terms. They march well and are
fmart onTnard p” ticularly intelligent on orderly duty. Those who have
been tried have learnt to ride very quickly and pluckily. .
It is a pity they have no opportunity of fighting or manoeuvring w 1 s
With this^ Colonel Morris tbat they seem to be thoroughly good material,
and wilf soon develop into excellent Infantry if given a good chance.
No. 54-A. S., dated 7th March 1919. >
p rom —The Officer Commanding, 85th Burma Rifles,
To—The Staff Captain, 53rd Infantry Brigade, Tekrit.
I understand that the question of retaining Kachins in the Regular Army
is under confideration in India, and I think that perhaps I
submit some oninions and suggestions based on my experience of the Ka,
n vr i-n tin's Battalion I only presume to do so unasked, because I am
convinced ^ th“ is not kepi ol very yaluall i fighting material will
be lost to the Army, and I feel that I should be failing In my duty if I did not
do what I could towards securing its retention.
The Kachins unfortunately have not had an opportunity of 1 ie “”
selves in actual fighting under modern conditions ; hut I do not think that
there is the very "slightest doubt of their personal bravery and stamina, and am
convinced that, had they had their chance, they would have proved themse ve
beyond all question. . ,
They are the most intelligent race that 1 have ever had to deal with either
in my own regiment or the 85th, and are very willing to learn. They hav
very keen sense of discipline, as well as a conspicuous natural f ” e ?®
cisinu- command Their keenness has always been very noticeable, and n
amount of hard work has ever affected their spirits. They have no caste o
religious prejudices of any kind whatever, either with regard to food 01 y
thing ebe. , ... f
As regards education there will he no difficulty. They have no writing o
their owm so habitually use ours. Large numbers can read and wnte their
own language in English character and under peace conditions, with re 0 ula
school arrangements, reading and writing should soon become universal. I o
not think that under peace conditions there should be any great difficu y
inculcating a universal working knowledge of Hindustani. ■.
some Burmese races, are very willing to learn it, and it would be taught in the
regimental school. Already a considerable number of men »n speak it and
more can understand it without being able to speak themselves Taking the
all round, I doubt if there is a race m the Indian Army which possesses a
greater combination of different military quahties-certainly 1 have not
As to the form in which they should he used. I understand that tlie iiriii-
ciple of class battalions is not generally looked upon with favour. It t e
Kachins are to he combined with other races, I am of opinion that they could
best he combined with Gurkhas of Eastern Nepal Kais, Sambus, and Sunwars).
The two races get on excellently together and have something m common.
Such a battalion would have the advantage of the special qualities of both
races X recognize of course that there may he difficulty in getting a sufficient
supply of really good Gurkhas. Those in this battalion cannot be considered
as a source of supply, as only a negligible proportion of them are wiUmg to
serve on in a Regular unit after the war. In any case very lev arc of the
right type, this battalion having been raised at a time when most of the best
Military Police Gurkhas were away serving with other Regular units. It
might be possible, perhaps, to get picked men of the Military 1 dice, who hare