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A Short History of FF7, Burma Frontier Force

FF7 was a Burma Frontier Force (BFF) unit formed quickly in late January 1942 to assist in guarding the oil facilities of Burma against a surprise Japanese attack.  It consisted of two hastily equipped columns put together from elements of the BFF.  It was evacuated to India after the fall of Rangoon and the demolition of the oil facilities in Burma.

Two of the senior officers for FF7 (Major Jenny and Captain Braund) were from the Burma Frontier Force Junior Leaders School initially located at Thamakan (Southern Shan States on the Taunggyi/Kalaw road).  The school was formed in the fall of 1941 to train NCOs and VCOs for Burma Army.   The school moved to Kutkai (Northern Shan States) in December 1941 because of the unhealthy climate at Thamakan. 

Around January 20 1942, the junior leaders school at Kutkai was closed.  The officers moved to Pyawbwe, the location of the Reserve battalion, BFF to equip FF7.  The task of FF7 was to protect the Burma oil refineries from an expected Japanese parachute or amphibious attack aimed at capturing them intact.  While FF7 was able to equip with weapons, it was not able to get anywhere near sufficient quantities of ammunition for many of the weapons such as Thompson sub-machine guns, mortar shells and even pistol ammunition.

The organization of FF.7 was as follows:

C.O.        Major Jenny

Column    u/c Captain Christopher McDowall (Referenced after as McDowall Column)

Column    u/c Captain Harold Braund, MBE, MC (Referenced after as Braund Column)

Major Jenny and Captain Braund were both previously assigned to the junior leaders school.    

Around February 18, 1942 FF.7 joined a force which included 1st Gloucestershire, 1st West Yorks and some Burma Military Police guarding approaches to Syriam Oil facilities from the sea.   The Braund column coordinated with the 1st West Yorks battalion.

On February 25, 1942, the regular battalions (including West Yorks) that FF.7 was working with to guard the refineries were sent to the front lines in response to events at the Sittang Bridge battle.  FF7 was left to guard the approaches to the oil refineries on its own.

On March 7, 1942, the oil refineries in Burma were demolished.  FF7 was afterward loaded into motor launches for transit to ships being used for the evacuation of Rangoon.

On March 11, 1942, FF7 reached Calcutta and moved into camp at Barrackpore.  Two days later, FF7 entrained for Shillong and quartered at Elephant falls camp under command of Lt. Col. Bob Cook, Rangoon Bn, BMP.  There were originally two Rangoon battalions.  They were combined into one for the defence of Rangoon.  After the fall of Rangoon, part of the Rangoon Battalion remained in Burma and part of it (under Lt. Col. Cook) was evacuated by sea to India.

On May 9, 1942 The Chins of the Braund column of FF.7 separated from FF7 and were put under the command of Capt. Harold Braund.  Braund had been recruited for the Chin Hills levies at Shillong.  Braund took with him 1 GCO, 48 other ranks and 3 non-combatants.  They moved by motor transport to Gauhati on Brahmaputra, then entrained for Dimapur.  At Dimapur, he met with Brigadier Felix Williams, DSO, MC commanding Levy operations in Chin Hills.   The unit moved afterward to Tiddim (overland) and reported to Lt. Col. Jack Haswell, commanding Chin Levies.  There is no information in Braund’s account about what happened to the remainder of FF.7 after he separated from the unit. 

Thanks to Lance Vissier for providing this summary.

Sources:

Braund, H. E. W. ,Distinctly I Remember: a personal story of Burma 

19 April 2003