Australian troops in Burma?

[richard zamudio]

Were Australian troops ever deployed to Burma in WWII? Thanks in advance for any help in this matter.

[Stuart Harrison]

Other than POWs moved to the Thai/Burma railway from Changi, closest deployment of Australians I can think of would be Borneo – Curtin opposed Churchill’s orders (given assuming Australia’s approval) to send the 6th and 7th Divisions to Burma after the 8th Division was lost in Singapore.

https://www.naa.gov.au/learn/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/war/world-war-ii/diversion-australian-troops-burma-draft-cablegram-prime-minister-john-curtin-winston-churchill

 

[Stuart Harrison]

Found this on the AWM London site which seems to comfirm the impression I had above:

“Australian naval vessels stationed in the India Ocean at times served in Burmese waters, but no Australian units served in the campaign, although many airmen of the RAAF served in RAF squadrons, and in 1945 some Australian Army liaison officers served in Burma.”

https://www.awmlondon.gov.au/battles/imphal#:~:text=The%20Battle%20in%20Brief&text=Australian%20naval%20vessels%20stationed%20in,liaison%20officers%20served%20in%20Burma.

 

[richard zamudio]

You have gone above board in providing this information! Many thanks.

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