The Chindits were the largest of
the allied Special Forces of the 2nd World War. They were formed
and lead by Major General Orde Wingate DSO. The Chindits operated deep behind
enemy lines in North Burma in the War against
Japan. For many months they lived in and fought the enemy in the
jungles of Japanese occupied Burma, totally relying on airdrops for their
There were two Chindits
expeditions into Burma, the first in February 1943 Operation
Longcloth, consisted of a force of 3,000 men who marched over
1,000 miles during the campaign. The second expedition, Operation
Thursday, in March 1944 was on a much larger scale. It
was the second largest airborne invasion
of the war and consisted of a force of 20,000 British and
Commonwealth soldiers with
air support provided by the 1st Air Commando USAAF. Tragically
their leader, General Wingate, was killed a few weeks after the
launch of Operation Thursday.
2004 marked the 60th anniversary of the 2nd Chindit campaign. To
commemorate this occasion, Chindit veteran Bill Hills (7th Bn
Leicester Regt., 14th Brigade) produced the below card for the
Chindits Old Comrades Association.
The text inside reads
During the 1939/45 War a Special
force was trained in Commando methods to infiltrate behind the
Japanese lines in Burma. They were known as the CHINDITS, a name
given to them by their leader, Major-General Orde C. Wingate, D.S.O.
After the initial expedition in 1943 the full force was marched or
landed in the jungle on makeshift air-strips by glider or Dakota
aircraft 200 miles behind enemy lines in March 1944.
The mission was successful and called Operation Thursday, this
eventually started the rot, which led to the Japanese surrender.
The force suffered many casualties killed, wounded or taken
prisoner. Many of the survivors still suffer today from the
hardship, rigours and strain of the two long arduous campaigns, when
the only contact with base was by radio, all supplies came by
The Chindits were very much an International Force, which include
British, Burma Rifles, Hong Kong Volunteers, Gurkhas and West
African Serviceman. The R.A.F. and First Air Commando , U.S.A.A.F.
provided air support.
The Chindit badge on the front of this card illustrates a Chinthe, a
symbolic guardian of Burmese temples, a mythical beast, half lion,
MEASURES ARE THE SAFEST