14th Indian Infantry Division " For the World War I formation see 14th Indian Division " The Indian 14th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II . It fought in the Arakan Campaign 1942 - 1943 , and was subsequently converted into a Training Division , providing drafts of replacements for units of the Fourteenth Army during the Burma Campaign . History as 14th Indian Division . Formation and early actions . The division was raised on 1 June 1941 , at Quetta in Baluchistan . Its badge was a depiction in black and white of the ranges of mountains above Quetta , surrounded by a stylised letter " Q " in white on a black background . The division had temporary commanders while forming . On 15 October 1941 , Major General Wilfrid Lewis Lloyd , who had a distinguished record as commander of a brigade in the Western Desert , was appointed commander . When first formed , the division was intended to operate in Iraq and Persia , then under Allied military occupation , and first trained for mountain and desert warfare . It consisted of the 23rd , 36th and 37th Indian Infantry brigades . In December , war with Imperial Japan broke out . In March , after the Japanese captured Rangoon , the capital of Burma , the division was reassigned to the eastern frontier of India , and its existing brigades were dispersed to other divisions being formed . The 47th and 49th Indian Infantry Brigade s were assigned to the division in March 1942 , although the 49th Brigade was removed in May . The 23rd Indian Brigade was retitled the 123rd Indian Infantry Brigade and returned to the division in July . In the aftermath of the Japanese conquest of Burma , the 14th Division was sent to garrison Chittagong , on the frontier with Burma . As part of the lessons learned by the British Indian Army in the retreat from Burma , the division ' s equipment was lightened and its establishment was reduced , to allow easier movement off roads and in difficult terrain . The divisional transport consisted of four jeep companies and six mule companies . The division was renamed 14th Indian ( Light ) Division to reflect these changes . The light establishment supposedly included only two infantry brigades ( instead of the usual three ) . However , in July 1942 , the division also took over the 55th Indian Infantry Brigade as a third brigade , and also the 88th Indian Infantry Brigade for the static defence of Chittagong . The main body of the division held a line around Cox ' s Bazaar , on the frontier with Burma . First Arakan Campaign . In late 1942 , the division began an advance in the Burmese coastal province of Arakan , intending ultimately to recapture Akyab Island , vital for its airfields . When well - constructed Japanese defences were encountered on the Mayu peninsula only a few miles from the island , extra brigades were added to the division . Eventually , the division HQ commanded no less than nine brigades and a large rear communications area , making effective administration and coordination impossible . A temporary headquarters , " Mayforce " , was created to control operations in the Mayu River valley , separated from the main body of the division by a rugged hill range . Frontal attacks on the Japanese positions failed with heavy losses . On 29 February 1943 , Lieutenant General Noel Irwin , the commander of Eastern Army , dismissed Major General Lloyd and took personal command of the division . Japanese reinforcements attacked the division ' s exposed left flank , overrunning several units and forcing the remainder to make a disorderly withdrawal . On 14 April 1943 , the division HQ was withdrawn to Ranchi in Bihar to reform , being replaced by the headquarters of Indian 26th Infantry Division . Soon afterwards , on 8 May 1943 , 88 Infantry Brigade was disbanded . Order of Battle 14 April 1943 ( on withdrawal from Arakan ) . General Officer Commanding : General Noel Irwin The British 6th Brigade , 4th Indian Infantry Brigade , 71st Indian Infantry Brigade , British 29th Brigade and British 72nd Brigade were attached from other divisions . History as 14th Indian Training division . It was recognised that a major factor in early Allied defeats in Burma was the lack of training of British and Indian soldiers . Regimental training centres were unable to produce soldiers trained for any one theatre , as the battalions of a regiment were dispersed between formations and theatres all over the world . On 14 June 1943 , the 14th Division was converted to a Training Division . It was stationed at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh , where the terrain and vegetation matched the conditions likely to be encountered in Burma , but the comparatively mild climate allowed training throughout the year . The division was commanded by Major General Alfred Curtis . Although its purpose was to supply jungle - trained reinforcements to Fourteenth Army which controlled operations on India ' s eastern frontier and in Burma , it reported directly to GHQ India under General Claude Auchinleck . Recruits who had already received basic training in regimental depots were posted to units in 14th Division , to undertake jungle training and live - firing exercises . On completion of this advanced training , they were then assigned to divisional replacement camps , ready to report to their units when required . The division also ran longer courses for officers and NCOs . Order of Battle as Training Division , 14 August 1943 . General Officer Commanding : Major General Alfred Curtis Dissolution . The division was disbanded on 31 August 1945 , shortly after the end of the war . Assigned brigades . All theses brigades were assigned or attached to the division at some time during World War II